Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical contexts, the act of digging is often associated with various practical and symbolic activities, including agriculture, construction, and spiritual metaphors. The term "dig" and its derivatives appear in several passages throughout the Bible, illustrating both literal and figurative meanings.
Agricultural and Practical UsesDigging is frequently mentioned in the context of agriculture, reflecting the agrarian society of ancient Israel. In
Genesis 26:18, Isaac reopens the wells that had been dug during the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham's death. This act of digging wells was crucial for survival, providing necessary water for crops, livestock, and people.
In
Deuteronomy 6:11, the Israelites are promised "houses full of every good thing that you did not fill, and wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant," highlighting the blessings and provisions from God as they enter the Promised Land. Here, digging wells is symbolic of the labor and effort required to sustain life, which God provides for His people.
Construction and DefenseDigging also plays a role in construction and defense. In the building of cities and fortifications, digging was necessary for laying foundations and creating defensive structures. In
Isaiah 5:2, the imagery of digging is used in the parable of the vineyard: "He dug it up, cleared out its stones, and planted it with the choicest vines." This illustrates the care and preparation involved in establishing something of value.
Spiritual and Metaphorical SignificanceThe Bible uses the concept of digging metaphorically to convey spiritual truths. In
Luke 6:48, Jesus describes a wise man who "is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid his foundation on rock." This parable emphasizes the importance of a strong spiritual foundation, rooted in obedience to Christ's teachings.
Conversely, digging can also represent the uncovering of sin or the plotting of evil. In
Job 6:27, Job accuses his friends of being willing to "cast lots for the fatherless and barter away your friend," implying a betrayal that involves digging a pit for others. Similarly, in
Psalm 7:15, it is said, "He has dug a hole and hollowed it out; he has fallen into a pit of his own making," illustrating the self-destructive nature of wicked schemes.
Judgment and ConsequencesThe act of digging is sometimes associated with judgment and consequences. In
Ezekiel 8:8, the prophet is instructed to "dig through the wall" to witness the abominations being committed by the elders of Israel. This act of digging reveals hidden sins and brings them to light, symbolizing God's judgment and the exposure of iniquity.
In the New Testament, the parable of the talents in
Matthew 25:18 includes a servant who "went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money." This act of digging, in this context, represents negligence and a failure to use God-given resources wisely, resulting in judgment upon the unfaithful servant.
ConclusionThroughout the Bible, the act of digging serves as a multifaceted symbol, representing both the practical aspects of life in ancient times and deeper spiritual truths. Whether in the context of providing for physical needs, constructing secure foundations, or illustrating moral and spiritual lessons, digging is a recurring theme that underscores the importance of preparation, diligence, and faithfulness in the life of believers.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To turn up, or delve in, (earth) with a spade or a hoe; to open, loosen, or break up (the soil) with a spade, or other sharp instrument; to pierce, open, or loosen, as if with a spade.
2. (v. t.) To get by digging; as, to dig potatoes, or gold.
3. (v. t.) To hollow out, as a well; to form, as a ditch, by removing earth; to excavate; as, to dig a ditch or a well.
4. (v. t.) To thrust; to poke.
5. (v. i.) To work with a spade or other like implement; to do servile work; to delve.
6. (v. i.) To take ore from its bed, in distinction from making excavations in search of ore.
7. (v. i.) To work like a digger; to study ploddingly and laboriously.
8. (n.) A thrust; a punch; a poke; as, a dig in the side or the ribs. See Dig, v. t., 4.
9. (n.) A plodding and laborious student.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DIG(qur, "to dig", chathar; diorusso, "to dig through"): "I have digged (dug) and drunk strange waters" (2 Kings 19:24). In his campaigns on foreign soil, where the enemy had stopped up the watersprings, Sennacherib would at once dig fresh wells for his armies. "They dig through houses" (Job 24:16Matthew 6:19, 20 margin). Walls of eastern houses are often made of mud or clay, and frequently have no windows; and as the threshold of a Syrian house is sacred, the thief breaks in through the wall (see Trumbull, The Threshold Covenant).
M. O. Evans
Greek
3736. orusso -- todig... to
dig. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: orusso Phonetic Spelling:
(or-oos'-so) Short Definition: I
dig,
dig out Definition: I
dig,
dig out, excavate.
...4626. skapto -- todig
... skapto. 4627 . todig. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: skapto Phonetic Spelling:
(skap'-to) Short Definition: Idig Definition: Idig, excavate....
2679. kataskapto -- todig down
... todig down. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kataskapto Phonetic Spelling:
(kat-as-kap'-to) Short Definition: Idig down under, demolish Definition: Idig...
1846. exorusso -- todig out or up
... todig out or up. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: exorusso Phonetic Spelling:
(ex-or-oos'-so) Short Definition: Idig out, gouge Definition: (a) Idig out...
1358. diorusso -- todig through (as of breaking into a house)
... todig through (as of breaking into a house). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
diorusso Phonetic Spelling: (dee-or-oos'-so) Short Definition: Idig through...
3001. lachanon -- a garden herb, a vegetable
... Word Origin from lachaino (todig) Definition a garden herb, a vegetable NASB
Word Usage garden herb (1), garden plants (2), vegetables (1)....
Strong's Hebrew
2864. chathar -- todig, row... 2863, 2864. chathar. 2865 . to
dig, row. Transliteration: chathar Phonetic
Spelling: (khaw-thar') Short Definition:
dig. Word Origin a prim.
...2658. chaphar -- todig, search for
... chaphar. 2659 . todig, search for. Transliteration: chaphar Phonetic Spelling:
(khaw-far') Short Definition: dug. Word Origin a prim....dig, paw, search out, seek...
