Bible Dictionary
Explore biblical people, places, events, objects, ideas, and other terms. Search the dictionary directly, browse alphabetically, or narrow the list by category or Testament.
Fairs
Agriculture & Daily Life - Old Testament
“Fairs” in the King James Version of Ezekiel 27 refers to merchandise or wares, not modern fairs or marketplaces. The Revised Version consistently translates the underlying word as “wares.”
Faith
Salvation - Both
Faith is trust and reliance upon God and His word. Saving faith receives and rests upon Jesus Christ alone for salvation, bringing justification, peace with God, spiritual life, and sanctification; Scripture also uses the term for faithfulness or the body of Christian truth.
Faithful
Christian Life - Both
Faithful describes one who trusts God and remains dependable, as well as God’s word and covenant, which are true and worthy of trust. Christians are repeatedly called to display this steadfast character.
FAITHFUL SAYINGS
Scripture - New Testament
“Faithful sayings” are recurring trustworthy declarations in the Pastoral Epistles, especially concerning Christ’s saving mission, Christian service, godliness, union with Christ, and salvation by God’s mercy.
FAITHLESS
Sin & Judgment - New Testament
Faithless means unbelieving, disbelieving, or lacking fidelity. Scripture uses the term both for those who refuse faith and, in some contexts, for those who prove unfaithful.
FALCON
Agriculture & Daily Life - Old Testament
The falcon is a bird of prey associated with the smaller hawk or kestrel family. In Job, its keen sight is mentioned in describing the hidden path to a mine.
FALL
Other - Both
Fall commonly means descending, collapsing, being defeated, entering trouble, bowing in worship, or falling into apostasy. Its meaning depends on the context, whether literal or figurative.
Fall of man
Sin & Judgment - Both
The Fall of man is the first human rebellion against God when Adam and Eve disobeyed His command. Their sin brought shame, guilt, separation from God, corruption, and death into human experience, affecting all their descendants.
FALL, THE
Sin & Judgment - Both
The Fall is humanity’s first disobedience to God’s command in Genesis 3. It brought the loss of innocence, sin, suffering, and death, and stands behind the biblical teaching of judgment and redemption.
FALLOW
Agriculture & Daily Life - Old Testament
To leave land fallow is to let it rest without cultivation. Israel’s law required the ground to lie unused every seventh year, while related terms can also mean tilled or prepared ground.
Fallow Deer
Agriculture & Daily Life - Old Testament
The fallow deer is the animal called yahmur in the Hebrew Scriptures, mentioned among creatures permitted as food. Its exact identification is uncertain; it may refer to a deer, roebuck, or the bubale, a stag-like wild animal.
Fallow-ground
Christian Life - Old Testament
Fallow-ground is uncultivated land that has become covered with weeds and thorns. The prophetic command to break it up figuratively calls people to abandon sinful ways and prepare their hearts to receive God’s word and righteousness.
FAME
Government & Society - Both
Fame may mean a report or rumor about someone, or the renown and reputation that become widely known. Biblical usage applies it to both people and significant events.
FAMILIAR
Angels & Spiritual Beings - Old Testament
A familiar spirit refers to a spirit consulted through forbidden divination, a practice condemned by the Mosaic law. “Familiar” can also mean an intimate friend or close acquaintance.
Familiar spirit
Angels & Spiritual Beings - Old Testament
A familiar spirit refers to a spirit associated with a sorcerer or necromancer who claimed to communicate with the dead. Scripture condemns consulting such spirits and forbids divination and necromancy.
FAMILY
Jewish Life & Customs - Both
The family is the household founded on marriage and ordered relationships between husband, wife, children, and wider kin. Scripture emphasizes its permanence, moral responsibilities, mutual honor, and place in society.
Famine
Sin & Judgment - Both
Famine is a severe shortage of food caused by drought, crop failure, insects, war, siege, or other calamity. Scripture records famines as occasions of suffering and sometimes as judgments, while also using the image of famine for the absence of God’s word.
FAMISH
Agriculture & Daily Life - Both
To famish means to suffer or cause severe hunger, or to become lean and deprived. Scripture uses the word literally of people and figuratively of the weakening or deprivation of powers.
Fan
Agriculture & Daily Life - Both
A fan was a winnowing shovel or fork used to toss grain into the wind so that chaff and straw separated from the useful grain. Scripture also uses this agricultural image for judgment and purification.
FAN, FANNER
Agriculture & Daily Life - Both
A fan or winnowing fork was used to separate grain from chaff by tossing it into the wind. John the Baptist uses this agricultural image to describe the Messiah’s separating judgment.
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