"life; means of living; sustenance, maintenance, substance, goods, Mk. 12:44, Lk. 8:14, 43; 15:12, 30; 21:4; 1 Tim. 2:2; 2 Tim. 2:4; 1 Jn. 2:16; 3:17*"
Definition and meaning
life; means of living; sustenance, maintenance, substance, goods, Mk. 12:44, Lk. 8:14, 43; 15:12, 30; 21:4; 1 Tim. 2:2; 2 Tim. 2:4; 1 Jn. 2:16; 3:17*
In the original Greek the word is written: βίος
Historical context
The Gospel of Mark moves urgently — the word "immediately" appears over 40 times. It was written for a Roman audience familiar with power and action. Jesus is portrayed as a man who acts, heals, and commands authority that the Roman world had never seen from a Jewish teacher.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of bios (G979) across the King James Bible.
For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
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Common questions
Strong's G979 (bios) is a Greek word that means: life; means of living; sustenance, maintenance, substance, goods, Mk. 12:44, Lk. 8:14, 43; 15:12, 30; 21:4; 1 Tim. 2:2; 2 Tim. 2:4; 1 Jn. 2:16; 3:17* It appears 11 times in the King James Bible.
The word bios (G979) appears 11 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G979 is bios, a Greek word defined as: life; means of living; sustenance, maintenance, substance, goods, Mk. 12:44, Lk. 8:14, 43; 15:12, 30; 21:4; 1 Tim. 2:2; 2 Tim. 2:4; 1 Jn. 2:16; 3:17*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
bios is a Greek word found in the New Testament.