The Word "Believeth"

The Word Believeth

The word "believeth" appears in the King James Version New Testament a total of 40 times. In nearly all of these cases, it is translated from the Greek verb "pisteuo." This present tense verb does not refer to a one-time spiritual action, but to a continual or habitual spiritual action. It means . . .

to habitually believe in;

to habitually place one’s confidence in;

to habitually trust in;

to habitually rely upon;

to habitually entrust oneself to;

to habitually commit oneself to.

In the context of salvation, it means "to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ with the kind or quality of belief that keeps on believing."

With this definition in mind, let us examine those verses in which the word believeth is found.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (Mk. 16:16).

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life (Jn. 3:15).

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (Jn. 3:16).

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (Jn. 3:18).

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (Jn. 3:36).

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life (Jn. 5:24).

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst (Jn. 6:35).

And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day (Jn. 6:40).

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life (Jn. 6:47).

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water (Jn. 7:38).

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (Jn. 11:25).

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (Jn. 11:26).

Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me (Jn. 12:44).

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness (Jn. 12:46).

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father (Jn. 14:12).

To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins (Acts 10:43).

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Rom. 1:16).

To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus (Rom. 3:26).

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness (Rom. 4:5).

As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed (Rom. 9:33).

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth (Rom. 10:4).

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Rom. 10:10).

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed (Rom. 10:11).

Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded (I Pet. 2:6).

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him (I Jn. 5:1).

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (I Jn. 5:5).

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son (I Jn. 5:10).