What the Bible Says About Hope

"Hope" appears 130 times in the King James Bible, counting "hope's" in Acts 26:7. The first is Ruth 1:12, when Naomi tells her daughters-in-law, "If I should say, I have hope." The last is 1 John 3:3. With hoped, hopeth and hoping, the words come 144 times, 76 in the Old Testament and 68 in the New, in 135 verses.

In the Old Testament the KJV's hope stands for 15 different Hebrew words. Two of them, tiqvah and yachal, are behind 45 of its 76. In the New Testament 66 of the 68 are elpis, the Greek noun, or elpizō, the verb. Below are passages on hope, each quoted word for word with its reference. Short notes give the Hebrew and Greek words behind the English. A table near the end counts the words behind hope, and a list gives every verse where the King James text says it.

An expected end (Jeremiah 29:11)

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (Jeremiah 29:11)

"An expected end" is two Hebrew words, acharit and tiqvah. Strong's Concordance defines acharit as "the last or end, hence, the future; also posterity." It defines tiqvah as "literally a cord (as an attachment); figuratively, expectancy."

Tiqvah is the Hebrew word the KJV renders hope most often, 23 times. Among its other renderings, it's expectation 7 times. In Job 6:8 it's "the thing that I long for," and here it's "expected."

There is hope of a tree (Job 14:7 to 9)

7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. 8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; 9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. (Job 14:7-9)

"Hope" is tiqvah. It comes 13 times in Job, more than in any other book of the Bible.

In the Psalms

My hope is in thee (Psalm 39:7)

And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. (Psalm 39:7)

"Hope" is tochelet, which Strong's derives from yachal and defines as "expectation." It appears six times, and the KJV renders it hope each time. "Wait" is qavah, which Strong's defines as "to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect."

Thou art my hope (Psalm 71:5 and 14)

For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth. (Psalm 71:5)

But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. (Psalm 71:14)

"My hope" in verse 5 is tiqvah, and "my trust" is mibtach. "I will hope" in verse 14 is yachal, which Strong's defines as "to wait; by implication, to be patient, hope."

I hope in thy word (Psalm 119:81, 114 and 116)

My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word. (Psalm 119:81)

Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. (Psalm 119:114)

Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. (Psalm 119:116)

"I hope" in verses 81 and 114 is yachal. "My hope" in verse 116 is seber, which Strong's defines as "expectation." Seber appears only twice. The other is Psalm 146:5, "whose hope is in the LORD his God." Psalm 119 says hope or hoped in eight verses, more than any other chapter of the Bible.

In his word do I hope (Psalm 130:5 to 7)

5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. 6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. 7 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. (Psalm 130:5-7)

"Wait" and "doth wait" in verse 5 are qavah, and "hope" in verses 5 and 7 is yachal. The KJV supplies "waiteth" and "I say, more than" in verse 6 in italics. "Mercy" in verse 7 is chesed, the word behind lovingkindness on the love page. Verses 3 and 4 are on the forgiveness page.

Hope deferred (Proverbs 13:12)

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12)

This hope is tochelet, the word behind "my hope" in Psalm 39:7. "Deferred" is mashak, which Strong's defines as "to draw, used in a great variety of applications," among them "to delay." This is the only verse where the KJV renders it deferred.

There is hope (Ecclesiastes 9:4)

For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. (Ecclesiastes 9:4)

This hope is bittachon, which Strong's defines as "trust." It appears three times. In 2 Kings 18:19 and Isaiah 36:4 the KJV renders it confidence, both times in "What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?"

Hope in thine end (Jeremiah 31:17)

And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border. (Jeremiah 31:17)

"Hope" is tiqvah. Verse 15 is on the grief page.

A door of hope (Hosea 2:15)

And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. (Hosea 2:15)

"Hope" is tiqvah. Strong's gives the sense of the name Achor as "troubled."

Prisoners of hope (Zechariah 9:12)

Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; (Zechariah 9:12)

"Hope" is tiqvah. "Strong hold" is bitstsaron, which Strong's defines as "a fortress." This is its only appearance in the Hebrew Bible.

Against hope believed in hope (Romans 4:18)

Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. (Romans 4:18)

Abraham is named in verse 16. Both hopes are elpis, which Strong's defines as "expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence." The KJV renders it hope 53 times. "Against hope" is par' elpida and "in hope" is ep' elpidi, the same noun after two different prepositions. Verse 20 is on the strength page.

Hope maketh not ashamed (Romans 5:3 to 5)

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:3-5)

Both hopes are elpis. "Experience" in verse 4 is dokimē, which Strong's defines as "test (abstractly or concretely); by implication, trustiness." The KJV renders it proof three times, as in "ye know the proof of him" in Philippians 2:22. "Maketh not ashamed" is kataischunō, which Strong's defines as "to shame down, i.e. disgrace or (by implication) put to the blush."

Hope that is seen is not hope (Romans 8:24 and 25)

24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:24-25)

The first three hopes in verse 24 are elpis. "Hope for" at the end of the verse and in verse 25 is elpizō, the verb Strong's derives from it. "Wait for" is apekdechomai, which Strong's defines as "to expect fully." Romans 8 says hope six times, more than any other chapter of the New Testament.

The God of hope (Romans 12:12 and 15:4 and 13)

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; (Romans 12:12)

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4)

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Romans 15:13)

Every hope in these verses is elpis. Romans has the noun 13 times, more than any other book of the New Testament.

An anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6:18 and 19)

18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; (Hebrews 6:18-19)

"Hope" in verse 18 is elpis. In verse 19 the KJV supplies hope in italics, since the Greek opens with "which." "Anchor" is ankura, which appears four times in the New Testament. The other three are in Acts 27, at verses 29, 30 and 40.

