Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "disappear" in the Bible often relates to the transient nature of life, the sudden removal of individuals, or the vanishing of earthly things in light of eternal truths. While the specific term "disappear" may not frequently appear in the Berean Standard Bible, the idea is conveyed through various passages and narratives.
Transience of LifeScripture frequently emphasizes the fleeting nature of human life and earthly existence.
James 4:14 states, "You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." This verse underscores the temporary nature of human life, likening it to a mist that quickly disappears, reminding believers of the importance of focusing on eternal matters.
Sudden RemovalThe Bible also speaks of individuals who are suddenly taken away or removed from the earth. One notable example is the prophet Elijah, who was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, as described in
2 Kings 2:11 : "As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind." Elijah's disappearance serves as a powerful testament to God's sovereignty and the reality of divine intervention.
Vanishing of Earthly ThingsThe Scriptures also address the impermanence of worldly possessions and achievements. In 1
John 2:17 , it is written, "The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever." This passage highlights the contrast between the temporary nature of worldly desires and the enduring nature of those who align themselves with God's will.
Eschatological DisappearanceIn eschatological contexts, the idea of disappearance is linked to the end times and the return of Christ.
Matthew 24:40-41 describes a future event where individuals will be taken suddenly: "Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and the other left." This passage is often interpreted as referring to the rapture, a time when believers will be caught up to meet the Lord, leaving others behind.
Moral and Spiritual ImplicationsThe theme of disappearance in the Bible carries moral and spiritual implications, urging believers to live with an awareness of life's brevity and the urgency of spiritual readiness.
Hebrews 9:27-28 reminds readers, "Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment, so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him." This passage encourages believers to live in anticipation of Christ's return and the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises.
In summary, while the term "disappear" may not be explicitly used in every context, the Bible richly explores the themes of transience, sudden removal, and the vanishing of earthly things, all of which serve to direct believers' focus toward eternal truths and the hope of Christ's return.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. i.) To cease to appear or to be perceived; to pass from view, gradually or suddenly; to vanish; to be no longer seen; as, darkness disappears at the approach of light; a ship disappears as she sails from port.
2. (v. i.) To cease to be or exist; as, the epidemic has disappeared.
Greek
853. aphanizo -- to make unseen, ie destroy... to make unseen, ie destroy. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: aphanizo Phonetic
Spelling: (af-an-id'-zo) Short Definition: I cause to
disappear, I hide
...854. aphanismos -- a vanishing
... disappearance, obliteration. Word Origin from aphanizo Definition a vanishing
NASB Word Usagedisappear (1). vanish away. From aphanizo...
Strong's Hebrew
6461. pasas -- todisappear, vanish... 6460, 6461. pasas. 6462 . to
disappear, vanish. Transliteration: pasas Phonetic
Spelling: (paw-sas') Short Definition:
disappear. Word Origin a prim.
...3988. ma'ac -- to reject
... A primitive root; to spurn; also (intransitively) todisappear -- abhor, cast away
(off), contemn, despise, disdain, (become) loathe(some), melt away, refuse...
656. aphes -- to cease, fail, come to an end
... be clean gone at an end, brought to nothing, fail. A primitive root; todisappear,
ie Cease -- be clean gone (at an end, brought to nought), fail. 655, 656....
4414. malach -- to tear away, dissipate
... A primitive root; properly, to rub to pieces or pulverize; intransitively, todisappear
as dust; also (as denominative from melach) to salt whether internally...
622. asaph -- to gather, remove
... 1), attached (1), bring (1), brought (2), brought together (1), collect (1), collected
(2), collects (1), cure (4), destroy (1),disappear (1), drew (1...
4127. mug -- to melt
... A primitive root; to melt, ie Literally (to soften, flow down,disappear), or
figuratively (to fear, faint) -- consume, dissolve, (be) faint(-hearted), melt...
5110. nud -- to move to and fro, wander, flutter, show grief
... A primitive root; to nod, ie Waver; figuratively, to wander, flee,disappear; also
(from shaking the head in sympathy), to console, deplore, or (from tossing...
