'Open' in the Bible

Then God said, “Let the waters swarm and abundantly produce living creatures, and let birds soar above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.”

Isaac went out to bow down [in prayer] in the field in the [early] evening; he raised his eyes and looked, and camels were coming.

So now, please take your [hunting] gear, your quiver [of arrows] and your bow, and go out into the open country and hunt game for me;

But Rebekah overheard what Isaac said to Esau his son; and when Esau had gone to the open country to hunt for game that he might bring back,

In this way you shall live with us; the country will be open to you; live and do business in it and acquire property and possessions in it.”

Now a certain man found Joseph, and saw that he was wandering around and had lost his way in the field; so the man asked him, “What are you looking for?”

“Sanctify to Me [that is, set apart for My purpose] every firstborn, the first offspring of every womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of animal; it is Mine.”

For it happened, when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, that the Lord struck every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animal. Therefore, I sacrifice to the Lord all the males, the first [to be born] of every womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem.’

“If a man leaves a pit open, or digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it,

“All the firstborn males among your livestock belong to Me, whether cattle or sheep.

Then he shall tear it open by its wings, but shall not sever it. And the priest shall offer it up in smoke on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a sweet and soothing aroma to the Lord.

He shall sprinkle [the blood] seven times on the one to be cleansed from the leprosy and shall pronounce him [ceremonially] clean. Then he shall let the live bird go free over the open field.

But he shall let the live bird go free outside the city into the open field. So he shall make atonement for the house, and it will be clean.”

This is so that the sons of Israel may bring their sacrifices which they were sacrificing [to idols] in the open field [where they killed them], that they may bring them in to the Lord, at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting to the priest, and sacrifice them as sacrifices of peace offerings to the Lord.

for they are wholly given to Me from among the Israelites. I have taken them for Myself instead of all who are born first, the firstborn of all the Israelites.

Every open container [in the tent], which has no covering tied down on it, is unclean.

Also, anyone in the open field who touches one who has been killed with a sword or who has died [of natural causes], or a human bone or a grave, shall be unclean for seven days.

The oracle of one who hears the words of God,Who sees the vision of the Almighty,Falling down, but having his eyes open and uncovered,

The oracle of him who hears the words of GodAnd knows the knowledge of the Most High,Who sees the vision of the Almighty,Falling down, but having his eyes open and uncovered:

Then you shall collect all its spoil (plunder) into the middle of its open square and burn the city and set fire to the spoil as a whole burnt offering to the Lord your God. It shall be a ruin forever. It shall not be built again.

but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend to him whatever he needs.

For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor in your land.’

“However, if the man finds the girl who is engaged (legally betrothed) in the [open] field, and seizes her and is intimate with her [by force], then only the man who lies with her shall be put to death.

When he found her in the [open] field, the engaged girl [may have] cried out for help, but there was no one to [hear and] save her.

The Lord will open for you His good treasure house, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow.

Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who had not gone out after Israel; so they left the city open and unguarded and they pursued Israel.

Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring out to me those five [Amorite] kings from the cave.”

They waited [a very long time] until they became embarrassed and uneasy, but he still did not open the doors of the upper room. So [finally] they took the key and opened them, and behold, their master had fallen to the floor, dead.

So God split open the hollow place that was at Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his spirit (strength) returned and he was revived. Therefore he named it En-hakkore (spring which is calling), which is at Lehi to this day.

and they turned aside there to go in and spend the night in Gibeah. And the Levite went in and sat down in the open square of the city, because no man invited them into his house to spend the night.

The Benjamites went out against their army and were lured away from the city, and they began to strike and kill some of the people as at other times, on the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country, about thirty men of Israel.

The Ammonites came out and lined up for battle at the entrance of the [city] gate, but the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were [stationed] by themselves in the field.

Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in huts (temporary shelters), and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Should I go to my house to eat and drink and lie with my wife? By your life and the life of your soul, I will not do this thing.”

The cedar on the house within had wood carvings in the shape of gourds and open flowers. Everything was cedar; no stone was visible.

He carved all the walls of the house all around with carved engravings of cherubim, palm-shaped decorations, and open flowers, [both] the inner and the outer sanctuaries.

So he made two doors of olive wood, and he carved on them carvings of cherubim, palm-shaped decorations, and open flowers; and overlaid them with gold; and he hammered out overlays of gold on the cherubim and palm decorations.

He carved cherubim, palm-shaped decorations, and open flowers on the doors, and overlaid them with gold evenly applied on the carved work.

that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward the place of which You have said, ‘My Name (Presence) shall be there,’ that You may listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place.

that Your eyes may be open to the supplication of Your servant and to the supplication of Your people Israel, to listen to them and be attentive to them whenever they call to You.

Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were each sitting on his throne, dressed in their [royal] robes, [in an open place] at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.

Then Elisha prayed and said, “Lord, please, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servants eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha.

When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men, so that they may see.” And the Lord opened their eyes and they saw. Behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.

Then the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “I will tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know that we are hungry; so they have left the camp to hide themselves in the open country, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive and get into the city.’”

Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head and say, ‘Thus says the Lord: “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’ Then open the door and flee and do not delay.”

And he said, “Open the window to the east,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot!” And he shot. And Elisha said, “The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram (Syria); for you will strike the Arameans in Aphek until you have destroyed them.”

And it happened that as a man was being buried [on an open bier], they saw a marauding band [coming]; and they threw the man into Elisha’s grave. But when the [body of the] man [was being let down and] touched the bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet.

Then Menahem struck [the town of] Tiphsah and all who were in it and its borders from Tirzah; [he attacked it] because they did not surrender to him; so he struck it and ripped up all the women there who were pregnant.

