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Thanksgiving
Excerpt from the Lexham Bible Dictionary, the most advanced Bible dictionary.
The act of offering thanks or being thankful, usually to God. Often connected to provision, deliverance, or God’s character. Commonly associated in Scripture with meals and worship.
Lexham Bible Dictionary
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The Lexham Bible Dictionary
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving (תּוֹדָה‎, todah; εὐχαριστία, eucharistia). The act of offering thanks or being thankful, usually to God. Often connected to provision, deliverance, or God’s character. Commonly associated in Scripture with meals and worship.
Thanksgiving Hymns
Thanksgiving Hymns A song offering gratitude to God because He has counteracted suffering, oppression, sin, or another threat. Thanksgiving hymns typically speak of God’s ongoing love and faithfulness.
The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary
Thanksgiving
THANKSGIVING. Greek words derived from the root eucharist- are used in the NT almost exclusively in the sense of thanksgiving directed to God (in the LXX the verb and substantive do not occur in the Hellenistic sense until the apocryphal writings). The only exceptions are Acts 24:3 and Rom 16:4, although
Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible
Gratitude
Gratitude. Natural expression of thanks in response to blessings, protection, or love. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, gratitude is not a tool used to manipulate the will of God. It is never coerced or fabricated in one’s mind; rather, gratitude is a joyful commitment of one’s personality to God.In
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised
Thank; Thankful(ness); Thanksgiving
Thank; Thankful (ness); Thanksgiving An expression of gratitude, most often directed to God.
Tyndale Bible Dictionary
Gratitude
GRATITUDE Natural expression of thanks in response to blessings, protection, or love. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, gratitude is not a tool used to manipulate the will of God. It is never coerced or fabricated in one’s mind; rather, gratitude is a joyful commitment of one’s personality to God.In
The Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia
Thanksgiving
THANKSGIVING. The expression of gratitude or appreciation of God. It is acknowledged by man universally, but only known in its fullest degree by the Christian believer who sees God as the Creator of a world that was “good” (Gen 1:4, 31), the Provider of salvation to man immediately after he sinned and
Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving (also THANK OFFERING)The response a loving God expects from his people (Heb. tōdâ; Gk. eucharistɩ́a). Thanksgiving is an activity which involves the community of faith in both the OT and NT (e.g., 1 Chr. 16:35; Ezra 3:11; Ps. 44:8 [MT 9]; 75:1 [2]; 79:13; 2 Cor. 1:11; 4:15; Eph. 1:16).
Eerdmans Bible Dictionary
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving (Heb. hiphil yḏh; Gk. eucharistéō).† In biblical usage the response due to God from his people. Specific grounds for thanksgiving to God are numerous and include God’s faithfulness to the covenant (Ps. 57:9–10 [MT 10–11]; 107:8; 138:2), and his protection and deliverance of his
Dictionary of Paul and His Letters
Benediction
Benediction, blessing, doxology, thanksgivingThe four terms benediction, blessing, doxology and thanksgiving and are used in the Pauline letters to describe a range of joyful responses to God’s gracious saving activity in creation and redemption. God’s action in Christ is that of grace; our response
The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary
Thanksgiving
THANKSGIVING (Heb. tôdâ; Gk. eucharistia). A duty of which gratitude is the grace. This obligation of godliness is acknowledged by the universal sentiment of mankind; but as a Christian grace it has some blessed peculiarities. It is gratitude for all the benefits of divine Providence, especially for
Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
Thanksgiving
THANKSGIVING — the aspect of praise that gives thanks to God for what He does for us. Ideally, thanksgiving should spring from a grateful heart; but it is required of all believers, regardless of their initial attitude (1 Thess. 5:18). We should be grateful to God for all things (Eph. 5:20; Col. 3:17;
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
THANK; THANKS; THANKSGIVING
THANK; THANKS; THANKSGIVING<thank>, <thanks>, <thanks-giv’-ing>, <thanks’-giv-ing>: Both the verb and the nouns appear almost uniformly for יָדָה‎ [yadhah], and [εὐχαριστέω, eucharisteo], and their cognates. Eucharisteo is the usual Greek verb for “to thank,” but [yadhah] takes on this force only
Key passages
Mk 8:6–7

And he commanded the crowd to recline for a meal on the ground, and taking the seven loaves, after he had given thanks he broke them and began giving them to his disciples so that they could set them before them. And they set them before the crowd. And they had a few small fish, and …

Lk 22:19

And he took bread, and after giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Eph 1:15–16

Because of this I also, hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, making mention in my prayers,

Col 3:15–17

And the peace of Christ must rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom, with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God, …

See also
Topics & Themes
Holidays: Thanksgiving
Thankfulness