Raise
The Meaning of "Raise" in Scripture
The biblical concept of "raise" encompasses God's active power to bring something or someone into existence, position, or renewed life. Unlike mere human effort, biblical raising typically involves divine initiative and purpose. The Hebrew and Greek terms translated as "raise" convey ideas of causing to stand up, awakening, stirring up, or resurrecting. This action consistently points to God's sovereignty over history, leadership, nations, and life itself.
God Raising Up Leaders and Nations
Throughout the Old Testament, God raises up individuals and groups to fulfill specific purposes within salvation history. He raises up judges to deliver Israel from oppression (Judges 2:16, 18), prophets to speak His word (Deuteronomy 18:18), and kings to lead His people (1 Samuel 2:35). God also raises up nations—both to bless Israel and to discipline them. Cyrus the Persian king is specifically described as one whom God "raised up" to allow the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem (Isaiah 41:2, 25; Ezra 1:1-2). This pattern demonstrates that human authority ultimately derives from divine appointment.
The Promise of a Raised Messiah
The concept of raising takes on messianic significance in several Old Testament passages. God promises to "raise up" a prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18) and a faithful Davidic king (Jeremiah 23:5). In the New Testament, these promises find fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Zechariah's prophecy declares that God "has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David" (Luke 1:69). Peter's Pentecost sermon explicitly connects Jesus' resurrection with God's promise to David: "God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it" (Acts 2:24).
Resurrection: The Ultimate Raising
The most significant development of the "raise" concept occurs with resurrection. In the Gospels, Jesus predicts His own resurrection using language of being "raised up" (Matthew 16:21; 20:19). After His crucifixion, the New Testament consistently presents Jesus' resurrection as God's active work: "God raised him from the dead" (Acts 13:30; Romans 10:9). This becomes the foundation for Christian hope, as believers trust that God "who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies" (Romans 8:11). The resurrection represents God's ultimate victory over sin and death.
Spiritual Raising in the Believer's Life
The New Testament extends the concept of raising to spiritual transformation. Paul writes that though believers were "dead in trespasses and sins," God "made us alive together with Christ" (Ephesians 2:1, 5-6). This spiritual resurrection enables Christians to "seek the things that are above, where Christ is" (Colossians 3:1). The language of raising thus describes both future bodily resurrection and present spiritual renewal through union with Christ.
Contemporary Significance
For modern readers, the biblical concept of "raise" offers assurance of God's active involvement in history and individual lives. It reminds believers that God initiates salvation, appoints leaders according to His purposes, and holds ultimate power over life and death. The resurrection of Jesus stands as the definitive demonstration of this power, providing hope for eternal life and confidence in God's ability to bring new life from seemingly hopeless situations.
Biblical Context
The concept of 'raise' appears throughout Scripture, beginning with God raising up descendants for Abraham (Genesis 38:8) and continuing through God raising up judges, prophets, and kings in Israel's history. Major appearances include Deuteronomy's promise of a raised prophet (18:15-18), the raising of Cyrus in Isaiah (41:2, 25; 45:13), and the resurrection language in the Psalms (Psalm 16:10). In the New Testament, 'raise' terminology centers on Jesus' resurrection (all four Gospels, Acts, Pauline epistles) and spiritual resurrection of believers (Ephesians 2:5-6; Colossians 2:12-13). The term plays a crucial role in demonstrating God's sovereignty and redemptive power.
Theological Significance
Theologically, 'raise' reveals God as the active agent in salvation history. It demonstrates divine sovereignty over human affairs, showing that God establishes leaders and nations according to His purposes. Most importantly, the resurrection of Jesus—described consistently as God raising Him—forms the foundation of Christian faith, proving Christ's victory over sin and death. This concept also points to God's power to bring spiritual life to those dead in sin and guarantees believers' future bodily resurrection. Ultimately, 'raise' language emphasizes that salvation originates with God's initiative rather than human achievement.
Historical Background
Ancient Near Eastern cultures shared concepts of gods raising up kings and nations, but Israel's understanding was distinct in its monotheistic framework. The Hebrew verb qum (to arise) was commonly used in royal inscriptions of neighboring kingdoms to describe a king's accession, but Israel applied it exclusively to Yahweh's actions. Archaeological evidence, including the Cyrus Cylinder, corroborates the biblical account of Cyrus allowing exiled peoples to return home, though the biblical presentation uniquely attributes this to Yahweh's initiative. In the Greco-Roman world, resurrection was generally viewed as impossible or undesirable, making the Christian proclamation of Jesus' resurrection culturally counterintuitive yet theologically central.