Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of being "banished" in the Bible often refers to the act of being expelled or exiled from a community, land, or presence, typically as a result of sin or disobedience. This theme is prevalent throughout the Scriptures and serves as a significant motif in understanding the consequences of turning away from God's commandments.
Old Testament Instances1.
Adam and Eve: The first instance of banishment occurs in the Garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they were banished from the Garden.
Genesis 3:23-24 states, "So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After He drove the man out, He placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life."
2.
Cain: After murdering his brother Abel, Cain was cursed and banished to be a wanderer on the earth.
Genesis 4:11-12 records, "Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."
3.
Israelites in Exile: The theme of banishment is also evident in the history of Israel. Due to their persistent idolatry and disobedience, the Israelites were exiled from their land. The Babylonian exile is a prominent example, as described in
2 Kings 25:21 : "So Judah went into captivity, away from her land."
New Testament Context1.
The Prodigal Son: While not a literal banishment, the parable of the Prodigal Son in
Luke 15:11-32 illustrates a self-imposed exile. The younger son leaves his father's house and squanders his inheritance in a distant land. His return and reconciliation with his father highlight themes of repentance and forgiveness.
2.
Church Discipline: In the New Testament, the concept of banishment is also applied in the context of church discipline. In
1 Corinthians 5:13 , Paul instructs the church to "Expel the wicked man from among you," referring to a member living in unrepentant sin. This form of banishment serves as a means to maintain the purity of the church and encourage repentance.
Theological ImplicationsBanishment in the Bible underscores the seriousness of sin and the separation it causes between humanity and God. It serves as a tangible representation of spiritual alienation due to disobedience. However, the Scriptures also emphasize God's desire for reconciliation and restoration. The banished are often given opportunities for repentance and return, reflecting God's mercy and grace.
Prophetic HopeThe prophets often spoke of a future restoration for those who were banished.
Isaiah 11:12 prophesies, "He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; He will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four corners of the earth." This hope for restoration is ultimately fulfilled in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, who reconciles humanity to God and offers eternal life to those who believe.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Banish.
Strong's Hebrew
5080. nadach -- to impel, thrust, banish... root Definition to impel, thrust, banish NASB Word Usage banish (1),
banished (3),
banished one (3), bring down (1), dispersed (1), drawn away (2), drive (3
...1540. galah -- to uncover, remove
... root Definition to uncover, remove NASB Word Usage away into exile (2),banished
(1), betray (1), captives (1), captivity (1), carried (1), carried and away (1...
Library
God'sBanished Ones
... THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL GOD'SBANISHED ONES. 'God doth devise means, that
Hisbanished be not expelled from Him.' 2 Samuel 14:14....
How Herod the Tetrarch wasBanished.
... Containing The Interval Of Thirty-Two Years. From The Banishment Of Archelus To
The Departure From Babylon. CHAPTER 7. How Herod The Tetrarch WasBanished....
Athanasius is AgainBanished; Concerning Eleusius, Bishop of...
... Book V. Chapter XV."Athanasius is againBanished; concerning Eleusius, Bishop of
Cyzicus, and Titus, Bishop of Bostra; Mention of the Ancestors of the Author...
Ep. Lxiv. In the Year 374 Eusebius and Other Orthodox Bishops of...
... Division III. Miscellaneous Letters. Ep. LXIV. In the year 374 Eusebius
and other orthodox Bishops of the East werebanished by?...
The History of the Spurious Alexander. Archelaus isBanished and...
... Spurious Alexander. Archelaus IsBanished And Glaphyra Dies, After What Was
To Happen To Both Of Them Had Been Showed Them In Dreams. 1...
There was True Justice under Saturnus, but it wasBanished by...
... the divine institutes Book V. Of Justice. Chap. V."There Was True Justice
Under Saturnus, But It WasBanished by Jupiter. Now...
How Archelaus Upon a Second Accusation, wasBanished to vienna.
... From The Death Of Alexander And Aristobulus To The Banishment Of Archelaus. CHAPTER
13. How Archelaus Upon A Second Accusation, WasBanished To Vienna....
Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia, and Theognis Bishop of Nic??a, who...
... Book I. Chapter XIV."Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia, and Theognis Bishop of Nic??a,
who had beenbanished for agreeing in Opinion with Arius, having published...
After Having Given Audience to Both Parties, the Emperor Condemned...
... Book I. Chapter XX."After having given Audience to both Parties, the Emperor
condemned the Followers of Arius andbanished them....
How Absalom Murdered Amnon, who had Forced his Own Sister; and How...
... CHAPTER 8. How Absalom Murdered Amnon, Who Had Forced His Own Sister;
And How He WasBanished And Afterwards Recalled By David....
Thesaurus
Banished (19 Occurrences)... (imp. & pp) of Banish. Multi-Version Concordance
Banished (19 Occurrences).
... We know
that while we are at home in the body we are
banished from the Lord; (WEY).
...Expelled (16 Occurrences)
... are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth
God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that hisbanished be not...
Patmos (1 Occurrence)
... It is mentioned in Scripture only in Revelation 1:9. It was on this island, to which
John wasbanished by the emperor Domitian (AD 95), that he received from...
Claudius (3 Occurrences)
... in general he treated the Jews, especially those in Asia and Egypt, with great
indulgence, yet about the middle of his reign (AD 49) hebanished them all from...
Cheerful (13 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 5:6 We have therefore a cheerful confidence. We know that while
we are at home in the body we arebanished from the Lord; (WEY)....
Confidence (103 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 5:6 We have therefore a cheerful confidence. We know that while
we are at home in the body we arebanished from the Lord; (WEY)....
Banish (13 Occurrences)
Nero
... In 39 his mother wasbanished for supposed complicity in a plot against Caius. Nero
was thus deprived of his mother and at the same time left almost penniless....
Outcast (6 Occurrences)
... die, and are as water split on the ground, which can't be gathered up again; neither
does God take away life, but devises means, that he who isbanished not be...
Libertine
... In AD 19 these manumitted Jews werebanished from Rome. Many of them found their
way to Jerusalem, and there established a synagogue. Noah Webster's Dictionary....
Resources
Who was Vashti in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are all the different judgments in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of shibboleth in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgBanished: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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