Topical Encyclopedia
The term "annihilate" refers to the complete destruction or obliteration of something, reducing it to nothingness. In a biblical context, annihilation often pertains to the total destruction of peoples, cities, or nations as a form of divine judgment or as a consequence of sin. The concept is closely associated with God's justice and sovereignty, demonstrating His power over creation and His intolerance of sin.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, the idea of annihilation is frequently encountered in the narratives of divine judgment against nations and peoples who oppose God's will or engage in idolatry and wickedness. One of the most notable examples is the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Genesis 19:24-25 states, "Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus He overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all the inhabitants of the cities and everything that grew on the ground."
The annihilation of the Canaanite nations is another significant instance. God commanded the Israelites to completely destroy these nations as they entered the Promised Land.
Deuteronomy 20:16-17 instructs, "However, in the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes. You must completely destroy them—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you."
Prophetic LiteratureThe prophetic books often speak of annihilation in the context of future judgment. The prophets warned of the impending destruction of nations that defied God. For example, the book of Nahum prophesies the fall of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria.
Nahum 1:8-9 declares, "But with an overwhelming flood He will make an end of Nineveh; He will pursue His foes into darkness. Whatever you plot against the LORD, He will bring to an end; trouble will not come a second time."
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the concept of annihilation is less about physical destruction and more about spiritual consequences. The ultimate annihilation is often associated with the final judgment and the fate of the wicked. Jesus speaks of the destruction of the soul in hell, emphasizing the eternal consequences of rejecting God.
Matthew 10:28 warns, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
The book of Revelation also describes the final annihilation of evil.
Revelation 20:14-15 states, "Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
Theological ImplicationsThe concept of annihilation in the Bible underscores the seriousness of sin and the holiness of God. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and the ultimate victory of God's righteousness over evil. Annihilation is not merely punitive but also purifying, as it removes sin and rebellion from God's creation, paving the way for the establishment of His eternal kingdom.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To destroy completely; to reduce to nothing or nonexistence; to destroy the existence of; to cause to cease to be.
2. (v. t.) To destroy the form or peculiar distinctive properties of, so that the specific thing no longer exists; as, to annihilate a forest by cutting down the trees.
3. (v. t.) To destroy or eradicate, as a property or attribute of a thing; to make of no effect; to destroy the force, etc., of; as, to annihilate an argument, law, rights, goodness.
4. (a.) Annihilated.
Greek
355. analisko -- to expend, consume... to expend, consume. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: analisko Phonetic Spelling:
(an-al-is'-ko) Short Definition: I destroy,
annihilate Definition: I
...1842. exolethreuo -- to destroy utterly
... utterly. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: exolethreuo Phonetic Spelling:
(ex-ol-oth-ryoo'-o) Short Definition: I destroy utterly,annihilate Definition:...
Strong's Hebrew
4277. machaq -- to utterly destroy,annihilate... machaq. 4278 . to utterly destroy,
annihilate. Transliteration: machaq Phonetic
Spelling: (maw-khak') Short Definition: smashed. Word Origin a prim.
...8338. shasha -- probably to lead on
...annihilate -- leave by the sixth part. A primitive root; apparently, toannihilate --
leave by the sixth part (by confusion with shashah). see HEBREW shashah....
6. abad -- to perish
... root Definition to perish NASB Word Usageannihilate (2), annihilated (1), been
lost (1), broken (1), corrupts (1), destroy (33), destroyed (15), destroying (2...
3615. kalah -- to be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished...
... root Definition to be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent NASB
Word Usage accomplish (2), accomplished (1),annihilate (1), annihilated (2...
2763a. charam -- to ban, devote, exterminate
... root Definition to ban, devote, exterminate NASB Word Usageannihilate (1), covet
(1), destroy them utterly (1), destroy utterly (1), destroyed them utterly (1...
1110. balaq -- to waste, lay waste
... root Definition to waste, lay waste NASB Word Usage devastates (1), waste (1). make
waste. A primitive root; toannihilate -- (make) waste. 1109b, 1110....
Library
Whether God CanAnnihilate Anything?
... THE SPECIAL EFFECTS OF THE DIVINE GOVERNMENT (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether God can
annihilate anything?... Therefore He cannotannihilate anything....
The Original and the Actual Relation of Man to Law.
... They would bring duty and inclination into harmony, by a method that wouldannihilate
duty, wouldannihilate the eternal distinction between right and wrong...
Christians Charged with an Obstinate Contempt of Death Instances...
... in ours obstinate.Annihilate now the glory of your ancestors, in order
that you may therebyannihilate us also. Be content from...
Few Will Believe the Soul to be Infinite: yet Infinite* is the...
... For we can unsuppose Heaven, and Earth andannihilate the world in our imagination,
but the place where they stood will remain behind, and we cannot unsuppose...
The Answer to a Sixth Letter,
... destroyed, or taken away, amounts to the absurd supposition of removing a thing
away from itself: That is, if in your imagination youannihilate the whole of...
Sermon for the Second Sunday in Lent
... Neither God nor all His creatures could then abase andannihilate them so thoroughly
as they would abase, and accuse, andannihilate themselves in the sight of...
Book Seven the Conversion to Neoplatonism. ...
... Finally, why would he make anything at all out of such stuff? Why did
he not, rather,annihilate it by his same almighty power?...
Through the Fall and Revolt of Adam, the Whole Human Race Made...
... worship and the future life; and, secondly, to consider his faculties, or rather
want of faculties"a want which, when perceived, willannihilate all his...
The Saint's Heritage and Watchword
... Under the Houses of Parliament the deadly powder was concealed which they hoped
would be a death-blow to both Houses, and soannihilate the power of...
Jesus' Last Journey to Jerusalem.
... shall live forever? What can thine enemies do unto thee? One single word
from thee wouldannihilate them all.". Jesus said unto him...
Thesaurus
Annihilate (8 Occurrences)... 2. (vt) To destroy the form or peculiar distinctive properties of, so that the specific
thing no longer exists; as, to
annihilate a forest by cutting down the
...Annihilated (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofAnnihilate. Multi-Version Concordance
Annihilated (8 Occurrences). Acts 5:36 Years ago Theudas...
Exterminate (8 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To destroy utterly; to cut off; to extirpate; toannihilate; to root out;
as, to exterminate a colony, a tribe, or a nation; to exterminate error or...
Esarhaddon (3 Occurrences)
... king. His father had been so displeased with Babylon that he had attempted
toannihilate the city by making it a swamp. Esarhaddon...
Destroy (379 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To ruin; to bring to naught; to put an end to; toannihilate; to consume.
3. (vt) To put an end to the existence, prosperity, or beauty of; to kill....
Devour (118 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To seize upon and destroy or appropriate greedily, selfishly, or wantonly;
to consume; to swallow up; to use up; to waste; toannihilate....
Misfortune (24 Occurrences)
... Exodus 32:12 Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, For misfortune he has brought
them out, to slay them on the mountains, and toannihilate them from the...
Annethothite (2 Occurrences)
Discomfiture (6 Occurrences)
... is no evidence furnished by the apostle that in 64 AD-the date of the Epistle-the
government formally denounced Christians and determined toannihilate them....
Anger (387 Occurrences)
... Exodus 32:12 Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, For misfortune he has brought
them out, to slay them on the mountains, and toannihilate them from the...
Resources
Who was Esther in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is nihilism? | GotQuestions.orgWhat did it mean to be devoted to destruction? | GotQuestions.orgAnnihilate: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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