Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "descending" in the Bible often carries significant theological and symbolic meanings, reflecting both physical movements and spiritual truths. The term is used in various contexts, from divine interventions to human actions, and is frequently associated with God's interaction with humanity.
Divine DescentOne of the most profound instances of descending in the Bible is the descent of God Himself. In
Exodus 19:20, the Lord descends upon Mount Sinai to give the Law to Moses: "The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the summit. So Moses went up." This descent signifies God's willingness to engage directly with His people, establishing a covenant and providing guidance.
In the New Testament, the concept of descending is central to the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:7-8 describes how Christ "emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross." This descent from divine glory to human form underscores the humility and sacrificial love of Christ.
Angelic and Spiritual DescentAngels are also depicted as descending from heaven to earth, often as messengers of God. In
Genesis 28:12, Jacob dreams of a ladder reaching to heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it. This vision symbolizes the connection between heaven and earth and God's ongoing communication with humanity.
The Holy Spirit's descent is another critical event, as seen in the baptism of Jesus. In
Matthew 3:16, "As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him." This descent marks the anointing of Jesus for His earthly ministry and the presence of the Holy Spirit in His life.
Human DescentThe Bible also records instances of human descent, often in a literal sense but with spiritual implications. In
Luke 19:5-6, Jesus calls Zacchaeus to come down from the sycamore tree: "When Jesus came to that place, He looked up and said, 'Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today.' So Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Him joyfully." This act of descending leads to Zacchaeus's repentance and salvation, illustrating the transformative power of encountering Christ.
Symbolic and Eschatological DescentDescending can also symbolize judgment or the movement from a higher to a lower state. In
Revelation 20:1, an angel descends from heaven with the key to the Abyss, signifying the binding of Satan and the ushering in of God's final judgment: "Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the Abyss, holding in his hand a great chain."
The descent of the New Jerusalem in
Revelation 21:2 represents the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to dwell with His people: "I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." This descent signifies the consummation of God's redemptive plan and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.
In summary, the theme of descending in the Bible encompasses divine actions, angelic missions, human responses, and eschatological events, each carrying profound spiritual significance and reflecting God's interaction with the world.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Descend.
2. (a.) of or pertaining to descent; moving downwards.
Greek
5010. taxis -- an arranging, order... in His confinement" (, 904). 5010 (), as an ancient military term, describes
an ("cohort") --
descending . This term suggests a
...2597. katabaino -- to go down
... Word Usage brought down (1), came down (12), come down (15), comes down (4), coming
(1), coming down (9), descend (3), descended (6),descending (5), descends...
5510. chion -- snow
... snow. Perhaps akin to the base of chasma (chalao) or cheimon (asdescending or empty);
snow -- snow. see GREEK chasma. see GREEK chalao. see GREEK cheimon....
Strong's Hebrew
5185. nacheth --descending... nacheth. 5186 .
descending. Transliteration: nacheth Phonetic Spelling: (naw-khayth')
Short Definition: down.
... come down. From nachath;
descending -- come down.
...5183b. nachath -- descent
... descent. Transliteration: nachath Short Definition:descending. Word Origin from
nacheth Definition descent NASB Word Usagedescending (1). 5183a, 5183b....
5182. necheth -- to descend
... Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding to nacheth Definition to descend NASB Word Usage
deposed (1), deposit (1), descended (1),descending (1), put (1), stored (1...
3381. yarad -- to come or go down, descend
... came down (35), carry down (1), come (1), come down (48), comes down (3), coming
down (10), departed (1), descend (7), descended (4),descending (2), descends...
Library
The Word,Descending from Above
... No. 50 The Word,descending from above. THE BLESSED SACRAMENT The Word,
descending from above Verbum supernum prodiens. St. Thomas...
Lord, Upon Our NightDescending,
... HYMNS OF THE EARLY CHURCH Lord, upon our nightdescending,. 8,7,8,7. Lord, upon
our nightdescending,. Bid the light with gladness shine;...
Of ChristDescending from Heaven to the General Judgment, and of...
... Addressed to His Brother Pentadius. Chap. LXXII."Of ChristDescending from
Heaven to the General Judgment, and of the Millenarian Reign....
Whether ChristDescending into Hell Delivered the Holy Fathers...
... OF CHRIST'S DESCENT INTO HELL (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether Christdescending
into hell delivered the holy Fathers from thence? Objection...
Lo, He Comes, with CloudsDescending
... II. THE CHRISTIAN YEAR Advent 57. Lo, He comes, with cloudsdescending.
8.7.8.7.4.7 [219]St. Thomas:... Charles Wesley, 1758. Lo, He comes, with cloudsdescending,....
"Lo! He Comes with CloudsDescending. "
... Hymn 12. 8, 7, 4. "Lo! he comes with cloudsdescending.". Lo! he comes with
cloudsdescending, Once for favor'd sinners slain; Thousand...
"Lo! He Comes with CloudsDescending. "
... Nuhguhmoowin 12. 8, 7, 4. "Lo! He comes with cloudsdescending.". Be nuh
pe tuh gwish in Je sus, Ke nuh wind kah oon je nad; Ka gate...
Whether Consanguinity is Fittingly Distinguished by Degrees and...
... For a line of consanguinity is described as "the ordered series of persons related
by blood, anddescending from a common ancestor in various degrees." Now...
Whether Christ Went Down into the Hell of the Lost?
... Objection 5: Further, as Augustine says in a sermon upon the Resurrection: Christ
descending into hell "set free all the just who were held in the bonds of...
The Central Sun
... And when they believed that, it was easy for them to suppose that St. Paul spoke
of Christ'sdescending into hell. He went down, says St....
Thesaurus
Descending (23 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Descending (23 Occurrences). Matthew
... him. He saw
the Spirit of God
descending as a dove, and coming on him.
...Descend (34 Occurrences)
... (KJV DBY WBS). John 1:32 John testified, saying, "I have seen the Spirit
descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him....
Opened (182 Occurrences)
... opened to him. He saw the Spirit of Goddescending as a dove, and coming
on him. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Matthew 5...
Object (76 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Acts 10:11 He saw heaven opened and a certain containerdescending to him,
like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth, (See NAS)....
Lowered (14 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Acts 10:11 He saw heaven opened and a certain containerdescending to
him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth, (See NAS)....
Trance (7 Occurrences)
... SLEEP, DEEP). In Peter's vision on the housetop at Joppa he saw the sail
(othone)descending from heaven, and heard a voice. Paul's...
Tribe (250 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary A collection of familiesdescending from one ancestor.
The "twelve tribes" of the Hebrews were the twelve...
Descent (22 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) Transmission of an estate by inheritance, usually, but not necessarily,
in thedescending line; title to inherit an estate by reason of consanguinity....
Downwards (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (adv.) From a higher place to a lower; in adescending
course; as, to tend, move, roll, look, or take root, downward or downwards....
Descendeth (3 Occurrences)
... devilish. (KJV WBS). Numbers 11:9 And in thedescending of the dew on the
camp by night, the manna descendeth upon it. (YLT). Psalms...
Resources
What is Jacob's Ladder? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Nathanael in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of the land of Gilead in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgDescending: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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