What does it mean to be a MAN?

Bible Verses on Manhood – compiled by Nate Wilson for Beni’s 13^th Birthday.

My method was to look for words in the Hebrew and Greek texts of the Bible that were unique to the male gender, list the references, then categorize the references by topic. The words I looked up were זכר, αρρην, and ανηρ. There are other more generic words for “man” in the Bible which are sometimes used to denote “mankind” and sometimes mature males (אדם, איש, and ανθροπος), which are not listed here, so this word study should not be considered comprehensive of all Biblical references to men, but it is still instructive to see the patterns from the uses of the gender exclusive words surveyed here.

A MAN PROVIDES & PROTECTS:

Male priests brought food to their families Lev. 6:18, 29; 7:6; Num. 18:10; 2 Chron. 31:19
Soldiers were men: Num 1:3; Num 31:7; Judges 21:11; 1 Kings 11:16,
Men got help for the sick: Matt 14:35; Luke 9:38

A MAN IS A REPRESENTATIVE:

Of God: (image of God) Gen 1:27; 5:2; Matt 19:4
Of a household

i. Census was taken of men: Num. 1-3; Num. 26:62; Josh 17:2; Ez. 8; Matt. 14:21; John 6:10; Matt. 7:24; Acts 4:4

ii. Public addresses were made to “men and brothers” Acts 2, 13, 15:7, 17:22, 19:35, 21:28, 22:1, 23:1, 28:17 while women were to keep silent and ask questions at home I Tim 2:12ff

Of other men: traveling as messengers for Cornelius Acts 10, and Jerusalem Council Acts 15:22

A MAN IS A SPIRITUAL LEADER:

Synagogue leaders: Luke 8:41; (cf. Acts 18:8,17)
John’s disciples: Luke 7:20,
Jesus’ disciples: Acts 1:16,21;
Elders and deacons: I Tim 3:2,12, Pray I Tim. 2:8

A MAN SHOULD BE RIGHTEOUS:

Claimed by God in circumcision: Gen 17:10ff;
Firstborn belong to God: Deut 15:19; Luke 2:23;
Can be wicked/sinful Luke 24:7; Luke 5:8; Acts 20:30
or just Luke 23:50; Mark 6:20; Mat 1:19; Acts 6:3; *Rom 4:8*

MOST MEN ARE A HUSBAND:

Homosexuality outlawed: Lev 18:22; 20:13; Rom. 1:27
“Man” used interchangeably with “Husband:” Luke 1:27, 2:36; Gal 4:27; Rom 7:2-3; John 4:16; I Cor 7:2-3
Headship over wife: I Cor 11:3ff, Eph 5:22f and
Love commanded toward wife: Eph 5:25; Col 3:19; I Pet 3:7

TO BE A MAN IS TO BE MATURE:

Put away childish selfishness: I Cor 13:11
Mature in knowledge and fullness of Christ: Eph. 4:13
Self-control: James 3:2
Endure temptation: James 1:12