The profession of our faith (Hebrews 10:23)

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (Hebrews 10:23)

"Faith" in this verse is elpis, the noun the KJV renders hope everywhere else. This is the one place it's faith.

The substance of things hoped for (Hebrews 11:1)

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

"Hoped for" is elpizō. "Substance" is hupostasis, which Strong's defines as "a setting under (support), i.e. (figuratively) concretely, essence, or abstractly, assurance (objectively or subjectively)." "Evidence" is elegchos, which Strong's defines as "proof, conviction."

A lively hope (1 Peter 1:3)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1 Peter 1:3)

"Hope" is elpis. "Lively" is zaō, which Strong's defines as "to live (literally or figuratively)." The KJV renders it lively three times, here, in "the lively oracles" of Acts 7:38 and in "lively stones" in 1 Peter 2:5.

A reason of the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:15)

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:15)

"Hope" is elpis. "Answer" is apologia, which Strong's defines as "a plea ('apology')." The KJV renders it answer four times and defence three times, as in "hear ye my defence" in Acts 22:1.

Every man that hath this hope (1 John 3:2 and 3)

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1 John 3:2-3)

The hope of verse 3 is the last in the King James Bible. It's elpis.

The words behind hope

The KJV says hope, hoped, hopeth or hoping 144 times. Counted by their Strong's numbers, these 18 Hebrew and Greek words stand behind 142 of them. In Jeremiah 3:23 and Hebrews 6:19 the KJV supplies the word in italics.

In Jeremiah 18:12, as in Isaiah 57:10 and Jeremiah 2:25, "There is no hope" is one Hebrew word, a form of yaash, which Strong's defines as "to desist, i.e. (figuratively) to despond." Mibtach's one hope is Jeremiah 17:7, on the worry page. Apelpizō's is Luke 6:35, on the love page. Elpizō is also a form of trust 18 times, as in "for I trust to see you in my journey" in Romans 15:24.

Every place the KJV says hope

Hope, hoped, hopeth and hoping come in these 135 verses.

• Ruth 1:12
• Ezra 10:2
• Esther 9:1
• Job 4:6, 5:16, 6:11, 6:20, 7:6, 8:13, 8:14, 11:18, 11:20, 14:7, 14:19, 17:15, 19:10, 27:8, 31:24, 41:9
• Psalms 16:9, 22:9, 31:24, 33:18, 33:22, 38:15, 39:7, 42:5, 42:11, 43:5, 71:5, 71:14, 78:7, 119:43, 119:49, 119:74, 119:81, 119:114, 119:116, 119:147, 119:166, 130:5, 130:7, 131:3, 146:5, 147:11
• Proverbs 10:28, 11:7, 13:12, 14:32, 19:18, 26:12, 29:20
• Ecclesiastes 9:4
• Isaiah 38:18, 57:10
• Jeremiah 2:25, 3:23, 14:8, 17:7, 17:13, 17:17, 18:12, 31:17, 50:7
• Lamentations 3:18, 3:21, 3:24, 3:26, 3:29
• Ezekiel 13:6, 19:5, 37:11
• Hosea 2:15
• Joel 3:16
• Zechariah 9:12
• Luke 6:34, 6:35, 23:8
• Acts 2:26, 16:19, 23:6, 24:15, 24:26, 26:6, 26:7, 27:20, 28:20
• Romans 4:18, 5:2, 5:4, 5:5, 8:20, 8:24, 8:25, 12:12, 15:4, 15:13
• 1 Corinthians 9:10, 13:7, 13:13, 15:19
• 2 Corinthians 1:7, 3:12, 8:5, 10:15
• Galatians 5:5
• Ephesians 1:18, 2:12, 4:4
• Philippians 1:20, 2:23
• Colossians 1:5, 1:23, 1:27
• 1 Thessalonians 1:3, 2:19, 4:13, 5:8
• 2 Thessalonians 2:16
• 1 Timothy 1:1, 3:14
• Titus 1:2, 2:13, 3:7
• Hebrews 3:6, 6:11, 6:18, 6:19, 7:19, 11:1
• 1 Peter 1:3, 1:13, 1:21, 3:15
• 1 John 3:3

Psalm 42:5 and 11, Psalm 43:5, Lamentations 3:21 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13 are on the grief page. Jeremiah 17:7 is on the worry page. Luke 6:35 and 1 Corinthians 13:7 and 13 are on the love page.

Worry, fear, grief, strength, love and forgiveness

Worry, fear, grief, strength, love and forgiveness have pages of their own. They're What the Bible Says About Worry, What the Bible Says About Fear, What the Bible Says About Grief, What the Bible Says About Strength, What the Bible Says About Love and What the Bible Says About Forgiveness.

How this page was made

Every verse is quoted from the 1769 standard text of the King James Version and checked word for word against two more digital copies. The printed KJV sets supplied words in italics, which this page doesn't show. Verse numbers follow the KJV. Hebrew Bibles number some of these verses differently, among them Psalm 39:7, which is 39:8 there, and Hosea 2:15, which is 2:17.

Hebrew words were identified with the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. Greek words were identified with STEPBible's tagged Greek New Testament. The counts of the words behind hope come from the Strong's numbers in the CrossWire Bible Society's KJV, each checked against the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible or STEPBible's Greek. Greek counts follow the Textus Receptus as STEPBible gives it. Every Greek word the notes cite in a quoted verse stands in all eight Greek editions STEPBible compares. Some quoted words stand in only two of those eight, the Textus Receptus and the Byzantine text, among them "God" in "the Lord God" in 1 Peter 3:15, where six have Christ, and the notes cite no Greek for them. STEPBible is a Tyndale House Cambridge project. STEPBible's data and the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible are both shared under CC BY 4.0. The definitions come from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890). If you find a mistake, tell us through the support page.

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