O Lord, bend down Your ear and hear; Lord, open Your eyes and see; hear the [taunting] words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to taunt and defy the living God.

The Ammonites came out and lined up in battle formation at the entrance of the city [Medeba], while the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.

that Your eyes may be open toward this house day and night, toward the place in which You have said that You would put Your Name (Presence), to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place.

“Now, O my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.

Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer offered in this place.

Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting, each on his throne, arrayed in their robes; they were sitting at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.

So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered at Jerusalem within three days. It was the twentieth [day] of the ninth month, and all the people sat in the open square in front of the house of God, trembling because of [the seriousness of] this matter and because of the heavy rain.

please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You, day and night, on behalf of Your servants, the sons (descendants) of Israel (Jacob), confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have committed against You; I and my father’s house have sinned.

Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same way the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand.

So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the [open] square of the city, which was in front of the king’s gate.

and let the robe and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble officials. Let him dress the man whom the king delights to honor [in the royal robe] and lead him on horseback through the open square of the city, and proclaim before him, ‘This is what shall be done for the man whom the king desires to honor.’”

So Haman took the royal robe and the horse and dressed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the open square of the city, proclaiming before him, “This is what shall be done for the man whom the king desires to honor.”

“But oh, that God would speak,And open His lips [to speak] against you,

“Behold, He tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt;He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.

“You also open Your eyes upon himAnd bring him into judgment with Yourself.

“His arrows surround me.He pierces my kidneys (vital organs) without mercy;He pours out my gall on the ground.

“He breaks open (mine) shafts far away from where people live,[In places] forgotten by the [human] foot;They dangle [in the mines] and hang away from men.

‘My root is spread out and open to the waters,And the dew lies all night upon my branch.

“I must speak so that I may get relief;I will open my lips and answer.

“Behold, I have opened my mouth [to begin my speech];My tongue in my mouth is going to speak.

“He strikes them like the wickedIn a public place,

‘For he adds rebellion [in his unsubmissive, defiant attitude toward God] to his [unacknowledged] sin;He claps his hands among us [in open mockery and contempt of God],And he multiplies his words [of accusation] against God.’”

“Their young ones become strong, they grow up in the open field;They leave and do not return to them.

“Who can open the doors (jaws) of his face?Around his [open jaws and] teeth there is terror.

For there is nothing trustworthy or reliable or truthful in what they say;Their heart is destruction [just a treacherous chasm, a yawning gulf of lies].Their throat is an open grave;They [glibly] flatter with their [silken] tongue.

The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous [those with moral courage and spiritual integrity]And His ears are open to their cry.

They open their mouths wide against me;They say, “Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it!”

“I am mute, I do not open my mouth,Because it is You who has done it.

O Lord, open my lips,That my mouth may declare Your praise.

You have made the land quake, You have split it open;Heal its rifts, for it shakes and totters.

You made men (charioteers) ride over our heads [in defeat];We went through fire and through water,Yet You brought us out into a [broad] place of abundance [to be refreshed].

You broke open fountains and streams;You dried up ever-flowing rivers.

I will open my mouth in a parable [to instruct using examples];I will utter dark and puzzling sayings of old [that contain important truth]—

“I am the Lord your God,Who brought you up from the land of Egypt.Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.

You give it to them, they gather it up;You open Your hand, they are filled and satisfied with good [things].

Open to me the [temple] gates of righteousness;I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the Lord.

Open my eyes [to spiritual truth] so that I may beholdWonderful things from Your law.

As when the one plows and breaks open the ground [and the soil scatters behind him],Our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol [by the injustices of the wicked].

You open Your handAnd satisfy the desire of every living thing.

“How long, O naive ones [you who are easily misled], will you love being simple-minded and undiscerning?How long will scoffers [who ridicule and deride] delight in scoffing,How long will fools [who obstinately mock truth] hate knowledge?

When you walk, your steps will not be impeded [for your path will be clear and open];And when you run, you will not stumble.

The foolish woman is restless and noisy;She is naive and easily misled and thoughtless, and knows nothing at all [of eternal value].

Do not love [excessive] sleep, or you will become poor;Open your eyes [so that you can do your work] and you will be satisfied with bread.

And you will be [as unsteady] as one who lies down in the middle of the sea,And [as vulnerable to disaster] as one who lies down on the top of a ship’s mast, saying,

Better is an open reprimand [of loving correction]Than love that is hidden.

He who robs his father or his motherAnd says, “This is no sin,”Is [not only a thief but also] the companion of a man who destroys.

Open your mouth for the mute,For the rights of all who are unfortunate and defenseless;

Open your mouth, judge righteously,And administer justice for the afflicted and needy.

(The Shulammite Bride)“I was asleep, but my heart was awake.A voice [in my dream]! My beloved was knocking:‘Open to me, my sister, my darling,My dove, my perfect one!For my head is drenched with the [heavy night] dew;My hair [is covered] with the dampness of the night.’

“I arose to open for my beloved;And my hands dripped with myrrh,And my fingers with liquid [sweet-scented] myrrh,On the handles of the bolt.

In that day [when foreign armies swarm the land] the Lord will shave with a razor, hired from the regions beyond the Euphrates (that is, with the king of Assyria), [that razor will shave] the head and the hair of the legs; and it will also remove the beard [leaving Judah stripped, shamed and scorned].

The Arameans on the east and the Philistines on the west;And they devour Israel with gaping jaws.In spite of all this, God’s anger does not turn awayBut His hand is still stretched out [in judgment].

“Then I will set on his shoulder the key of the house of David;When he opens no one will shut,When he shuts no one will open.