V
VAGABOND — a person who moves from place to place without a permanent home; also an aimless wanderer (Ps. 109:10, NKJV).
VAIN — empty; useless; for nothing (Ps. 73:13, NKJV; 1 Cor. 15:14, KJV).
VALIANT — brave (Jer. 46:15, NKJV).
VANITY — emptiness; worthlessness; uselessness. The word is found more than thirty times in the Old Testament (NKJV), mostly in the Book of Ecclesiastes. When the word “vanity” is used in the Bible in reference to a person, it describes the emptiness or worthlessness of human life (Job 7:3, KJV; Eccles. 1:2, NKJV; 2:1, NKJV; 5:10, NKJV).
When the word is used in reference to things, it is usually describing an idol (Isa. 41:29, KJV). Believers are taught to stay away from vain (empty) things and to focus on a fulfilling relationship with Christ. The act of a person trusting anything but God to meet their needs is vanity (Eph. 4:17–24, KJV).
VARIANCE — separate (Matt. 10:35, KJV); turmoil (Gal. 5:20, KJV).
VASHTI [vash´-ti] — the beautiful queen of King Ahasuerus. She was sent away because she refused to let the king show her off during a drunken feast (party) (Esther 1:11). After she was gone, Esther became Ahasuerus’s new queen, and God used her to save the Jewish people from being killed.
VASSAL — a slave or a person who has an unimportant place in society. Hoshea, king of Israel, became the vassal of Shalmaneser, the king of Assyria, and had to pay him tribute money (taxes) (2 Kings 17:3, NKJV). Jehoiakim, king of Judah, became the vassal of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, for three years (2 Kings 24:1, NKJV).
VEIL — a woman’s head covering (Gen. 24:65; 38:14).A veil was also a curtain in the tabernacle or temple that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies (or Most Holy Place).
VENGEANCE — a harmful action taken by one person against another person who did something wrong or caused harm to them. Only God is qualified to take vengeance because His actions are based on His holiness, righteousness, and justice (Deut. 32:35, NKJV; Rom. 12:19, NKJV).
VESSEL — any kind of container used to hold things. The vessels of the Hebrew people were usually made of clay, but vessels of glass, metal, leather, wicker, and stone were also used. Vessels were used to hold all kinds of things including documents (Jer. 32:14, NKJV), wine, fruits, and oil (Jer. 40:10, NKJV).
Sometimes ships are called vessels (Isa. 18:2) because they “hold” people and goods. A vessel can also be a person who “holds” within them the knowledge of God (2 Cor. 4:6–7, NKJV).
Just like a clay vessel reflects the craftsmanship of its potter, people reflect the craftsmanship of God. In God’s hands we are molded and formed according to His plan (Rom. 9:21–23, NKJV).
VESTMENT, VESTURE — robe (2 Kings 10:22); clothes (Matt. 27:35).
VEXATION — wrong (Eccles. 1:14, KJV); trouble (2 Chron. 15:5, KJV); sadness (Isa. 65:14, KJV).
VILE — disgusting; despised (Ps. 12:8, NKJV).
VINE, VINEYARD — a wandering plant that produces fruit. It usually means grapes and grapevines (Matt. 26:29).
VINEGAR — a drink made from wine that had been soured or overfermented.
VINTAGE — a harvest (Lev. 26:5).
VIOLATE — to commit violence against a person or group (Ezek. 22:26, NKJV).
VIOLENCE — the use of physical force to hurt or destroy. Violence is against the rules of God’s perfect order.
VIPER — a poisonous snake (Acts 28:3, NKJV); a symbol for evil leaders (Matt. 3:7, NKJV; 12:34, NKJV).
VIRGIN — a person who has not had sexual intercourse. A priest was only allowed to marry a virgin (Gen. 24:16; Deut. 22:15–28; Isa. 7:14).
VIRGIN BIRTH — the phrase “virgin birth” is the explanation of how Jesus became human; it means that Mary did not have sexual relations with any man when she became pregnant with Jesus (Matt. 1:18–25). Her pregnancy was a miracle from God.
VIRTUE — moral excellence or goodness (Phil. 4:8, NKJV). Virtue is considered a necessary ingredient in the exercise of faith (2 Pet. 1:3, 5, NKJV). The Greek word for virtue is sometimes used to show the idea of power or strength (Luke 6:19, KJV).
A modern vineyard at the foot of the mound of ancient Lachish. As in biblical times, winemaking is still an important industry in Israel.
VISAGE — face (Dan. 3:19, KJV); representation (Isa. 52:14, NKJV).
VISION — a revelation from God (Acts 9:10).
VISIONS — sort of like dreams where supernatural insight (wisdom) or awareness (knowledge) is given by revelation. The difference between a dream and a vision is that dreams happen only during sleep and visions can happen while a person is awake (Dan. 10:7).
VOCATION — a calling or an invitation to a profession (job), or way of life. In religious thoughts or ideas, the word “vocation” is not used in reference to a person’s job. It refers to the invitation God has given to all people to become His children through Christ’s work. This vocation, or calling, does not come to people because they deserve it; it comes strictly as a result of God’s grace (2 Tim. 1:9). People are free to decide whether or not they will accept this invitation.
VOID — emptiness; without; lifeless. When the earth was first created, it was void and without form (Gen. 1:2, NKJV). This means it was an empty place without any life. God had not yet filled it with the plants and creatures that He later created.
VOW — a promise or pledge to perform a specific act or to behave in a certain manner. The first mention of a vow in the Bible is of Jacob at Bethel (Gen. 28:20–22; 31:13, NKJV).