hope. The most common Hebrew noun for “hope” is tiqwāh H9536 (Ruth 1:12 et al.), although other terms or expressions can signify attitudes that are related to hope. According to the Bible, no one should put his trust in riches (Job 31:24; Ps. 52:7; Lk. 12:13-21; 1 Tim. 6:17), or hope in human beings rather than God (Ps. 118:8-9; 146:3-4; Jer. 17:5-6).

Reliance on idols is futile (Jer. 48:13; Hab. 2:18-19), and dependence on other nations is, to say the least, uncertain (Ps. 33:10; Isa. 19:3; 20:5-6; 31:1, 3; 37:6-7; Ezek. 29:13-16). Misplaced hope may prove false, and in some cases sinful. But it should be observed that even where an instance of hope is viewed as sinful, hope itself is nowhere in the Bible regarded as evil. Throughout the Bible, hope is considered a desirable attribute of human life. Even Job in all his suffering does not curse hope as a cruel tantalizer, but laments the fact that his days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle and come to their end without hope (Job 7:6).



In the NT, the corresponding Greek noun elpis G1828 and its cognate verb elpizō G1827 occur more than eighty times. The apostle Paul sets up Abraham as an example: “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations” (Rom. 4:18). Elsewhere he identifies hope as a gift of the Holy spirit that, with faith and love, is an essential characteristic of the Christian when prophecies, tongues, and knowledge pass away (1 Cor. 13:8, 13). The biblical concept of hope is not mere expectation and desire, as in Greek literature, but includes trust, confidence, refuge in the God of hope (Rom. 5:2-5; 15:13). Christ in you is the hope of glory (Col. 1:27; cf. 1 Tim. 1:1). All creation hopes for redemption (Rom. 8:19-25). Peter says that we have “a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:3). John the apostle adds that we purify ourselves by our hope that “when he appears, we shall be like him” (1 Jn. 3:2-3).