HOPE, the rendering of several Hebrew and Greek words—among these are: 1. Beh'takh (Eel). safety) means both the fact, security, and the feeling, trust (Ps. xvi : 9; xxii :9, etc.).
2. Keh'sel (Heb. fatness), confidence sometimes unwisely entertained (Job viii :14 ; xxxi :24, etc.), but not always (Ps. lxxviii :7).
3. 111th-tau:kit' (Heb. 114'?;, refuge), firm and certain hope (Prov. xxii :19, A. V. "trust") ; sometimes figuratively of a person or thing in which confidence is placed (Job viii :14, A. V. "trust ;" Ps. xlii :5; lxxi :5, etc.).
4. El-pcce' (Gr. Arts) denotes favorable ex pectation in the New Testament.
5. In general hope may be defined as the desire of some good, attended with the possibility, at least, of obtaining it ; and is enlivened with joy, greater or less, according to the probability there is of possessing the object of our hope. Scarce any passion seems to be more natural to man than hope, and, considering the many troubles he is encompassed with, none is more necessary ; for life, void of all hope, would be a heavy and spirit less thing, very little desirable, perhaps hardly to be borne ; whereas hope infuses strength into the mind, and, by so doing, lessens the burdens of life. If our covlition be not the best in the world, yet we hope it will be better, and this helps us to support it with patience. The hope of the Chris
tian is an expectation of all necessary good both in time and eternity, founded on the promises, re lations, and perfections of God, and on the offices, righteousness, and intercession of Christ. It is a compound of desire, expectation, patience, and joy, (Rom. viii :24, 25). It may be considered, I. As pure (1 John iii :2, 3), as it is resident in that heart which is cleansed from sin. 2. As good (2 Thess. ii :16, in distinction from the hope of the hypo crite) as deriving its origin from God, and center ing in him. 3. It is called lively (I Pet. i :3) as it proceeds from spiritual life, and renders one active and lively in good works. 4. It is coura geous (Rom. v :5 ; Thess. v :8) because it cites fortitude in all the troubles of life, and yields support in the hour of death (Prov. xiv :32). 5. Sure (Heb. vi :19) because it will not disappoint us, and is fixed on a sure foundation. 6. Joyful (Rom. v :2) as it produces the greatest felicity in the anticipation of complete deliverance from all evil.