Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Etymology:The term "lag" is not directly found in the Bible; however, it can be understood in a biblical context as a delay or a period of waiting. The concept of lag can be related to various biblical themes such as patience, waiting on the Lord, and the fulfillment of God's promises.
Biblical Context and Themes:1.
Patience and Waiting: The Bible frequently addresses the theme of waiting and patience, which can be seen as a form of "lag" in the fulfillment of God's promises. In the Old Testament, the Israelites experienced a significant lag during their 40 years in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land (
Numbers 14:33-34). This period was a time of testing and preparation.
In the New Testament, believers are encouraged to wait patiently for the Lord's return.
James 5:7-8 states, "Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient for it until it receives the early and late rains. You too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near."
2.
God's Timing: The concept of lag can also be understood in terms of God's perfect timing.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us, "To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven." God's timing often involves waiting, which can feel like a lag to human understanding, but it is always purposeful and perfect.
In the account of Lazarus, Jesus delayed His visit, resulting in Lazarus's death, only to later raise him from the dead, demonstrating God's glory and timing (
John 11:1-44). This delay, or lag, was intentional and served a greater purpose.
3.
Fulfillment of Prophecy: Many prophecies in the Bible involve a significant lag between the prophecy and its fulfillment. For example, the prophecy of the coming Messiah was given centuries before Jesus' birth.
Isaiah 7:14 prophesied, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel." This prophecy was fulfilled in the New Testament with the birth of Jesus (
Matthew 1:22-23).
4.
Human Experience of Lag: The human experience of lag often involves a struggle with doubt and impatience. The Psalms frequently express the tension between waiting and trusting in God's promises.
Psalm 27:14 encourages believers, "Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!"
5.
Spiritual Growth: Periods of lag can also be times of spiritual growth and maturation.
Romans 5:3-4 explains, "Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." The lag in receiving answers or seeing results can strengthen faith and develop character.
Conclusion:While the term "lag" is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, the concept is woven throughout Scripture in themes of waiting, patience, and the fulfillment of God's promises. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's perfect timing and to use periods of waiting as opportunities for spiritual growth and reliance on the Lord.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Coming tardily after or behind; slow; tardy.
2. (a.) Last; long-delayed; -- obsolete, except in the phrase lag end.
3. (a.) Last made; hence, made of refuse; inferior.
4. (n.) One who lags; that which comes in last.
5. (n.) The fag-end; the rump; hence, the lowest class.
6. (n.) The amount of retardation of anything, as of a valve in a steam engine, in opening or closing.
7. (n.) A stave of a cask, drum, etc.; especially (Mach.), one of the narrow boards or staves forming the covering of a cylindrical object, as a boiler, or the cylinder of a carding machine or a steam engine.
8. (n.) See Graylag.
9. (v. i.) To walk or more slowly; to stay or fall behind; to linger or loiter.
10. (v. t.) To cause to lag; to slacken.
11. (v. t.) To cover, as the cylinder of a steam engine, with lags. See Lag, n., 4.
12. (n.) One transported for a crime.
13. (v. t.) To transport for crime.
Greek
2643. katallage -- reconciliation... reconciliation. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: katallage Phonetic
Spelling: (kat-al-
lag-ay') Short Definition: reconciliation Definition
...4812. sulagogeo -- to carry off as spoil
... to carry off as spoil. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sulagogeo Phonetic
Spelling: (soo-lag-ogue-eh'-o) Short Definition: I plunder Definition: I plunder...
3883. parallage -- change
... change. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: parallage Phonetic Spelling:
(par-al-lag-ay') Short Definition: a change, variation Definition: a change...
1396. doulagogeo -- to enslave, fig. subdue
... subdue. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: doulagogeo Phonetic Spelling:
(doo-lag-ogue-eh'-o) Short Definition: I enslave Definition: I bring into subjection...
Strong's Hebrew
1801. dalag -- to leap... 1800b, 1801. dalag. 1802 . to leap. Transliteration: dalag Phonetic Spelling:
(daw-
lag') Short Definition: leap. Word Origin a prim.
...7949. shalag -- to snow
... 7948, 7949. shalag. 7950 . to snow. Transliteration: shalag Phonetic
Spelling: (shaw-lag') Short Definition: snowing. Word Origin...
6860. Tsiqelag -- a city assigned to Judah, also to Simeon
... 6859, 6860. Tsiqelag. 6861 . a city assigned to Judah, also to Simeon.
Transliteration: Tsiqelag Phonetic Spelling: (tsik-lag') Short Definition: Ziklag....
6385. palag -- to split, divide
... 6384b, 6385. palag. 6386 . to split, divide. Transliteration: palag Phonetic
Spelling: (paw-lag') Short Definition: divided. Word Origin a prim....