235. azal -- to go
... fail, gad about, go to and fro but in Ezek. A primitive root; to go away, hence,
todisappear -- fail, gad about, go to and fro (but in Ezek....
7673a. shabath -- to cease, desist, rest
... root Definition to cease, desist, rest NASB Word Usage brought to an end (1), cease
(21), ceased (7), ceases (3), did away (2),disappear (1), do away (1...
Library
But we Wish to Show that his Instantaneous Bodily Disappearance...
... unbelievers would have found fault with the narrative, and would have brought against
it some such objection as this: "Why, pray, did hedisappear after he had...
God did not Make Evil, nor is He at all in any Way the Author of...
... cuts at its roots which grow below. But hereafter the very thought of evil
willdisappear. VI. But come now, since there is need...
The Dispensation of the Spirit.
... God may be all in all.". The outward humanity is todisappear, that the
inward union may be complete. To the same effect, he speaks...
Vanished Hopes
... "My husband," she said. Something had happened at the Temple. She saw the Jews at
the wall recoil from the dust of battle, rally, plunge in anddisappear....
The Locust-Swarms
... For where the wild grass plains are broken up and properly cultivated, there the
locusts, which lay their countless eggs in the old turf,disappear, and must...
Sin a Power in Reversed Action.
... supplied. If sin were merely a loss of righteousness, nothing more would
be needed than its restoration, and sin woulddisappear....
After These Matters, Then, He Thinks that He Can Make us...
... have paraphrased these words from the discussions in the The??tetus, where Plato
makes Socrates say: "It is neither possible for evils todisappear from among...
Still, in his Examination of the Amount of Justice and Wisdom...
... not that the separation is effected without difficulty, for it takes time for the
fire by its melting force to cause the baser matter todisappear; but for all...
A Funeral Oration.
... Like us theydisappear and are merged into the ocean of matter from which they are
evolved, ready to be re-combined into new forms of beauty; for although...
The Divine Dilemma and Its Solution in the Incarnation
... to nothing through the deceit wrought upon man by the devil; and it was supremely
unfitting that the work of God in mankind shoulddisappear, either through...
Thesaurus
Disappear (13 Occurrences)... 2. (vi) To cease to be or exist; as, the epidemic has disappeared.
Multi-Version Concordance
Disappear (13 Occurrences). Matthew
...Eliminate (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To expel; to discharge; to release; to cause todisappear. 2. (vt) To cause
todisappear from an equation; as, to eliminate an unknown quantity....
Vanish (21 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To pass from a visible to an invisible state; to go out of sight; todisappear;
to fade; as, vapor vanishes from the sight by being dissipated; a ship...
Obliterate (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To blot out; to cause todisappear; to
efface; to render undecipherable, as a writing. 2. (vt) To...
Wear (56 Occurrences)
... 6. (vt) To impair, waste, or diminish, by continual attrition, scraping, percussion,
on the like; to consume gradually; to cause to lower ordisappear; to spend...
Idolatry (14 Occurrences)
... eidololatreia): There is ever in the human mind a craving for visible forms to express
religious conceptions, and this tendency does notdisappear with the...
Fade (16 Occurrences)
... 4. (v.) To sink away; todisappear gradually; to grow dim; to vanish. 5. (vt) To
cause to wither; to deprive of freshness or vigor; to wear away. Int....
Faint (76 Occurrences)
... See Fainting, n. 7. (n.) To sink into dejection; to lose courage or spirit; to become
depressed or despondent. 8. (n.) To decay; todisappear; to vanish....
Fugitive (12 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Not fixed; not durable; liable todisappear or fall away; volatile; uncertain;
evanescent; liable to fade; -- applied to material and immaterial things...
Thin (39 Occurrences)
... To grow or become thin; -- used with some adverbs, as out, away, etc.; as, geological
strata thin out, ie, gradually diminish in thickness until theydisappear...
Resources
What is a jot? What is a tittle? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean to be least in the kingdom of heaven? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that Jesus fulfilled the law, but did not abolish it? | GotQuestions.orgDisappear: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
