faithful

Everyday

1. Faithful means loyal and true — always staying with and supporting a person, a team or a promise. tree →
2. (church) Faithful means firmly believing in God and keeping your faith; "the faithful" are the believers. tree →
3. Faithful means exact and true to the original: "a faithful copy". tree →
4. A faithful husband or wife is loyal to their partner and does not love someone else. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, a faithful dog or friend sticks by the hero; the reader trusts them. In church, "O come, all ye faithful" is a famous carol. In the Bible, Jesus says "Well done, good and faithful servant". Old Faithful is a geyser in the USA that erupts regularly. Phrases: faithful friend, faithful servant, remain faithful, the faithful, ever faithful.

Examples

• The faithful dog waited every day at the station. tree →
• Grandad was a faithful supporter of his football club for life. tree →
• "O come, all ye faithful," sang the choir. tree →
• The faithful filled the church for Easter. tree →
• Her drawing was a faithful copy of the painting. tree →
• Ruth stayed faithful to Naomi and went with her. tree →

Note

Adverb faithfully: letters to someone you don't know end "Yours faithfully" (UK). Noun faithfulness. Opposite unfaithful. Spelling: faith + ful (one l).

In Jewish tradition

Means loyal and trustworthy. God is called faithful because He keeps His covenant. People, messengers, cities and God's commandments can also be called faithful.

Interpretation. Tradition reads God as the faithful One who keeps promises across generations. In Sefer Yetzirah the "faithful witnesses" are world, year and person, which testify to creation. Isaiah's "faithful city" turned unfaithful is read as Jerusalem's fall into sin.

Examples

• Know therefore that the LORD thy God, He is God; the faithful God, who keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations; (Torah DEU.7.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• A sight for faithful witnesses to speak—World, Year, Person. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) tree →
• See now, of these words, the faithful witnesses are the Universe, the Year and Man. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• How is the faithful city become a harlot! (Prophets ISA.1.21, JPS 1917) tree →
• A wicked messenger falleth into evil; but a faithful ambassador is health. (Writings PRO.13.17, JPS 1917) tree →
• All Thy commandments are faithful; they persecute me for nought; help Thou me. (Writings PSA.119.86, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Adverb faithfully: letters to someone you don't know end "Yours faithfully" (UK). Noun faithfulness. Opposite unfaithful. Spelling: faith + ful (one l).