Bring
A Word with Many Faces
The English word "bring" appears hundreds of times in the Bible, translating a remarkable range of Hebrew and Greek terms. Each original word carries its own shade of meaning: to cause to sprout, to bear or beget, to escort, to send, to carry up, to present, to restore, to lead, to nurture to maturity. This diversity reflects the richness of biblical language and the many ways in which God and humans act upon the world.
God Brings Forth Creation
The very first chapter of Scripture uses "bring forth" to describe God's creative activity. The earth was commanded to bring forth vegetation (Genesis 1:11), and the waters were told to bring forth living creatures (Genesis 1:20-21). The Hebrew word in Genesis 1:11 (dasha) means "to sprout" or "to spring forth," suggesting life bursting out at God's command. In Genesis 1:20, sharats means "to swarm" or "to teem," conveying abundance and vitality. Creation is not a passive event but an active bringing-forth of life at God's word.
God Brings His People Out
The most theologically significant use of "bring" in the Old Testament is God's bringing Israel out of Egypt. The phrase "I brought you out of the land of Egypt" appears as a foundational declaration throughout the law, the prophets, and the psalms (Exodus 20:2; Deuteronomy 5:6; Hosea 12:13). The Hebrew word alah ("to bring up") carries the sense of elevation and restoration, God lifted His people from slavery to freedom, from degradation to dignity.
God also promised to bring Israel into the Promised Land. Jacob was assured, "I will bring you up again" from Egypt (Genesis 46:4). Moses was commissioned to bring the people out of bondage and into a land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8, 17). This dual movement, bringing out and bringing in, defines the Exodus narrative and becomes a template for understanding salvation itself.
Bringing Before God
The sacrificial system was built around the concept of bringing offerings to God. The Hebrew word nagash ("to present" or "to bring near") appears frequently in Leviticus and Samuel in the context of worship. The worshiper brought an animal, grain, or drink offering and presented it before the Lord. This act of bringing symbolized the offering of oneself to God, the gift represented the giver.
Hannah brought the young Samuel to the tabernacle at Shiloh, saying, "I have lent him to the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:28). This act of bringing her son to God's house expressed the deepest possible devotion and trust.
Bringing to Remembrance
The New Testament uses "bring" in connection with the Holy Spirit's ministry of illumination. Jesus promised that the Spirit "will bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you" (John 14:26). The Greek word hupomimnesko means to cause someone to recall, to prompt the memory. This "bringing" is not physical but spiritual, the Spirit actively works in believers' minds to recall and apply Jesus' teaching.
Bringing to Maturity
Several biblical uses of "bring" relate to nurturing, growth, and maturity. Paul instructed fathers to "bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4), using ektrepho, which means to rear to maturity and nourish. In Luke 8:14, the thorns that choke the seed prevent it from bringing fruit to maturity (telesphoreo), a word meaning to carry through to completion.
These uses reveal a biblical pattern: God brings things into existence, brings people out of bondage, brings them into relationship with Himself, and then brings them to maturity through His Spirit and His word.
The Ultimate Bringing: Salvation
The entire biblical narrative can be understood as God's work of bringing: bringing creation out of nothing, bringing Israel out of Egypt, bringing a Savior into the world, and ultimately bringing many sons and daughters to glory (Hebrews 2:10). Peter writes that Christ "suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18). This final bringing, sinful humanity into the presence of a holy God, is the purpose toward which all of Scripture's "bringing" language points.
Biblical Context
The word 'bring' spans the entire Bible. Key theological uses include God bringing forth creation (Genesis 1:11-21), bringing Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 20:2), bringing offerings in worship (Leviticus 1-7), the Spirit bringing Jesus' words to remembrance (John 14:26), nurturing children (Ephesians 6:4), and ultimately bringing believers to God (1 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 2:10).
Theological Significance
The concept of bringing in Scripture reveals God as the primary actor in salvation history. God initiates, God delivers, God presents, God restores. Human bringing, of offerings, children, and service, is always a response to God's prior bringing. The pattern moves from creation (bringing forth life) through redemption (bringing out of bondage) to consummation (bringing to glory). Christ's work is the supreme act of bringing: He brings God to humanity through the incarnation and brings humanity to God through the cross.
Historical Background
The linguistic diversity behind the English word 'bring' reflects the richness of ancient Hebrew and Greek vocabulary. Hebrew had dozens of verbs expressing different modes of conveying, presenting, leading, and producing. The sacrificial vocabulary of 'bringing' offerings was central to ancient Israelite worship and has parallels throughout the ancient Near East. The Greek terms used in the New Testament similarly carry specific nuances related to Hellenistic culture, education, and religious practice.