Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the term "chase" is often used to describe the act of pursuing or driving away, typically in a military or spiritual sense. The concept of chasing is frequently associated with God's deliverance of His people and the defeat of their enemies. It is a vivid illustration of divine intervention and the power of God in the lives of His followers.
Old Testament References1.
Divine Protection and Victory: One of the most notable uses of the term "chase" is found in the promises of God to the Israelites regarding their conquest of the Promised Land. In
Leviticus 26:7-8 , God assures His people, "You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you." This passage highlights the supernatural strength and victory granted to the Israelites when they are obedient to God's commandments.
2.
Judgment and Retribution: The term is also used in the context of divine judgment. In
Deuteronomy 28:25 , as part of the curses for disobedience, it is stated, "The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will march out against them in one direction but flee from them in seven, and you will become an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth." Here, the act of being chased is a consequence of turning away from God.
3.
Pursuit of Righteousness: In a metaphorical sense, the concept of chasing is used to describe the pursuit of righteousness and wisdom.
Proverbs 21:21 states, "He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor." This pursuit is a lifelong endeavor for believers, emphasizing the importance of actively seeking God's will and character.
New Testament ApplicationWhile the specific term "chase" is less frequently used in the New Testament, the concept of pursuing or driving away is present in the spiritual battles faced by believers. The New Testament encourages Christians to "flee from sin" and "pursue righteousness" (
1 Timothy 6:11). This reflects the ongoing spiritual warfare and the need for vigilance in the Christian life.
Spiritual WarfareThe idea of chasing is also applicable in the context of spiritual warfare.
Ephesians 6:12 reminds believers, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Christians are called to stand firm and resist the devil, effectively "chasing" away the forces of darkness through faith and the power of the Holy Spirit.
ConclusionThe biblical concept of "chase" serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and the victory that comes through faith and obedience. Whether in the physical battles of the Old Testament or the spiritual struggles of the New Testament, the act of chasing signifies the triumph of God's people over their adversaries, both seen and unseen.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Chase[HUNTING]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To pursue for the purpose of killing or taking, as an enemy, or game; to hunt.
2. (v. t.) To follow as if to catch; to pursue; to compel to move on; to drive by following; to cause to fly; -- often with away or off; as, to chase the hens away.
3. (v. t.) To pursue eagerly, as hunters pursue game.
4. (v. i.) To give chase; to hunt; as, to chase around after a doctor.
5. (v.) Vehement pursuit for the purpose of killing or capturing, as of an enemy, or game; an earnest seeking after any object greatly desired; the act or habit of hunting; a hunt.
6. (v.) That which is pursued or hunted.
7. (n.) An open hunting ground to which game resorts, and which is private properly, thus differing from a forest, which is not private property, and from a park, which is enclosed.
8. (n.) A division of the floor of a gallery, marked by a figure or otherwise; the spot where a ball falls, and between which and the dedans the adversary must drive his ball in order to gain a point.
9. (n.) A rectangular iron frame in which pages or columns of type are imposed.
10. (n.) The part of a cannon from the reinforce or the trunnions to the swell of the muzzle. See Cannon.
11. (n.) A groove, or channel, as in the face of a wall; a trench, as for the reception of drain tile.
12. (n.) A kind of joint by which an overlap joint is changed to a flush joint, by means of a gradually deepening rabbet, as at the ends of clinker-built boats.
13. (v. t.) To ornament (a surface of metal) by embossing, cutting away parts, and the like.
14. (v. t.) To cut, so as to make a screw thread.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
CHASEchas.
SeeHUNTING.
Greek
1375. diogmos -- persecution... of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: diogmos Phonetic Spelling:
(dee-ogue-mos') Short Definition: persecution Definition:
chase, pursuit; persecution.
...1559. ekdioko -- to pursue out, ie expel or persecute
... 1559 (from 1537 , "completely out of" and 1377 , "chase") -- properly, pursue,
chase ("hunt down") with and (used only in 1 Thes 2:15)....
1377. dioko -- to put to flight, pursue, by impl. to persecute
... 1377 -- properly,chase, like a pursuing a catch (prize). 1377 () is used
("earnestly pursue") and ("zealously persecute, hunt down")....
Strong's Hebrew
7291. radaph -- to pursue,chase, persecute... 7290c, 7291. radaph. 7292 . to pursue,
chase, persecute. Transliteration: radaph
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-daf') Short Definition: pursued. Word Origin a prim
...2957. terad -- tochase away
... 2956, 2957. terad. 2958 . tochase away. Transliteration: terad Phonetic
Spelling: (ter-ad') Short Definition: away. Word Origin...
2956. tarad -- to pursue,chase, be continuous
... 2955, 2956. tarad. 2957 . to pursue,chase, be continuous. Transliteration:
tarad Phonetic Spelling: (taw-rad') Short Definition: constant. Word Origin a prim...
