Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical terminology, the concept of "blighted" often refers to a state of being afflicted, withered, or experiencing a curse or judgment from God. This term is not explicitly used in most translations of the Bible, but the idea is present in various passages that describe the consequences of disobedience or divine judgment.
Old Testament ContextThe notion of blight is frequently associated with agricultural failure, which in the agrarian society of ancient Israel, was a significant sign of divine displeasure. In
Deuteronomy 28, a chapter that outlines the blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, the concept of blight is implied in the curses.
Deuteronomy 28:22 states, "The LORD will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish." Here, blight is part of a series of calamities that would befall the Israelites if they turned away from God's commandments.
The prophet Haggai also speaks of blight as a form of divine judgment. In
Haggai 2:17 , God says, "I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew, and hail, yet you did not turn to Me, declares the LORD." This passage highlights the use of blight as a tool for calling the people back to repentance and faithfulness.
Symbolic and Spiritual ImplicationsBeyond the physical and agricultural implications, blight can also symbolize spiritual decay or the consequences of sin. The imagery of withering and decay is used throughout the Bible to describe the effects of sin on the human soul and community. For instance, in
Isaiah 5:24 , the prophet uses the imagery of decay to describe the fate of those who reject God's law: "Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes the stubble and as dry grass sinks in the flames, so their roots will decay, and their blossoms will blow away like dust; for they have rejected the law of the LORD of Hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel."
New Testament ReflectionsWhile the New Testament does not directly use the term "blighted," the concept can be seen in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles regarding the consequences of spiritual unfaithfulness. In
John 15:6 , Jesus uses the metaphor of a vine to describe the spiritual state of those who do not remain in Him: "If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned." This imagery reflects the idea of spiritual blight, where separation from Christ leads to spiritual withering and ultimate judgment.
Practical ApplicationFor believers, the concept of blight serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God. It underscores the reality that turning away from God's commandments can lead to both physical and spiritual consequences. The biblical narrative encourages believers to seek repentance and restoration, trusting in God's mercy and grace to heal and restore what has been blighted by sin.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Blight.
Greek
5594. psucho -- to breathe, blow, to make cool... Thayer) -- properly, "to blow, refresh with cool air" (Zod, ); (figuratively) "to
breathe cool by blowing, to grow cold, 'spiritual energy
blighted or chilled
...Strong's Hebrew
7711a. shedephah --blighted or blasted thing... 7711, 7711a. shedephah. 7711b .
blighted or blasted thing. Transliteration:
shedephah Short Definition: scorched. Word Origin from
...7711. shdephah --blighted or blasted thing
... 7710, 7711. shdephah. 7711a .blighted or blasted thing. Transliteration: shdephah
Phonetic Spelling: (shed-ay-faw') Short Definition: blasted. blasted...
Library
Blighted Blossoms
... TALK FIVE.BLIGHTED BLOSSOMS. In... Most of the blossoms had beenblighted,
and had fallen to the ground leaving nothing behind. "Ah...
St. Luke xxi. 36
... temptation, the presence of all good impressions, constitute much of the innocence
of mere childhood,"so beautiful while it lasts, so sure to be soonblighted...
Home-Government.
... for the palaces and hovels, that might have been nurseries for heaven, By hot intestine
broilsblighted into schools for hell; None knoweth his place, yet all...
The Fig-Tree.
... upon Egypt and Ethiopia," so did our Lord now invest a tree in dumb nature with
a prophet's warning voice, and make its stripped andblighted boughs eloquent...
Visitors and Pastimes
... him. After a few short successful years, however, all hopes wereblighted;
he was thrown into an insane asylum a physical wreck....
Vocation.
... If life isblighted with deception, fraught with regrets and bitterness, if our
fairest hopes are blasted, if pain and sorrow brood over our existence, it is...
Explaining the Divine Life.
... Worthington's talks to her were often on the subject of the divine life within"how
to care for it and nourish it, so that it might not die nor becomeblighted...
Responsibilities of the Christian Home.
... If, then, by their neglect, these tender plants areblighted, grow up in the crooked
ways of folly and iniquity, and the leprosy of sin spread its dreadful...
The vine and the Branches.
... from trusting it. They knew they could effect nothing if He left them:
their work was done, their hopesblighted. As Jesus, then...
On the Lamentable Separation of the Grave.
... Alas, all was yet supportable, while I had my Child with me; but when they tore
my dead Child from myblighted heart, from my embracing arms, from my face...
Thesaurus
Blighted (6 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Blighted (6 Occurrences).
... (DBY RSV). Psalms 102:4 My heart
is
blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread.
...Blight (5 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) The act of blighting, or the state of beingblighted; a withering or mildewing,
or a stoppage of growth in the whole or a part of a plant, etc....
Powerless (19 Occurrences)
... They were dismayed and put to shame; They were as the growing grass, and as the
green herb, As the grass on the housetops, and grainblighted before it be...
Debtor (7 Occurrences)
... It was looked upon as a misfortune to be in debt; it indicated poverty brought on
probably byblighted harvests; consequently those in debt were to be looked...
Debt (48 Occurrences)
... It was looked upon as a misfortune to be in debt; it indicated poverty brought on
probably byblighted harvests; consequently those in debt were to be looked...
Broken (559 Occurrences)
... 6. (vt) Subdued; humbled; contrite. 7. (vt) Subjugated; trained for use, as a horse.
8. (vt) Crushed and ruined as by something that destroys hope;blighted....
Blast (28 Occurrences)
... blast rocks. 12. (vi) To beblighted or withered; as, the bud blasted in
the blossom. 13. (vi) To blow; to blow on a trumpet. 27. (n...
Blasted (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp. & pp) of Blast. 2. (a.)Blighted; withered. 3.
(a.) Confounded; accursed; detestable. 4. (a.) Rent open by an explosive....
Apostate (5 Occurrences)
... Infidelity to this covenantblighted the nation's prospects and growth during the
time of the Judges (Judges 2:11-15; Judges 10:6, 10, 13 1 Samuel 12:10)....
Apostasy (6 Occurrences)
... Infidelity to this covenantblighted the nation's prospects and growth during the
time of the Judges (Judges 2:11-15; Judges 10:6, 10, 13 1 Samuel 12:10)....
Resources
Is there any special meaning/symbolism to owls in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are some biblical examples of dream interpretation? | GotQuestions.orgBlighted: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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