Used in Scripture in both a physical and metaphorical sense, the body is susceptible to sin and suffering, but may be offered to God in worship and will finally be transformed by resurrection.
The body is formed by God
Psalm 139:15–16 See also Genesis 2:7, Genesis 2:22; Job 10:8–11; Ecclesiastes 11:5
My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all my days were written in Your book and ordained for me before one of them came to be.
The body's appearance
The beauty and strength of the body
1 Samuel 16:12 See also 1 Samuel 9:2; 2 Samuel 11:2; Song of Solomon 5:10–16, Song of Solomon 7:1–9; Daniel 10:6
So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.”
Clothing for the body
Exodus 22:27, Exodus 28:42; Leviticus 16:4; 2 Kings 6:30; Isaiah 20:2
Diseases affecting the body
Bodily pain
Job 2:7 See also Genesis 3:16; 2 Chronicles 21:19; Job 7:5, Job 14:22, Job 17:7, Job 30:30; Psalm 38:7; 2 Corinthians 12:7
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and infected Job with terrible boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.
Leprosy
Leviticus 13:2–17; Numbers 12:10; 2 Samuel 3:29; 2 Kings 5:1–2, 2 Kings 5:6–7; 2 Chronicles 26:19–21; Matthew 8:2–3 parallels Mark 1:40–42, Luke 5:12–13; Luke 17:12–13
Boils
Exodus 9:9–11; Leviticus 13:18–23; Deuteronomy 28:27, Deuteronomy 28:35; 2 Kings 20:7 parallel Isaiah 38:21
The marks of suffering
John 20:25, John 20:27; Galatians 6:17
Healing of the body
Mark 5:25–29 parallels Matthew 9:20–22, Luke 8:43–44 See also Exodus 4:7; 2 Kings 5:10, 2 Kings 5:14; Job 33:25; Matthew 8:3–4 parallels Mark 1:41–42, Luke 5:13
And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse. When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
Certain actions and attitudes affect the health of the body
The body's response to godliness
Proverbs 14:30 See also Proverbs 3:7–8, Proverbs 4:20–22
A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
Godliness is no guarantee of bodily health
The body's response to sin
Psalm 38:3 Suffering and death are the result of sin in general, but specific experiences of suffering cannot usually be traced to specific sin. See also Psalm 32:2–3, Psalm 38:4–11, Psalm 109:18; Proverbs 5:11
There is no soundness in my body because of Your anger; there is no rest in my bones because of my sin.
The body's response to distress
Psalm 31:9–10 See also Psalm 44:25; Nahum 2:10
Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes fail from sorrow, my soul and body as well. For my life is consumed with grief and my years with groaning; my iniquity has drained my strength, and my bones are wasting away.
The body's response to fear
Job 4:14–15, Job 21:6; Isaiah 21:3; Daniel 10:15–17
Life here and now in the body
In the body'' meaningin this life''
2 Corinthians 5:6 See also 2 Corinthians 5:8–10; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 1:20, Philippians 1:22, Philippians 1:24; 2 Peter 1:13
Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord.
Body'' meaningself''
Psalm 63:1 See also Genesis 47:18; Nehemiah 9:37; 2 Corinthians 7:5
A Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God. Earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You. My body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water.
Bodily relationships
Parenthood
Genesis 15:4 See also Genesis 35:11; 2 Samuel 7:12; Micah 6:7; Romans 4:19; Hebrews 7:10
Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.”
Kinship
2 Samuel 5:1 parallel 1 Chronicles 11:1 See also Genesis 2:23, Genesis 29:14; Judges 9:2; Nehemiah 5:5; Isaiah 58:7
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.
Marriage
1 Corinthians 7:4 See also Matthew 19:5 parallel Mark 10:7–8; Ephesians 5:28–29, Ephesians 5:31; Genesis 2:24
The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife.
Rituals performed on the body
Circumcision: Genesis 17:13–14; Jeremiah 9:25; Ephesians 2:11; Leviticus 15:16; Numbers 8:7; Leviticus 19:28, Leviticus 21:5
The believer's body as a temple of the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 See also John 2:19–22 Jesus Christ also likens his body to a temple; Romans 8:10–11
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.
Believers are to devote their bodies to God
2 Corinthians 7:1 See also Romans 6:13, Romans 8:13, Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 9:27; 1 Thessalonians 4:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:23; James 3:2
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Sin at work in the body
The body is subject to sinful desires
Matthew 26:41 parallel Mark 14:38 See also Romans 6:6, Romans 7:23–24
“Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Bodily temptation is to be resisted
Romans 6:12 See also Romans 1:24, Romans 6:19; 1 Corinthians 6:13–16, 1 Corinthians 6:18; Jude 1:8
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.
Undue concern for the body is to be avoided
1 Timothy 4:8 See also Matthew 6:25–32 parallel Luke 12:22–30; Matthew 10:28 parallel Luke 12:4–5
For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.
The resurrection of the body
Dead bodies restored to this life
1 Kings 17:20–22; 2 Kings 4:32–36, 2 Kings 13:21; Matthew 9:25 parallels Mark 5:41–42, Luke 8:54–55; Luke 7:14–15; John 11:43–44
The resurrection body of believers
Philippians 3:21 See also Psalm 16:9–10; Isaiah 26:19; Romans 8:11, Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15:35–54
who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.
Bodies other than human
Idols of pagan gods
1 Samuel 5:4; Psalm 115:4–7, Psalm 135:15–17
Angelic beings
Isaiah 6:2; Ezekiel 1:11, Ezekiel 1:23, Ezekiel 10:12
Heavenly bodies
Matthew 24:29 parallels Mark 13:25, Luke 21:26; Acts 7:42; 1 Corinthians 15:40–41
Body in a metaphorical sense
A body of people: Ezra 8:20; 1 Timothy 4:14; Deuteronomy 4:8; Romans 2:20
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.