Reference: Free
Hastings
In the use of this adj. in the Eng. Bible notice 1Pe 2:16 as free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God, that is, free from the Law, yet servants (slaves) to the higher law of love to God. Ps 88:5 'free among the dead,' a difficult passage: the probable meaning of the Heb. is 'separated from companionship' or perhaps from Divine protection. Ac 22:28 'I was free born,' that is, as a Roman citizen. 2Th 3:1 'Pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free course' (Gr. literally 'May run,' as Authorized Version margin and RV): 'free' means 'unhindered' as in Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost, v. ii. 738, 'For mine own part, I breathe free breath.' Ps 51:12 'uphold me with thy free spirit' (Revised Version margin and Amer. RV 'willing'): the word means generous, noble, and the reference is to the man's own spirit (RV 'with a free spirit').