3738. karah -- todig
... 3737, 3738. karah. 3738a . todig. Transliteration: karah Phonetic Spelling:
(kaw-raw') Short Definition:dig.dig, make a banquet, open...
6979. qur -- to bore,dig
... qur. 6980 . to bore,dig. Transliteration: qur Phonetic Spelling: (koor) Short
Definition: dug.... root Definition to bore,dig NASB Word Usage dug (2)....
1770.dig -- to fish for, catch
... 1769, 1770.dig. 1771 . to fish for, catch. Transliteration:dig Phonetic Spelling:
(deeg) Short Definition: fish.... 1769, 1770.dig. 1771 . Strong's Numbers
5365. naqar -- to bore, pick,dig
... 5364, 5365. naqar. 5366 . to bore, pick,dig. Transliteration: naqar Phonetic
Spelling: (naw-kar') Short Definition: dug....dig, pick out, pierce, put thrust...
3738a. karah -- todig
... karah. 3738b . todig. Transliteration: karah Short Definition: dug.... root Definition
todig NASB Word Usage cut (1), digs (3), dug (9), opened (1)....
3564b. kur -- perhaps to bore,dig or hew
... kur. 3565 . perhaps to bore,dig or hew. Transliteration: kur Short Definition:
pierced.... root Definition perhaps to bore,dig or hew NASB Word Usage pierced (1...
5823. azaq -- todig about
... todig about. Transliteration: azaq Phonetic Spelling: (aw-zak') Short Definition:
around.... root Definition todig about NASB Word Usage dug it all around (1)....
2672. chatsab -- to hew, hew out, cleave
... root Definition to hew, hew out, cleave NASB Word Usage chops (1), cut in pieces
(1),dig (2), engraved (1), hew (2), hewed (2), hewers (1), hewn (5), hewn...
Library
Go andDig My Grave Today!
... V. Go anddig my grave today! 7,7,7,7,7,7 Geht nun hin und grabt mein Grab.... by Catherine
Winkworth, 1855. Go anddig my grave today! Weary of my wanderings all,....
Whether Theft is Always a Sin?
... there are that were never in anyone's possession, for instance precious stones and
jewels, found on the seashore, and such the finder is allowed to keep [*Dig....
The Seventh Commandment
... Son of man,dig in the wall; and when I had digged, behold a door; and he said,
Go in and behold the wicked abominations that they do here.' Ezekiel 8:8, 9...
"Love and I" --A Mystery
... It is a soil into which one maydig anddig as deep as ever you will, and
still never exhaust the golden nuggets which lie within it....
Hindrances to Holiness.
... That little thing would not hinder, it is so long ago." They would not, when
they knew they ought,dig it up and burn it before the Lord....
The Little Foxes.
... If you will take the pains todig him up, you will find his nest some where
beyond the end of your present consecration. It will...
"Make this Valley Full of Ditches. " 2 Kings, iii. , 16
... water. Do we hear some say, "There are so many among us who will notdig?"
Just so, and therefore some of us mustdig night and day....
God's Scrutiny Longed For
... It means todig deep.... 'Search me'"dig into me, bring the deep-lying parts to
light"'and know my heart'; the centre of my personality, my inmost self....
Concerning what is in Our Own Power, that Is, Concerning Free-Will...
... finds a treasure while digging a ditch [1876] : for the man who hid the treasure
did not do so that the other might find it, nor did the finderdig with the...
Fences and Serpents
... on the cunning plotter against other men's prosperity, and the conclusion that wisdom
suggests in that application of the sentence is, 'Dig judiciously,' but...
Thesaurus
Dig (24 Occurrences)... 2. (vt) To get by digging; as, to
dig potatoes, or gold.
... 8. (n.) A thrust; a punch;
a poke; as, a
dig in the side or the ribs. See
Dig, vt, 4.
...Mine (2991 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi) Todig a mine or pit in the earth; to get ore, metals, coal, or precious
stones, out of the earth; todig in the earth for minerals; todig a passage...
Mole (2 Occurrences)
... cat"; compare Arabic khuld, "mole-rat" (Leviticus 11:29); (3) chaphar-peroth, English
Versions of the Bible "moles"; from chaphar, "todig"; compare Arabic...
Grub (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) Todig in or under the ground, generally for an
object that is difficult to reach or extricate; to be occupied in digging....
Dug (45 Occurrences)
... 1. (imp. & pp) ofDig. 2. (n.) A teat, pap, or nipple; -- formerly that of a human
mother, now that of a cow or other beast. 3. (imp. & pp) ofDig....
Digged (37 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (pp) ofDig.... Ezekiel 8:8 Then said he unto me, Son of man,
dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door....
Dignities (3 Occurrences)
...dig'-ni-tiz,dig'-ni-ti (Hebrew marom, se'eth, gedhullah): Rank or position, not
nobility or austerity of personal character or bearing, is denoted by this...
Dignity (14 Occurrences)
...dig'-ni-tiz,dig'-ni-ti (Hebrew marom, se'eth, gedhullah): Rank or position, not
nobility or austerity of personal character or bearing, is denoted by this...
Ditch (9 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) Todig a ditch or ditches in; to drain by a ditch or ditches; as,
to ditch moist land.... 6. (vi) Todig a ditch or ditches. Int....
Spoils (19 Occurrences)
... Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and
rust spoils, and where thievesdig through and steal; (DBY)....
Resources
What is the readiness of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15)? | GotQuestions.orgHow should a Christian view being “woke”? | GotQuestions.orgAre there such things as aliens or UFOs? | GotQuestions.orgDig: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
