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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Young Men; Young Women
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yung (בּחוּר, baÌ„hÌ£uÌ„r, × ×¢×¨, na‛ar; νεανιÌας, neanıÌas, νεανιÌσκος, neanıÌskos): “Young man†is generally in the Old Testament the translation of baÌ„hÌ£uÌ„r, from baÌ„hÌ£ar, “to prove,†“to choose,†and of na‛ar (literally, “boy,†but used sometimes also of a girl). The former term denotes a young man, no longer a mere youth, but liable to military service (; ; ; , etc.). In , the King James Version “Joshua ... the servant of Moses, one of his young men†(behÌ£urı̄m), the Revised Version (British and American) renders “one of his chosen men,†margin “from his youth.†Na‛ar is frequently used (singular and plural) of soldiers (, ; ; , , ; , , , etc.). Abraham's “young men†(ne‛aÌ„rı̄m) were “trained servants,†“trained men,†warriors (; compare the Revised Version (British and American)). The word is often in the Old Testament translated “servantâ€: thus in the Revised Version (British and American) for the King James Version “young man,†“young men†(; ; , the Revised Version margin). In the New Testament, the ordinary words for “young man†are neanias (; ; , , ) and neaniskos (, ; , etc.). “Young men†in is neoteroi, comparative of nÌeos, “young,†recent; the feminine of the latter word is “young women†in , and neoÌ„Ìterai is “younger women†(the Revised Version (British and American) “widowsâ€) in . In both the Old Testament and the New Testament young men are earnestly exhorted to wisdom and sober-mindedness (, ; ; , , ; , “discreetâ€; compare The Wisdom of Solomon 9:11), etc.