Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical literature, the term "grope" is often used metaphorically to describe a state of confusion, blindness, or lack of direction, both physically and spiritually. The imagery of groping is employed to convey the human condition when separated from divine guidance and wisdom.
Old Testament ReferencesThe concept of groping appears in several passages in the Old Testament, often illustrating the plight of those who are spiritually blind or under judgment. In
Deuteronomy 28:29, as part of the curses for disobedience, it is written: "You will grope at noon as a blind man gropes in the darkness, and you will not prosper in your ways. Day after day you will be oppressed and plundered, with no one to save you." . This verse highlights the futility and despair of those who turn away from God's commandments, likening their efforts to a blind man trying to find his way in the dark.
Similarly, in
Job 5:14, the condition of those who lack understanding is described: "They encounter darkness by day and grope at noon as in the night." . Here, groping symbolizes the confusion and lack of insight that befalls those who do not seek wisdom from God.
Isaiah 59:10 further uses this imagery to describe the spiritual blindness of the people: "Like the blind, we grope along the wall, feeling our way like those without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead." . This passage underscores the dire consequences of sin and the separation it causes between humanity and God, leading to a state of moral and spiritual disorientation.
New Testament ContextWhile the specific term "grope" is not prevalent in the New Testament, the concept is echoed in the spiritual blindness and lostness of those who do not follow Christ. The Apostle Paul, in
Acts 17:27, speaks of God's desire for humanity to seek Him: "God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us." . The phrase "reach out for Him" can be seen as a form of groping, suggesting an earnest search for divine truth and presence.
Theological ImplicationsThe imagery of groping in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of the human condition apart from God. It illustrates the darkness and confusion that result from sin and the rejection of divine wisdom. However, it also points to the hope and redemption available through seeking God. The Bible consistently calls individuals to turn from their blindness and seek the light of God's truth, promising that those who earnestly seek Him will find Him.
In a broader theological context, groping can be understood as the human struggle to find meaning and direction in a fallen world. It emphasizes the necessity of divine revelation and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead believers out of darkness and into the light of Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. i.) To feel with or use the hands; to handle.
2. (v. i.) To search or attempt to find something in the dark, or, as a blind person, by feeling; to move about hesitatingly, as in darkness or obscurity; to feel one's way, as with the hands, when one can not see.
3. (v. t.) To search out by feeling in the dark; as, we groped our way at midnight.
4. (v. t.) To examine; to test; to sound.
Greek
5584. pselaphao -- to feel orgrope about... to feel or
grope about. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: pselaphao Phonetic
Spelling: (psay-laf-ah'-o) Short Definition: I feel, touch, handle,
grope for
...Strong's Hebrew
4959. mashash -- to feel,grope... 4958, 4959. mashash. 4960 . to feel,
grope. Transliteration: mashash Phonetic
Spelling: (maw-shash') Short Definition:
grope. Word Origin a prim.
...1659. gashash -- to feel with the hand, feel, stroke
... gashash. 1660 . to feel with the hand, feel, stroke. Transliteration: gashash
Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-shash') Short Definition:grope. Word Origin a prim....grope...
Library
Seeking Jesus
... We all know what it is to put out an empty hand into the darkness and the void,
and togrope for a touch which we know, whilst wegrope, that we shall not find...
There is a Presumption in Favor of the Bible
... reasonable to suppose He will do so? Surely God will not mock our ignorance
and leave us togrope in the dark! If it is harder to believe...
Letter xi. --For 339. Coss. Constantius Augustus ii, Constans I...
... They shallgrope for the wall like the blind, and as those who have no eyes shall
theygrope; they shall fall at noon-day as at midnight; when dead, they shall...
section ii.
... Essence and Operation. This is the cause Igrope after in the works of
Nature; on this hangs the Providence of God. To raise so...
Mysterious visits.
... He brought me down from the high horse, and caused me to fall to the ground; by
the brightness of the light of His Spirit He made megrope in conscious...
Jabez
... with adverse circumstances and overcome them, when he has made his mark in the world
by sheer force of work and character, no one cares togrope through musty...
Saint George Kills the Enchanter Osmond.
... he and his Squire advanced into the enchanted district the light of day decreased;
darker and darker it grew, till they could with difficultygrope their way...
The Lord's Prayer. Our Father who Art in Heaven.
... Let no one think that it is all the same whether he pray or not, as vulgar people
do, whogrope in such delusion and ask Why should I pray?...
The Father Seen in Christ.
... Why should we live so remote from the centre of things, and have togrope our way
to life and light, clouded by doubts, beset by misleading and disturbing...
Fear Not
... There are certain nights of exceeding great darkness, through which the spirit has
togrope in much pain and misery, and during which much of the comfort of...
Thesaurus
Grope (5 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Grope (5 Occurrences). Acts 17:27 that they might
seek God, if perhaps they could
grope for Him and find Him.
...Noonday (13 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 28:29 and you shallgrope at noonday, as the blind gropes in darkness,
and you shall not prosper in your ways: and you shall be only oppressed and...
Noon (30 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 28:29 and you shallgrope at noonday, as the blind gropes in darkness,
and you shall not prosper in your ways: and you shall be only oppressed and...
Midday (11 Occurrences)
... law. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV). Job 5:14 They meet with darkness in
a the daytime, andgrope at midday as in the night. (DBY)....
Noon-day (8 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 28:29 And thou shaltgrope at noon-day, as the blind gropeth in darkness,
and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed...
Lusty (3 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 59:10 Wegrope for the wall like the blind; yes, wegrope as those who have
no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the twilight; among those who are lusty...
Flourishing (11 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 59:10 Wegrope for the wall like the blind, and wegrope as if we had no
eyes: we stumble at midday as in the twilight; amongst the flourishing we are...
Twilight (25 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 59:10 Wegrope for the wall like the blind; yes, wegrope as those who have
no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the twilight; among those who are lusty...
Amongst (47 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 59:10 Wegrope for the wall like the blind, and wegrope as if we had no
eyes: we stumble at midday as in the twilight; amongst the flourishing we are...
Stumble (89 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 59:10 Wegrope for the wall like the blind; yes, wegrope as those who have
no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the twilight; among those who are lusty...
Resources
What is spiritual darkness? | GotQuestions.orgGrope: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