5074. nadad -- to retreat, flee, depart, stray, wander, flutter
...chase away, could not, depart, flee apace, away, remove, thrust away, wander
abroad,. A primitive root; properly, to wave to and...
1272. barach -- to go through, flee
...chase away; drive away, fain, flee away, put to flight, make haste, reach,
run away, shoot. A primitive root; to bolt, ie Figuratively...
1760. dachah -- to push, thrust
...chase, drive away on, overthrow, outcast, sore, thrust, totter. Or dachach
{Jer. 23:12) {daw-khakh'}; a primitive root; to push down...
1814. dalaq -- to burn, hotly pursue
... burning,chase, inflame, kindle, persecutor, pursue hotly. A primitive root;
to flame (literally or figuratively) -- burning,chase...
5080. nadach -- to impel, thrust, banish
... banish, bring, cast down out,chase, compel, draw away, drive away, out,.
A primitive root; to push off; used in a great variety...
6679. tsud -- to hunt
... root Definition to hunt NASB Word Usage catches (1), hunt (8), hunt down (2), hunted
(2), hunted me down (1), hunts (2).chase, hunt, sore, take provision....
6658. tsadah -- to lie in wait
... destroy, hunt, lie in wait A primitive root; tochase; by implication, to desolate --
destroy, hunt, lie in wait. 6657, 6658. tsadah. 6658a ....
Library
TheChase
... TheChase. Heinrich Suso Isaiah 41:17. O Lord, the most fair, the most tender,.
My heart is adrift and alone; My heart is aweary and thirsty"....
Letter C
... John B. "Received 1818 * Charles, James "Received 1806, Located 1815 * Charlton,
George W. "Received 1818, Located 1828 *Chase, Abner "Received 1810...
Chapter sixteen
... "By the way, what has become of JasperChase?" Virginia asked the... You know I always
suspected JasperChase of doing that very thing in his first story."....
The General Epistle of Jude
... But we agree with Dr.Chase, when he judges that the supposition that the apostles
were dispersed in such a way that their voice could not at the time reach...
Chapter eight
... They had difficulty in getting to the platform. Rachel was there with Virginia
and JasperChase who had come instead of the Doctor tonight....
Chapter ten
... Virginia and her uncle had gone home about eleven o'clock, and Rachel and Jasper
Chase had gone with them as far as the avenue where Virginia lived....
The Testament of Judah Concerning Fortitude, and Love of Money...
... I seized upon the roes in thechase, and all that was in the plains I outran.... I
encountered the wild boar, and overtaking it in thechase, I tore it....
Chapter seven
... The avenue was full of people. Among the persons passing was JasperChase.... Rollin
was watching Rachel closely. "I wish I was JasperChase....
1 Cor. xiv. 1
... Wherefore also he said, "Follow after:" for he that is inchase beholds that only
which is chased, and towards that he strains himself, and leaves not off...
Triple Beam of Glory
... All our life adorning,.Chase our night away. Glory to the Father,.... Light of lights,
eternal,.Chase their night away. Hearts are dark with sorrow,....
Thesaurus
Chase (14 Occurrences)... 2. (vt) To follow as if to catch; to pursue; to compel to move on; to drive by
following; to cause to fly; -- often with away or off; as, to
chase the hens away
...Enemies (317 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 26:7 You shallchase your enemies, and they shall fall before you
by the sword. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)....
Venison (10 Occurrences)
... ven'-iz'-n, ven'-z'-n: Is derived (through the French venaison) from the Latin venari,
"to hunt," and means properly "the spoils of thechase." As, however...
Overwhelm (18 Occurrences)
... (See JPS NIV). Job 18:11 Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, And shall
chase him at his heels. (See JPS).... Theychase my honor as the wind....
Terrors (21 Occurrences)
... (WEB JPS ASV DBY). Job 18:11 Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and
shallchase him at his heels.... Theychase my honor as the wind....
Esau (89 Occurrences)
... On a certain occasion, on returning from thechase, urged by the cravings of hunger,
Esau sold his birthright to his brother, Jacob, who thereby obtained the...
Course (87 Occurrences)
... 14. (vt) To run, hunt, orchase after; to follow hard upon; to pursue. 15. (vt)
To cause tochase after or pursue game; as, to course greyhounds after deer....
Sword (427 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Leviticus 26:7 You shallchase
your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword....
Chased (21 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) ofChase.... Joshua 23:10 One man of you shallchase a thousand; for Jehovah
your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he spake unto you. (See JPS)....
Dog (19 Occurrences)
... 9. (vt) To hunt or track like a hound; to follow insidiously or indefatigably; to
chase with a dog or dogs; to worry, as if by dogs; to hound with importunity....
Resources
Who was Clarence Larkin? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the attributes of God? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about being poor? | GotQuestions.orgChase: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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