Topical Encyclopedia
The term "felled" in the context of the Bible often refers to the act of cutting down trees or the downfall of individuals or nations. This concept is used both literally and metaphorically throughout the Scriptures, illustrating themes of judgment, humility, and transformation.
Literal Use:In its literal sense, "felled" describes the cutting down of trees, which was a common practice in ancient times for building materials, fuel, and clearing land. The Bible provides several instances where trees are felled for various purposes:
·
Construction and Craftsmanship: In the construction of the Temple, King Solomon sent word to Hiram, king of Tyre, requesting cedar and cypress logs from Lebanon. The trees were felled by the Sidonians, as described in
1 Kings 5:6 : "Now therefore, command that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My servants will join your servants, and I will pay you for your servants according to whatever you say, for you know that not a man among us can cut timber like the Sidonians."
·
Judgment and Destruction: The felling of trees is also used as a metaphor for divine judgment. In
Isaiah 10:33-34 , the Lord's judgment is likened to the felling of the proud and lofty: "Behold, the Lord, the LORD of Hosts, will lop off the branches with terrifying power. The tall trees will be felled, and the lofty ones will be brought low. He will clear the forest thickets with an ax, and Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One."
Metaphorical Use:Metaphorically, "felled" is used to describe the downfall or humbling of individuals, nations, or powers. This imagery conveys the idea of being brought low from a position of pride or strength:
·
Humbling of the Proud: The imagery of felling is used to depict the humbling of the proud and arrogant. In
Ezekiel 31:12 , the fall of Assyria is described using the metaphor of a great tree being felled: "Foreigners, the most ruthless of nations, have cut it down and left it to lie among the mountains. Its branches have fallen in all the valleys, and its boughs lie broken in all the ravines of the land. All the nations of the earth have departed from its shade and abandoned it."
·
Divine Judgment: The felling of trees is also symbolic of God's judgment against sin and rebellion. In
Jeremiah 46:22 , the sound of Egypt's defeat is likened to the felling of a great tree: "Her voice will hiss like a serpent, for they will march with an army and come against her with axes, like woodcutters. They will cut down her forest, declares the LORD, though it is dense, for they are more numerous than locusts, and they cannot be counted."
Spiritual Lessons:The concept of being "felled" serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of pride and disobedience. It underscores the biblical principle that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (
James 4:6). The imagery of felling calls believers to examine their own lives, to remain humble before God, and to recognize His sovereignty over all creation.
In summary, the term "felled" in the Bible carries significant weight, both in its literal application to the cutting down of trees and its metaphorical use to describe the humbling of the proud and the execution of divine judgment. Through these vivid images, Scripture communicates profound truths about God's power, justice, and mercy.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Fell.
Strong's Hebrew
7995. shalleketh -- felling (of a tree)... 7994, 7995. shalleketh. 7996 . felling (of a tree). Transliteration: shalleketh
Phonetic Spelling: (shal-leh'-keth) Short Definition:
felled.
...5307. naphal -- to fall, lie
... 4), fallen (55), fallen away (1), fallen down (4), falling (3), falling down (2),
falls (22), falls away (1), fell (98), fell down (8),felled (1), felling (1...
1503. geza -- a stock, stem
... stem, stock. From an unused root meaning to cut down (trees); the trunk or stump
of a tree (asfelled or as planted) -- stem, stock. 1502, 1503. geza. 1504 >...
7843. shachath -- perhaps to go to ruin
... 4), depravity (1), destroy (69), destroyed (14), destroyer (4), destroyers (1),
destroying (7), destroys (5), destruction (2), devastate (1),felled (2), go to...
3126. yoneq -- a young plant, sapling
... tender plant. Active participle of yanaq; a sucker; hence, a twig (of a treefelled
and sprouting) -- tender plant. see HEBREW yanaq. 3125, 3126. yoneq. 3127...
Library
The Sucker from theFelled Oak
... THE SUCKER FROM THEFELLED OAK. 'And there shall come forth a rod out of
the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots...
The Power of Rome Romanized Aspect of all the Heathen Mythology....
... the tradition and gave it wide authority, another phase of the widespread error
of man must now be encountered by us; nay, another forest must befelled by our...
The Suffering Servant-I
... word rendered 'tender plant' means a sucker, and 'root' probably would more properly
be taken as a shoot from a root, the tree having beenfelled, and nothing...
The Absurdity and Shamefulness of the Images by which the Gods are...
... The image of Artemis in Icarus was doubtless unwrought wood, and that of the
Cith??ronian Here was afelled tree-trunk; and that of the Samian Here, as...
The First victory for Dissent
... powers, was prepared and was ready for presentation in Parliament when the Queen's
death, August 1, 1714, caused its withdrawal, andfelled the hopes of...
The Builders
... Our helpers searched the countryside for likely trees, which werefelled and
in a few days made their reappearance as pillars and beams....
The Pilgrim Band, 1736-1743.
... It was now exactly fourteen years since Christian David hadfelled the first tree
at Herrnhut; and now for another fourteen years these crumbling walls were to...
The Good Man's Life and Death
... The ox that loweth in the pasture is fattening for the slaughter. Trees do but grow
that they may befelled. Yea, and greater things than these feel death....
Further Refutation of the Pythagorean Theory. The State of...
... have to be regarded as a remedy for nations, as the means of pruning the luxuriance
of the human race; and yet, when the hatchet has oncefelled large masses...
Goths at Antioch
... back to a more respectful distance; but, jealous of the superior size and beauty
of the Goths, and not liking to see their comrade so lightlyfelled by a mere...
Thesaurus
Felled (8 Occurrences)...Felled (8 Occurrences). Judges 20:21 The Benjaminites came out of Gib'e-ah, and
felled to the ground on that day twenty-two thousand men of the Israelites.
...Gib'e-ah (45 Occurrences)
... (DBY RSV). Judges 20:21 The Benjaminites came out of Gib'e-ah, andfelled to the
ground on that day twenty-two thousand men of the Israelites. (DBY RSV)....
Kirhareseth (2 Occurrences)
... they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone
and filled it, and they stopped every well of water, andfelled every good...
Kir-hareseth (3 Occurrences)
... down the cities; and on every good piece of land they cast every man his stone,
and filled it; and they stopped all the fountains of water, andfelled all the...
Kir-har'eseth (2 Occurrences)
... down the cities; and on every good piece of land they cast every man his stone,
and filled it; and they stopped all the fountains of water, andfelled all the...
Kirhara-seth (1 Occurrence)
... they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone,
and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, andfelled all the...
Kirharaseth (1 Occurrence)
... they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone,
and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, andfelled all the...
Wells (15 Occurrences)
... they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone,
and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, andfelled all the...
Fountains (29 Occurrences)
... down the cities; and on every good piece of land they cast every man his stone,
and filled it; and they stopped all the fountains of water, andfelled all the...
Feller (1 Occurrence)
Resources
Is Isaiah 53 'The Suffering Servant' a prophecy about Jesus? | GotQuestions.orgDoes The Harbinger really predict America's future? | GotQuestions.orgFelled: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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