Trust in the Lord

The concept of "trust" in the Old and New Testament scriptures carries rich and nuanced meanings. Deeply rooted in faith and reliance in both the Greek and Hebrew cultures, it is expressed and understood through different language and cultural traditions.

In Hebrew, the word commonly used for trust is “batach”. As seen in Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB 1995), “batach” suggests a wholehearted reliance on God’s wisdom and protection with a sense of confidence that surrenders personal understanding in favor of divine guidance.

Like Psalm 3:5-6 (NASB 1995), Psalm 56:3-4 (NASB 1995) reflects a personal and shared reliance on God's steadfastness as a refuge in times of fear.

Culturally, in ancient Israel, trust in God was central to the community's identity, deeply intertwined with covenantal relationships and the experience of God’s deliverance and faithfulness throughout history. Trust was seen as both a personal and communal commitment to God's law and guidance.

In the New Testament, "trust" is often translated from “pistis, which can also be translated as "faith." This term emphasizes a conviction or assurance in the truth of God’s promises and His character.  “Pistis” encompasses belief, confidence, and trust, and signifies an active commitment to God.

The Greek understanding of trust as used in the New Testament involves an active, ongoing faith in the promises and teachings of Jesus Christ. For example, in Hebrews 11:1 (NASB 1995), faith—or "pistis"—is described as "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Although "pistis" here is translated as "faith," it involves a trusting assurance in the unseen, highlighting a deep conviction and confidence in God's promises.

Here, in 2 Timothy 1:12 (NASB 1995), trust is connected to faith in Christ's power and reliability, emphasizing a confident assurance in His ability to fulfill His promises.

In the Greek-speaking world of the New Testament, "pistis" reflected more than certainty, but involved loyalty and allegiance, a crucial aspect for early Christians who often faced persecution.

While both "batach" and "pistis" convey trust as reliance and confidence, they carry cultural and scriptural differences. In Hebrew "batach" centers on a covenantal relationship with God and stresses trust in God as security and refuge. That trust is often reflected through obedience and worship in the Old Testament.

The Greek word “pistis" as used in the New Testament embodies a dynamic faith in Christ and His teachings that is reflected in a trust that goes beyond simple belief to include an active faith that is reflected in following Christ's teachings and living a life reflective of His values.

Word Study Challenge:

Find three scriptures in the Old Testament, and three scriptures in the New Testament that use the words “batach” and “pistis”. In what ways are these words translated that differ from what we’ve studied here. How does the understanding of the word “trust” deepen, challenge, or change your perspective about God’s character and role in your daily life?

Reference List:

1.        Brown, F., Driver, S., & Briggs, C. (1906). A Hebrew and English lexicon of the Old Testament. Clarendon Press. Retrieved from https://archive.org/details/hebrewenglishlex00browuoft

2.        Brown, F., Driver, S. R., & Briggs, C. A. (1977). The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon. Hendrickson Publishers. Retrieved from https://archive.org/details/browndriverbrigg0000brow

3.        Harris, R. L., Archer, G. L., & Waltke, B. K. (1980). Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Retrieved from https://archive.org/details/theological-wordbook-of-the-old-testament

4.        Kittel, G., Bromiley, G. W., & Friedrich, G. (Eds.). (1964). Theological dictionary of the New Testament. Eerdmans. Retrieved from https://archive.org/details/1985-gerhard-kittel-editor-gerhard-friedrich-editor-theological-dictionary-of-th

5.        New American Standard Bible (NASB 1995). 2 Timothy. Retrieved from https://biblehub.com/nasb/2Timothy/1.htm

6.        New American Standard Bible (NASB 1995). Hebrews 11:1. Retrieved from https://biblehub.com/nasb/Hebrews/11.htm

7.        New American Standard Bible (NASB 1995). Psalm 56. Retrieved from https://biblehub.com/nasb/Psalm/56.htm

8.        New American Standard Bible (NASB 1995). Proverbs 3:5-6. Retrieved from https://biblehub.com/nasb/Proverbs/3.htm

9.        Strong, J. (1890). Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Retrieved from https://archive.org/details/exhaustiveconcor1890stro

10.   Thayer, J. H. (1889). Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. Hendrickson Publishers. Retrieved from https://archive.org/details/thayersgreekengl0000thay/page/n5/mode/1up

11.   Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W. (1996). Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Retrieved from https://archive.org/details/vinescompleteexp0000vine_y7p8

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