1082. balag -- to gleam, smile
... 1081, 1082. balag. 1083 . to gleam, smile. Transliteration: balag Phonetic
Spelling: (baw-lag') Short Definition: cheerful. Word Origin a prim....
4653. miphlaggah -- a division
... 4652, 4653. miphlaggah. 4654 . a division. Transliteration: miphlaggah
Phonetic Spelling: (mif-lag-gaw') Short Definition: sections....
Library
ChristLag in Todesbanden. Christ was Laid in Death's Strong Bands...
... IX. Christlag in Todesbanden. Christ was laid in Death's strong Bands.
"Christ ist erstanden."-[Gebessert. D. MARTIN LUTHER.] Melody...
Christum Wir Sollen Loben Schon. Now Praise we Christ, the Holy...
... 5. Die edle Mutter hat gebor'n, Den Gabriel verhiess zuvorn, Den Sanct Johann's
mit Springen zeigt, Da er nochlag im Mutter Leib....
Of all the Parts of the Body.
... being knotted and joined to one another by sinews, which the mind might make use
of, as bands, [1846] if it should wish to hasten forward or tolag behind; and...
Nun Freut Euch, Lieben Christen G'Mein. Dear Christians, one and...
... 2. Dem Teufel ich gefangenlag, Im Tod war ich verloren, Mein' Suend' mich quaelet
Nacht und Tag, Darin war ich geboren, Ich fiel auch immer tiefer d'rein, Es...
Of Certain Temptations of Satan. Instructions Relating Thereto.
... I never saw one of thoselag behind on the road; and never a cowardly soul, though
aided by humility, make that progress in many years which the former makes...
Easter Day. Morning. Christ Being Raised from the Dead Dieth no...
... From the Anthem [Rom.6:9]. 7,7,7,7,7,7,4. Christlag in Todesbanden. [83]Luther.
1524. trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1855. In the bonds of Death He lay,....
Of Two Griefs which Arise from Inward Gratitude
... of desire. The first grief is, that we feel ourselves tolag behind in
thanking, praising, glorifying and serving God. The second...
Some Things are for Use, Some for Enjoyment.
... ought to use, are hindered in our course, and sometimes even led away from it; so
that, getting entangled in the love of lower gratifications, welag behind in...
Subject Index
... Bin ich allein ein Fremdling auf, [170]H24-p3.1. Christlag in Todesbanden,
[171]H37-p3.1. Christe, du Beistand deiner Kreuzgemeine, [172]H45-p3.1....
There are Some Things, Then, which are to be Enjoyed...
... ought to use, are hindered in our course, and sometimes even led away from it; so
that, getting entangled in the love of lower gratifications, welag behind in...
Thesaurus
Lag (1 Occurrence)... 1. (a.) Coming tardily after or behind; slow; tardy. 2. (a.) Last; long-delayed; --
obsolete, except in the phrase
lag end.
... (vt) To cause to
lag; to slacken.
...Patriarchs (6 Occurrences)
... perhaps by another element beginning with the letter "r"; Amelon and Ammenon are
equivalent to the Babylonian nouns amelu (Delitzsch Wolag das Paradies?...
Antediluvian
... perhaps by another element beginning with the letter "r"; Amelon and Ammenon are
equivalent to the Babylonian nouns amelu (Delitzsch Wolag das Paradies?...
Ziklag (13 Occurrences)
... zik'-lag (tsiqelagh, tsiqelagh (2 Samuel 1:1), tsiqelagh (1 Chronicles 12:1, 20);
usually in the Septuagint Sekelak, or Sikelag): A town assigned (Joshua 19:5...
Kir (11 Occurrences)
... probably as mercenaries. See Fried. Delitzsch, Wolag das Paradies? 233;
Schrader, COT, 425. TG Pinches. KIR OF MOAB. (qir moa'-abh...
La'el (1 Occurrence)
La'el. Lael, La'el.Lag . Multi-Version Concordance La'el (1 Occurrence).
Numbers... Lael. (See RSV). Lael, La'el.Lag . Reference Bible.
Lagged (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofLag. Multi-Version Concordance
Lagged (1 Occurrence). Deuteronomy 25:18 how he met thee...
Fellow (166 Occurrences)
... fel'-o (chabher, rea`; hetairos): Meant originally a "partner," from fe, "property,"
andlag, "to lay," then "a companion," "an equal," "a person or individual...
Telassar (2 Occurrences)
... god Assur. See French Delitzsch, Wolag das Paradies? 264. TG Pinches.
Multi-Version Concordance Telassar (2 Occurrences). 2 Kings...
Resources
Lag: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
