Meaning of abide in the Bible

The word abide in the Bible is very broad and can have several meanings. It is used in Scripture to describe a variety of situations. In the Old and New Testaments, the word has slightly different applications. 

Let’s study!

What does abide mean in Hebrew 

There are a number of English words that are used in the Old Testament for abide. 

Similarly, there are a number of Hebrew words that mean abide or carry the idea of abide.

As you can imagine, these words carry a variety of meanings according to the context in which they are used.

In this post, I will look at only one of these Hebrew words and its meaning.

One English word for abide that is used in the Old Testament is dwell. 

The Hebrew word for dwell is yasab. It can mean so many things, all carrying nuances of the same idea.

Yasab means to sit down, to live, to inhabit, to settle down, to stay or remain, to tarry, or to occupy a position whether temporarily or permanently.

Let’s explore some examples of these different meanings.

Yasab is used to refer to dwelling in a physical, emotional, or spiritual sense.

For example:

Abram lived [yasab] in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived [yasab] among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. (Genesis 13:12 NIV)

In this verse, we see the word used to describe the physical residential location of Abram and Lot.

Yasab is also used to refer to dwelling in a spiritual sense.

A good example related to spiritual dwelling is found in the popular Psalm 91:1:

Whoever dwells [yasab] in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Here it is used to describe humans being intentional about being in the presence of God consistently. 

When you read this verse, keep a picture in your mind of someone making themselves at home in a physical residence. 

Psalm 91:1 uses the metaphor of physically living somewhere to paint the picture of a believer living in God’s presence.

In Genesis 4:16, yasab is used to refer to physical movement which has spiritual implications:

Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt [yasab] in the land of Nod on the east of Eden. (NKJV)

As Cain changes his physical location, it was also a sign that he had declined spiritually too. 

So his physical dwelling shows where he was not dwelling spiritually.

Yashab is also used to describe God’s presence among His people.

“Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell [yasab] in? (2 Samuel 7:5)

Yashab can also mean to sit down in the sense of holding court or occupying a political or civil position like a king.

And he [Boaz] took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down [yasab] here.” So they sat down [yasab]. (Ruth 4:2 ESV)

Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting [yasab] on their thrones,… (1 Kings 22:10)

Yashab not only describes human kings but also God’s kingly rulership.

God reigns over the nations; God sits [yasab] on his holy throne. Psalm 47:2 ESV

As I said earlier, this is only one Hebrew word that means abide (among other things).

What does abide mean in Greek?

The Greek word for abide is meno. The most basic meaning of abide (meno) in the Bible is to remain.

This word has quite a list of synonyms in the Bible. Some are: live, dwell, lodge, stay, tarry, endure, persevere.

For that reason, abide can mean a variety of things that apply in various contexts.

Let’s look at a few examples.

Meaning of abide in the Bible

Meno can mean to remain or to stay in the same place or position over a period of time. 

This can refer to physically living in a home or lodging as a guest in someone’s home.

Meno can carry both ideas of permanent or temporary staying or remaining, depending on the context.

Here are two examples of this:

And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay [meno] at your house today.” (Luke 19:5, ESV)

And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay [meno] there until you depart. (Matthew 10:11, ESV)

Meno can mean to remain or stay in a particular state, condition or position. 

In the following verses, meno is used to describe attributes (or state) of Jesus. 

…if we are faithless, he [God] remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself. (2 Timothy 2:13, ESV)

He [Christ] is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues [meno] a priest forever. (Hebrews 7:3 ESV)

These verses tell us that Jesus is and has always been faithful. That’s just one of his many attributes. 

Additionally, since His death, resurrection and ascension, Jesus has been and will continue to be our heavenly priest, advocating with our Father for our sins.

Meno can also mean to keep going or to continue on in action, state or activity.

Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide [meno] in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides [meno] in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (2 John 9 ESV)

It is important to continue living out the truths about Christ that we have learned. This is how we abide in God and He in us.

Meno can be used to describe something that lasts or endures.

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures [meno] to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” John 6:27

Meno can also be used to describe the continuous, unbroken presence of something or someone.

And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained [meno] on him. (John 1:32 ESV)

In this verse, meno is used to describe how the Holy Spirit appeared at Jesus’ baptism and was continuously with Jesus.

Here’s another example:

But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains [meno] unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. (2 Corinthians 3:14 ESV)

This verse is describing the reality that some people will always struggle to understand Scripture because of the continuous presence of their stony heart.

Now, having said all that, which of these meanings do you think is applicable to the most popular Scripture on abide?

Let’s see!

Greek meaning of abide in John 15

John 15 is perhaps the most well-known Scripture on abiding. I will focus on verse 4 for this discussion:

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. (John 15:4 ESV)

The Greek word for abide used in John 15 is, of course, meno. There are two definitions that could apply here.

First, the word abide in John 15:4 can mean to remain as in the sense of living, lodging, or staying in a place.

It can also refer to the act of being continuously present or never leaving.

When meno is used in these senses, it carries the idea of sweet, intimate unbroken fellowship. 

It paints the picture of someone making themselves at home.

So when Jesus told the disciples (and us) to abide in Him, he was inviting us into a relationship with him.

This relationship has certain qualities: 

we want to be in His presence continually, 

we feel comfortable in His presence, 

we never want to leave His presence, 

we always crave fellowship with Him,

we always want to be influenced by Him.

Does the image of the grapes on the vine make more sense now?

And what is his promise to us if we make an effort to show Him this kind of interest?

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (John 15:7 ESV)

Abiding in Christ is one sure way of getting our prayers answered.

The more we abide in Him, the more influence he has on our thoughts and desires.

The more influence he gets to have, the more we can be certain that our desires reflect God’s desires for us and lines up with his will…

…and the more certain we can be that God will grant us the desires of our hearts.

Final words on the meaning of abide in the Bible

I pray this Bible study on the word abide was impactful. More than anything, Seek to abide in the presence and power of Christ. 

You can do that by spending time in His word to get to know Him and have regular conversations with Him through prayer. 

Then, intentionally live out what has been revealed to you in these private sessions with God. He promises to come close to you and live with you if you let Him.

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