Topical Encyclopedia
The term "ravages" refers to the destructive effects or severe damage caused by various forces, whether natural, human, or spiritual. In the biblical context, ravages often depict the consequences of sin, divine judgment, or the actions of enemies against God's people. The Bible provides numerous instances where the ravages of war, sin, and divine retribution are evident, serving as both historical accounts and moral lessons.
Ravages of WarThe Old Testament frequently recounts the ravages of war experienced by the Israelites and their neighbors. The conquest of Canaan, as described in the Book of Joshua, involved the Israelites executing God's judgment on the Canaanite nations, resulting in widespread destruction.
Joshua 11:20 states, "For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts to engage Israel in battle, so that they would be completely destroyed without mercy and be annihilated, as the LORD had commanded Moses."
The ravages of war are also evident in the repeated invasions and attacks on Israel and Judah by foreign powers. The Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem are prime examples. In
2 Kings 17:6 , the fall of Samaria is described: "In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria." Similarly, the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem led to the city's destruction and the exile of its people, as recorded in
2 Kings 25:9-10 : "He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building. And the whole army of the Chaldeans under the commander of the guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem."
Ravages of SinThe Bible also speaks of the ravages of sin, which bring spiritual and physical destruction. The account of Sodom and Gomorrah in
Genesis 19 illustrates the severe consequences of rampant sinfulness.
Genesis 19:24-25 recounts, "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, including all the inhabitants of the cities and everything that grew on the ground."
The Book of Judges provides another example, where the cycle of sin, oppression, and deliverance highlights the destructive power of turning away from God.
Judges 2:14 states, "Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He handed them over to raiders who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist."
Ravages of Divine JudgmentThe prophetic books often describe the ravages of divine judgment as a response to the unfaithfulness of God's people. The prophet Joel speaks of a locust plague as a symbol of impending judgment, urging repentance.
Joel 1:4 describes the devastation: "What the devouring locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust has left, the young locust has eaten; and what the young locust has left, the destroying locust has eaten."
Similarly, the Book of Revelation portrays the ultimate ravages of divine judgment upon a sinful world.
Revelation 6:8 describes one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: "Then I looked and saw a pale horse. Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed close behind. They were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill by sword, by famine, by plague, and by the beasts of the earth."
Ravages and RestorationDespite the ravages depicted throughout Scripture, the Bible also emphasizes God's power to restore and redeem. The promise of restoration is a recurring theme, offering hope amidst destruction.
Isaiah 61:4 speaks of this restoration: "They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations."
The ultimate restoration is found in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, who conquers sin and death, offering eternal life to all who believe. Through Christ, the ravages of sin are overcome, and believers are promised a new creation where "there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain" (
Revelation 21:4).
Strong's Hebrew
7722. sho -- perhaps a ravage... 7721, 7722. sho. 7723 . perhaps a ravage. Transliteration: sho Phonetic
Spelling: (sho) Short Definition:
ravages. Word Origin from
...Library
The Mediaeval Church in Great Britain and Ireland
... In AD787, the Church of England began to suffer severely from theravages of the
heathen Danes or Northmen; but, by the wisdom and valour of the good King...
Drunkenness.
... Let the teacher tell of itsravages; let the minister proclaim its curses; let the
poet sing it; the painter paint it; the editor report it; the novelist...
The Seven Trumpets.
... ruined countries of Thrace and Dacia, and he resolved to seek a plentiful harvest
of fame and riches in a province which had hitherto escaped theravages of war...
How John Tyrannized Over the Rest; and what Mischiefs the Zealots...
... time they overran the neighboring countries, aiming only to procure to themselves
necessaries; for the fear they were then in prevented their furtherravages....
Severinus in Germany.
... pretended that he was only guided by solicitude for the welfare of the inhabitants
of the city, wishing to save them from the sword or theravages of the...
Christ
... He saw theravages of disease, the shame of sin, the tragedies in life.
He knew there was torture in body and anguish in spirit....
Sin and Grace
... Sin is the Pandora's box from which all evil has come to mankind. See
whatravages death has made; its hillocks are everywhere....
The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs.
... a passage in the Testaments, where Benjamin thus addresses his children: [208]
"I shall no longer be called a ravening wolf on account of yourravages, but a...
The Children of the Poor.
... There is no essential difference in starvation, whether it ensues from
theravages of an invading host or from the lack of means....
The Burning of Athens.
... of the hostile feelings which they entertained toward the people immediately south
of the pass, into whose territories Xerxes would first carry hisravages....
Thesaurus
Ravages (4 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Ravages (4 Occurrences).
... (See NAS RSV NIV). Psalms 80:13
The boar out of the wood
ravages it. The wild animals of the field feed on it.
...Ravage (9 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Desolation by violence; violent ruin or destruction; devastation; havoc;
waste; as, the ravage of a lion; theravages of fire or tempest; theravages...
Grasshopper (12 Occurrences)
... The former family includes the Western grasshopper or locust (Caloptenus spretus),
noted for the great extent of itsravages in the region beyond the...
Locust (25 Occurrences)
... While these four words occur in Joel 1:4 and 2:25, a consideration of the book as
a whole does not show that theravages of four different insect pests are...
Lice (4 Occurrences)
... A terrible list of examples they have collected of theravages of this and closely
allied parasitic pests." The plague of lice is referred to in Psalm 105:31....
Gang (1 Occurrence)
... iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, also the wickedness of Samaria; for they commit
falsehood, and the thief enters in, and the gang of robbersravages outside....
Famine (99 Occurrences)
... They were generally caused by local irregularities of the rainfall, by destructive
hail storms (Exodus 9:23, 11, 32), byravages of insects (Exodus 10:15 Joel 1...
Ravageth (1 Occurrence)
Ravagers (2 Occurrences)
Ravager (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) One who, or that which,ravages or lays waste;
spoiler. Multi-Version Concordance Ravager (2 Occurrences)....
Resources
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