Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Meaning:The term "miry" refers to something that is muddy, swampy, or bog-like, often used to describe a place or situation that is difficult to navigate or escape. In biblical contexts, it is frequently used metaphorically to describe spiritual or moral quagmires.
Biblical References:The concept of "miry" appears in several passages throughout the Bible, often symbolizing a state of distress or entrapment from which deliverance is sought. One of the most notable references is found in the Psalms:
·
Psalm 40:2 : "He lifted me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm." This verse illustrates the transformative power of God's deliverance, taking the psalmist from a place of instability and danger to one of security and strength.
·
Jeremiah 38:6 : "So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah with ropes. Now there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud." Here, the prophet Jeremiah is literally placed in a miry pit, symbolizing the rejection and persecution he faced for delivering God's message.
Theological Significance:In a theological context, "miry" often represents the sinful or fallen state of humanity. It signifies the struggles and entanglements of life that can ensnare individuals, making it difficult to find a path to righteousness. The imagery of being stuck in the mire is used to highlight the need for divine intervention and redemption.
Spiritual Application:For believers, the concept of being lifted from the "miry clay" serves as a powerful reminder of God's grace and salvation. It emphasizes the importance of relying on God's strength to overcome life's challenges and moral failings. The imagery encourages Christians to seek God's guidance and deliverance in times of trouble, trusting that He will provide a firm foundation.
Related Concepts:·
Deliverance: The act of being rescued or set free, often associated with God's intervention in the lives of His people.
·
Redemption: The action of being saved from sin, error, or evil, a central theme in Christian theology.
·
Sanctification: The process of being made holy, set apart for God's purposes, often involving the overcoming of sinful habits and tendencies.
Historical Context:In ancient times, miry places were common in the landscape of the Near East, often found in valleys and low-lying areas. These locations were not only physically challenging but also posed significant risks to travelers and inhabitants. The biblical use of "miry" draws on this common experience to convey deeper spiritual truths.
Conclusion:While the term "miry" may seem simple, its use in the Bible carries profound implications for understanding the human condition and the necessity of divine intervention. Through the imagery of being lifted from the mire, Scripture offers hope and assurance of God's unwavering support and transformative power.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
a.) Abounding with deep mud; full of mire; muddy; as, a miry road.
Strong's Hebrew
3121. yaven -- mire... Definition: mire. Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition mire NASB
Word Usage mire (1),
miry (1). mire,
miry. From the same
...2917. tin -- clay
...miry. (Aramaic) perhaps, by interchange, for a word corresponding to tiyt; clay --
miry. see HEBREW tiyt. 2916, 2917. tin. 2918 . Strong's Numbers.
5431. saan -- to tread, tramp
... warrior. A primitive root; to bemiry; used only as denominative from c'own; to
shoe, ie (active participle) a soldier shod -- warrior. see HEBREW c'own....
Library
Christ's Resurrection Song.
... He brought me up also Out of an horrible pit, Out of themiry clay; And set my feet
upon a rock, Established my goings.... Themiry clay has a special meaning....
The Battle of Thermopylae.
... forcing a passage, they conducted the water of the warm springs over the ground
without the wall, in such a way as to make the surface continually wet andmiry...
How God Answered Donald's Prayer
... worldly people. I knew better than to do the things I did, but sin is a
miry clay pulling its victims down deeper and deeper. For...
The Image and the Stone
... and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the
strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed withmiry clay.42...
The Geometry of Prayer
... The true bottomless pit is in every one of us. That horrible pit, with itsmiry
clay, is sunk away down in the unsearchable depths of every evil heart....
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
... and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the
strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed withmiry clay....
Brought up from the Horrible Pit
... cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of themiry clay,
and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings....
The Pilgrim's Progress
... Now I saw in my dream, that just as they had ended this talk, they drew nigh to
a verymiry slough that was in the midst of the plain: and they, being heedless...
The Conflict.
... His words are the following: "The sun's heat, acting on the originalmiry earth,
produced filmy bladders or bubbles, and these, becoming surrounded with a...
Out of the Deep of Doubt, Darkness, and Hell.
... and heard my calling. He brought me also out of the horrible pit, out of
themiry clay, and set my feet upon the rock. And He hath...
Thesaurus
Miry (6 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Abounding with deep mud; full of mire; muddy; as,
a
miry road. Multi-Version Concordance
Miry (6 Occurrences).
...Sawest (20 Occurrences)
... and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the
strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed withmiry clay....
Baked (26 Occurrences)
... clay, and part of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but there shall be in it
of the strength of the iron, because you saw the iron mixed withmiry clay....
Clay (50 Occurrences)
... (WEB NIV). Psalms 40:2 He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of themiry
clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand....
Mirth (18 Occurrences)
Whereas (55 Occurrences)
... clay, and part of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but there shall be in it
of the strength of the iron, because you saw the iron mixed withmiry clay....
Footsteps (30 Occurrences)
... (KJV DBY WBS). Psalms 40:2 He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the
miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand....
Firmness (2 Occurrences)
... and part of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but there shall be in it of the
strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed withmiry clay....
Toes (8 Occurrences)
... clay, and part of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but there shall be in it
of the strength of the iron, because you saw the iron mixed withmiry clay....
Tumultuous (10 Occurrences)
... (DBY YLT). Psalms 40:2 He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of themiry
clay; And he set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. (See JPS)....
Resources
Miry: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
