Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "prolong" in the Bible often relates to the extension of life, blessings, or consequences, and is frequently associated with obedience to God's commandments. The term is used in various contexts, including the prolonging of days, the extension of God's mercy, and the enduring consequences of sin.
Prolonging of DaysOne of the most direct references to the prolonging of life is found in the context of obedience to God's laws. In
Deuteronomy 5:33 , it is written: "Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess." Here, the prolonging of days is directly linked to adherence to divine commandments, suggesting that a life lived in accordance with God's will results in longevity and prosperity.
Similarly, in
Deuteronomy 6:2 , the text states: "so that you and your children and grandchildren may fear the LORD your God all the days of your lives, by keeping all His statutes and commandments that I give you, and so that your days may be prolonged." This passage emphasizes the generational impact of obedience, indicating that the fear of the Lord and adherence to His statutes can extend life not only for the individual but also for their descendants.
Prolonging of Mercy and PatienceThe Bible also speaks of God's mercy and patience being prolonged. In
Nehemiah 9:30 , it is noted: "You were patient with them for many years, and Your Spirit admonished them through Your prophets, yet they would not listen. Therefore, You gave them into the hands of the peoples of the lands." This passage highlights God's prolonged patience and mercy towards His people, despite their disobedience, demonstrating His enduring desire for repentance and reconciliation.
Prolonging of ConsequencesConversely, the Bible also addresses the prolonging of consequences due to sin and disobedience. In
Ecclesiastes 8:12-13 , it is observed: "Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may prolong his life, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent before Him. Yet it will not go well with the wicked, and they will not lengthen their days like a shadow, because they do not fear God." This passage suggests that while the wicked may experience a temporary extension of life, true prolonging of well-being is reserved for those who fear and honor God.
Prolonging in Wisdom LiteratureThe wisdom literature of the Bible often associates the prolonging of life with wisdom and understanding.
Proverbs 3:1-2 advises: "My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life." Here, the prolonging of life is tied to the internalization and practice of wisdom, underscoring the value of living a life guided by divine principles.
In summary, the biblical concept of "prolong" encompasses the extension of life, mercy, and consequences, with a strong emphasis on the role of obedience, wisdom, and the fear of the Lord in achieving a prolonged and prosperous existence.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v.) To extend in space or length; as, to prolong life.
2. (v.) To lengthen in time; to extend the duration of; to draw out; to continue; as, to prolong one's days.
3. (v.) To put off to a distant time; to postpone.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PROLONGpro-long' ('arakh, mashakh): "Prolong," "prolonged" are the translations of 'arakh, "to stretch," "to make long" (Deuteronomy 4:26, and frequently, "prolong days";Deuteronomy 4:40, etc.;Job 6:11 the King James Version;Proverbs 28:16Ecclesiastes 7:15;Ecclesiastes 8:13Isaiah 53:10); of mashakh, "to draw out" (Isaiah 13:22Ezekiel 12:25, 28 the King James Version); of yacaph, "to add," "to increase" (Psalm 61:6Proverbs 10:27); of naTah, "to stretch out," "to incline to" (Job 15:29, "neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth," the American Standard Revised Version "neither shall their possessions be extended on the earth," margin "their produce bend to the earth"; the English Revised Version reverses text and margin); of 'arekhah (Aramaic) (Daniel 7:12, "Yet their lives were prolonged," the King James Version margin "A prolonging in life was given them"). "Prolong" occurs in Ecclesiasticus 29:5, "prolong the time" (parelkuo); 38:14, "prolong life," the Revised Version (British and American) "maintenance of life" (embiosis); 30:22, "prolongeth his days," the Revised Version (British and American) "length of days" (makroemereusis); 37:31, the Revised Version (British and American) "shall prolong" (prostithemi).
W. L. Walker
Greek
3905. parateino -- to extend,prolong... to extend,
prolong. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: parateino Phonetic Spelling:
(par-at-i'-no) Short Definition: I extend,
prolong Definition: I extend
...Strong's Hebrew
4900. mashak -- to draw, drag... 1), draw (3), drawn (2), draws (1), drew (2), extend (1), follow (1), go (1), led
(1), long blast (2), make a long blast (1), march (1),
prolong (1), prolonged
...3254. yasaph -- to add
... intensify (1), join (1), longer (9), longer* (7), more (18), more shall be done
(1), more also (1), more* (5), once more* (3), once* (1),prolong (1), prolongs...
