Being in readiness for service or for some future appointment or event. Wild animals and the wicked lie in wait to ambush the unsuspecting; servants wait on their masters; believers and the whole creation wait for their renewal by God. God, too, waits for sinners to repent.
Waiting for future events
Waiting to see what happens
Ruth 3:18; Jonah 4:5; Acts 28:6
Waiting for a period of time
Genesis 8:10–12; Leviticus 12:4–5; Ezekiel 44:26
Waiting for people
Waiting to meet others
Exodus 5:20, Exodus 7:15; 2 Samuel 16:1; 1 Kings 20:38
Waiting to be joined by others
1 Corinthians 11:33 See also Exodus 24:14; Acts 17:16, Acts 20:5–6; 1 Corinthians 11:21
So, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.
Waiting for word from others
Job 29:21–23 See also 1 Samuel 10:8, 1 Samuel 20:19; 2 Samuel 15:28; Luke 3:15
Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my counsel. After my words, they spoke no more; my speech settled on them like dew. They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers.
Waiting for God
For God's instruction
Numbers 9:8; Psalm 106:13; Habakkuk 2:1
For God's promise
Hebrews 6:15 See also Habakkuk 2:3; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4–5; Hebrews 11:13
And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise.
For God's kingdom
Luke 2:25; Mark 15:43 parallel Luke 23:51
For vindication from God
Habakkuk 3:16 See also Psalm 119:84; Isaiah 51:5; Zephaniah 3:8; Revelation 6:11
I heard and trembled within; my lips quivered at the sound. Decay entered my bones; I trembled where I stood. Yet I must wait patiently for the day of distress to come upon the people who invade us.
For Jesus Christ's return
James 5:7–8 See also Luke 12:36; 1 Corinthians 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Hebrews 9:28
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil — how patient he is for the fall and spring rains. You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.
Believers and creation wait for renewal
Romans 8:19–21, Romans 8:23 See also Isaiah 65:17; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15:42–43; 2 Peter 3:13; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 21:1
The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Lying in wait to attack
Preparing for military assault
Criminals wait for victims
Proverbs 1:11–13 See also Deuteronomy 19:11; Psalm 10:8; Proverbs 23:27–28, Proverbs 24:15; Jeremiah 5:26
If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause, let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit. We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.
The wicked lie in wait for God's servants
Psalm 37:32 See also Judges 16:2 The Philistines lay in wait for Samson; Psalm 59:3, Psalm 71:10–11, Psalm 119:95; Jeremiah 20:10 Jeremiah's enemies were looking for an opportunity against him; Acts 23:21 Some Jews were waiting to kill Paul.
Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them,
Jesus Christ's enemies waited to trap him
Luke 11:53–54; John 7:1 See also Matthew 12:10 parallel Mark 3:2; Mark 11:18 parallel Luke 19:47; Mark 12:13; Luke 20:20
As Jesus went on from there, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose Him bitterly and to ply Him with questions about many things, waiting to catch Him in something He might say.
After this, Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. He did not want to travel in Judea, because the Jews there were trying to kill Him.
Animals lie in wait for prey
Job 38:40; Psalm 10:9; Jeremiah 5:6; Lamentations 3:10
Waiting as delaying
Joshua 18:3 See also Judges 18:9; 2 Kings 7:9, 2 Kings 9:3; Ecclesiastes 5:4; Jeremiah 4:6; Acts 22:16
So Joshua said to the Israelites, “How long will you put off entering and possessing the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?
Waiting as a servant
Matthew 8:15 parallels Mark 1:31, Luke 4:39 See also 1 Kings 1:4; Luke 12:37, Luke 17:8; Acts 6:2
So He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve Him.
God waits for sinners to repent
2 Peter 3:9 See also Luke 15:20; Romans 2:4; 1 Timothy 1:16; 1 Peter 3:20
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
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.