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Saturday, November 23rd, 2024
the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
Bible Encyclopedias
Care; Carefulness; Careful
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
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kâr , kâr´fool -ness , kâr´fool : The English word "care" has such a variety of meanings, and so many Hebrew and Greek words in the Bible are translated by this English expression and its compounds, that it is difficult to organize them into a single brief article. We may do so, however, by remembering that into our word are really woven two strands, one Teutonic and one Latin. The former element implies a measure of trouble or sorrow, as the pain from a blow, a throb, a distress in the mind; the latter, from Latin cura , implies a stretching forward, attention to some person or thing. We can often discern these two senses side by side in the Bible, and sometimes they almost run into one another. This is so especially in the King James Version. We can treat the subject best by keeping separate, as far as possible, these two senses.
I. In the Sense of Anxiety, Solicitude
1. Substantives
In the Old Testament several words are translated "care" in this sense. "Thy father hath left off caring for the asses," concern about them literally, "matters of the asses" (דּברי , dibhrē , 1 Samuel 10:2 ). "They shall eat bread by weight, and with care" (דּאגה , de' -āghāh , "carefulness" the Revised Version (British and American); "fearfulness" the American Standard Revised Version, Ezekiel 4:16 ). The same word is rendered carefulness (the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American); "fearfulness," the American Standard Revised Version, Ezekiel 12:18-19 ); and "fear" (King James Version; "carefulness," the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version, Joshua 22:24 ). Again, "heaviness" (the Kings James Version; the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version), but "care" (the Revised Version, margin and the American Revised Version, margin, Proverbs 12:25 ). Once more, "sorrow" (the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version), but "care" (the Revised Version, margin and the American Revised Version, margin, Jeremiah 49:23 ). There is also the word חרדה , ḥărādhāh "trembling," "fear," "anxiety." It is rendered "trembling" (Genesis 27:33 the King James Version). But "thou hast been careful for us with all this care" ("showed us all this reverence," the Revised Version, margin, the American Revised Version, margin, 2 Kings 4:13 ).
In the New Testament, "care," in the sense of anxiety, is the meaning given to μέριμνα , mérimna , the condition of being drawn mentally in different directions, distraction of mind. "Care of the world" (Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19; Luke 8:14 , "cares of this life," Luke 21:34 ); "care of all the churches" (2 Corinthians 11:28 ) ("anxiety," the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version); "casting all your care upon him" ("anxiety," the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version, 1 Peter 5:7 ). Also in the Apocrypha, "My heart faileth for care" (1 Macc 6:10); "Care bringeth old age before the time" (Sirach 30:24). To these may be added the adjective amérimnos , "I would have you without carefulness" (King James Version; "free from cares," the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version, 1 Corinthians 7:32 ).
2. Verbs
In the Old Testament (דּאג , dā'agh , "to have concern or anxiety for"). "Not be careful in the year of drought" (Jeremiah 17:8 ). (שׂוּם לב , sūm lēbh , "to set the heart upon"), "If we flee away, they will not care for us" ("set their heart upon us" King James Version, margin, 2 Samuel 18:3 ).
In the New Testament (μεριμνάω , merimnáō ), "Thou art careful and troubled" ("anxious" the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version, Luke 10:41 ). "He that is unmarried careth for things that belong to the Lord" ("is careful for," the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version, 1 Corinthians 7:32-34 ). "Members should have the same care one for another" (1 Corinthians 12:25 ). "Who will naturally care (the American Standard Revised Version "care truly") for your state" (Philippians 2:20 ). "Be careful for nothing" ("in nothing be anxious," the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version, Philippians 4:6 ). The Apocrypha has "careful" (Baruch 3:18) and the Revised Version (British and American) has "be not careful overmuch," where a distinction is plainly made between care in the sense of anxiety and of attention, for a person cannot be too attentive, but he may be too anxious (2 Esdras 2:27).
The impersonal verb (μέλει , mélei ), though not quite so strong as merimnaō , always implies a degree of concern higher than is felt in mere attention. "Carest thou not that we perish?" (Mark 4:38 ). "Carest not for anyone" (the King James Version "no man," Matthew 22:16; Mark 12:14 ). "Dost thou not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone?" (Luke 10:40 ). "Careth not for the sheep" (John 10:13 ). "Cared for the poor" (John 12:6 ). "Gallio cared for none of these things" (Acts 18:17 ). "Care not for it" (1 Corinthians 7:21 ). "He careth for you" (1 Peter 5:7 ). "Doth God care for oxen?" (better, "Is it for the oxen that God careth?" the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version, 1 Corinthians 9:9 ).
II. In the Sense of Attention
1. Substantives
In the sense of attention, with the flavor of earnestness added from the original Teutonic meaning of the word care, we have the translation of σπουδή , spoudḗ , "speed," "earnest care." "What carefulness it wrought in you" ("earnest care," the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version, 2 Corinthians 7:11 ). "Our care for you in the sight of God" ("earnest care," the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version, 2 Corinthians 7:12 ). "Put the same care into the heart of Titus" ("earnest care," the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version, 2 Corinthians 8:16 ). We have also φρονεῖν , phroneı́n , the infin. used as a substantive "Your care for me hath flourished" ("thought," the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version, Philippians 4:10 ). Also φροντις , φροντις , φροντίς , phrontı́s ,"thought" ("care" the American Standard Revised Version, The Wisdom of Solomon 6:17; 7:4).
2. Verbs
"A land which Yahweh thy God careth for" דּרשׁ ,� , epimeléomai , "Take care of him" (Luke 10:34 , Luke 10:35 ). "How shall he take care of the church of God?" (1 Timothy 3:5 ). φροντίζω , phrontı́zō , "to be thoughtful or mindful of," "may be careful to maintain good works" (Titus 3:8 ).
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Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Care; Carefulness; Careful'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/isb/c/care-carefulness-careful.html. 1915.