748. arak -- to be long
... 747b, 748. arak. 749 . to be long. Transliteration: arak Phonetic Spelling:
(aw-rak') Short Definition:prolong. Word Origin a prim....
3052. yehab -- to give
... deliver, give, pay, yield. (Aramaic) corresponding to yahab; -deliver, give, lay, +
prolong, pay, yield. see HEBREW yahab. 3051, 3052. yehab. 3053 ....
755b. arkah -- a lengthening, prolonging.
... a lengthening, prolonging. Transliteration: arkah Short Definition:prolong. Word
Origin (Aramaic) of uncertain derivation Definition a lengthening, prolonging....
8311. sara -- to extend
... A primitive root; toprolong, ie (reflex) be deformed by excess of members -- stretch
out self, (have any) superfluous thing. 8310, 8311. sara. 8312 ....
5186. natah -- to stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
... carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down, be gone, incline, intend, lay, let
down, offer, outstretched, overthrown, pervert, pitch,prolong, put away...
Library
But Why Should IProlong this Discussion? I Shall Take no Notice...
... 13. But why should Iprolong this discussion? I shall take no... one Vincentius.
13. But why should Iprolong this discussion? I shall...
Internal Exercises Weaken the Body, yet OftProlong Life. ...
... CHAPTER VI. Internal exercises weaken the body, yet oftprolong life.? Sec. 1. Internal
exercises weaken the body, yet oftprolong life. Sec. Sec....
Of the Reason Why While one Sings the Psalms the Rest Sit Down...
... Of the reason why while one sings the Psalms the rest sit down during the service;
and of the zeal with which they afterwardsprolong their vigils in their...
It is Written that in Our Lord's Passion There was Darkness Over...
... did not begin with sun-rise, neither was it complete night, for it did not, when
the day was ended, receive its due space from the beginning orprolong it to...
Long Live the Pope
... The Shepherd King of Rome, The theme of loving song: Let all the earth
his glory sing, And heav'n the strainprolong. Let all the...
A Call to Praise.
... 1 O praise ye the Lord"prepare a new song, And let all his saints in full concert
join; With voices united the anthemprolong, And show forth his praises...
The Two Guests
... calm. But then, man looks before and after, and has the terrible gift that
by anticipation and by memory he canprolong the sadness....
The Suffering Servant --iv
... It pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when Thou shalt make
His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shallprolong His days...
The Works of John Cassian.
... Of the reason why while one sings the Psalms the rest sit down during the service;
and of the zeal with which they afterwardsprolong their vigils in their...
Slavery
... By means of the still undiscovered Stone they hoped to change base metals into gold,
while the equally undiscovered Elixir was toprolong life indefinitely...
Thesaurus
Prolong (20 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v.) To extend in space or length; as, to
prolong life. 2
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
PROLONG. pro
...Crossing (26 Occurrences)
... against you this day, that you shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto
you go over the Jordan to possess it; you shall notprolong your days on it...
Whereunto (36 Occurrences)
... against you this day, that you shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto
you go over the Jordan to possess it; you shall notprolong your days on it...
Extend (35 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To stretch out; toprolong in space; to carry forward or continue in length;
as, to extend a line in surveying; to extend a cord across the street....
Delay (47 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) To put off; to defer; to procrastinate; toprolong the time of or before....
The meaning here is "toprolong," "to defer." AL Breslich....
Whither (151 Occurrences)
... heavens and the earth, that ye do perish utterly hastily from off the land whither
ye are passing over the Jordan to possess it; ye do notprolong days upon it...
Passing (177 Occurrences)
... heavens and the earth, that ye do perish utterly hastily from off the land whither
ye are passing over the Jordan to possess it; ye do notprolong days upon it...
Perfection (30 Occurrences)
... Lamentations 2:15); mikhlal, "completeness" (Psalm 50:2); minleh, "possession"
(Job 15:29, the King James Version "neither shall theprolong the perfection...
Prosper (91 Occurrences)
... Ye shall walk in all the way which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye
may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye mayprolong your days...
Perish (186 Occurrences)
... against you this day, that you shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto
you go over the Jordan to possess it; you shall notprolong your days on it...
Resources
In end-of-life decisions, when should quality of life be a consideration? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about euthanasia / assisted suicide? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is alchemy? Does the Bible mention alchemy? | GotQuestions.orgProlong: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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