Topical Encyclopedia
Misfortune, as understood within the biblical context, refers to adverse events or circumstances that bring about suffering, distress, or hardship. The Bible addresses the concept of misfortune in various ways, often linking it to themes of divine sovereignty, human sinfulness, and the testing of faith.
Divine Sovereignty and MisfortuneThe Bible frequently emphasizes God's sovereignty over all events, including misfortune. In the book of Job, we see a profound exploration of suffering and divine purpose. Job, a righteous man, experiences severe misfortune, losing his wealth, children, and health. Despite his suffering, Job acknowledges God's ultimate authority: "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD" (
Job 1:21). This acknowledgment underscores the belief that God permits misfortune for reasons that may be beyond human understanding.
Human Sinfulness and ConsequencesMisfortune is sometimes portrayed as a consequence of human sinfulness. The fall of man in
Genesis 3 introduces sin into the world, resulting in various forms of suffering and misfortune. The curse pronounced upon Adam and Eve includes pain, toil, and death (
Genesis 3:16-19). Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites experience misfortune as a result of their disobedience to God's commandments. In
Deuteronomy 28, blessings and curses are outlined, with misfortune befalling those who turn away from God: "But if you do not obey the LORD your God... all these curses will come upon you and overtake you" (
Deuteronomy 28:15).
Testing of FaithMisfortune is also seen as a means of testing and refining faith. The New Testament encourages believers to view trials as opportunities for spiritual growth. James writes, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance" (
James 1:2-3). The Apostle Paul echoes this sentiment, asserting that suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope (
Romans 5:3-4).
God's Compassion and DeliveranceDespite the reality of misfortune, the Bible assures believers of God's compassion and deliverance. The Psalms frequently express trust in God's ability to rescue and comfort those in distress.
Psalm 34:19 states, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all" . The promise of divine deliverance is a recurring theme, offering hope and reassurance to those facing adversity.
Eternal PerspectiveThe Bible encourages an eternal perspective on misfortune, reminding believers that present sufferings are temporary compared to the glory to come. Paul writes, "For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that is far beyond comparison" (
2 Corinthians 4:17). This perspective helps believers endure misfortune with the hope of future redemption and restoration.
In summary, the Bible presents misfortune as a multifaceted concept, intricately connected to divine sovereignty, human sin, the testing of faith, and the promise of God's deliverance. Through these lenses, believers are called to trust in God's purposes and remain steadfast in their faith amidst life's challenges.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Bad fortune or luck; calamity; an evil accident; disaster; mishap; mischance.
2. (v. i.) To happen unluckily or unfortunately; to miscarry; to fail.
Greek
4430. ptoma -- a fall, hence amisfortune, ruin... a fall, hence a
misfortune, ruin. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration:
ptoma Phonetic Spelling: (pto'-mah) Short Definition: a carcass, corpse
...3085. lutrosis -- a ransoming, a redemption
... release Definition: (in the Old Testament: ransoming from imprisonment for debt,
or from slavery, release from nationalmisfortune, etc.), liberation...
3628. oiktirmos -- compassion, pity
... grace, mercy. 3628 -- properly, compassion (pity), ie deep feeling about
someone's difficulty ormisfortune (, 1:159). 3628 ("visceral...
2549. kakia -- wickedness
... kakia Phonetic Spelling: (kak-ee'-ah) Short Definition: evil, wickedness, malice
Definition: (a) evil (ie trouble, labor,misfortune), (b) wickedness, (c...
5355. phthonos -- envy
... properly, strong feeling (desire) that , due to the influence of sin; (figuratively)
the miserable trait of being when someone experiencesmisfortune or pain....
Strong's Hebrew
5235b. neker --misfortune, calamityneker or noker. 5235a, 5235b. neker or noker. 5236 .
misfortune, calamity.
Transliteration: neker or noker Short Definition: disaster.
...3589. kid -- probablymisfortune
... 3588, 3589. kid. 3590 . probablymisfortune. Transliteration: kid Phonetic
Spelling: (keed) Short Definition: decay. Word Origin...
6294. pega -- occurrence, chance
... chance. Word Origin from paga Definition occurrence, chance NASB Word Usage
chance (1),misfortune* (1). chance, occurrence. From...
7451a. ra -- bad, evil
... 4), evil things (4), evildoer (1), evildoers* (1), evils (1), great (1), grievous
(4), harm* (1), harmful (3), man (1), miserable (1),misfortune* (1), sad (4...
6365. pid -- ruin, disaster
... destruction, ruin. From an unused root probably meaning to pierce; (figuratively)
misfortune -- destruction, ruin. 6364, 6365. pid. 6366 . Strong's Numbers
205. aven -- trouble, sorrow, wickedness
... trouble, sorrow, wickedness NASB Word Usage affliction (1), distress (1), evil
(4), false (1), harm (1), idol (1), iniquity (37),misfortune (1), mourners' (1...
343. ed -- distress, calamity
... calamity, destruction. From the same as 'uwd (in the sense of bending down); oppression;
by implicationmisfortune, ruin -- calamity, destruction....
7463a. raah -- evil, misery, distress, injury
... evildoer* (1), evildoing (1), evils (5), great wickedness (1), harm (19), hurt
(5), ill (1), injure (2), injury (1), misery (2),misfortune (6), misfortunes (1...
653. aphelah -- darkness, gloominess, calamity
... dark, darkness, gloominess, thick. Feminine of 'aphel; duskiness, figuratively,
misfortune; concrete, concealment -- dark, darkness, gloominess, X thick....
Library
How the Israelites after thisMisfortune Grew Wicked and Served...
... CHAPTER 3. How The Israelites After ThisMisfortune Grew Wicked And Served The
Assyrians; And How God Delivered Them By Othniel, Who Ruled Over The Forty Years...
He Bemoans the Unhappy Lot of Constantinople, Owing to the...
... He bemoans the unhappy lot of Constantinople, owing to themisfortune which has
overtaken it from that heretic; and at the same time he urges the citizens to...
By the Sacrifices of the Old Testament, Men were Convinced of Sins...
... how often he commends this very subject, and, as it were, inculcates it again and
again on proud and contentious men: "He was a man undermisfortune, and one...
Acts xxviii. 1
... hospitable man, Publius, who was both rich and of great possessions: he had seen
nothing, but purely out of compassion for theirmisfortune, he received them...
On Contrition
... To be blind is certainly amisfortune; but it is a greatermisfortune to
be blind for our whole life than for one day. Sin, therefore...
Self Culture.
... It is common for those who have not the wealth to afford them a luxurious college
course to bemoan theirmisfortune and content themselves with being nothing....
The Writings of Israel's Philosophers
... In the earlier proverbs, prophetic histories, and laws, the doctrine that sin was
always punished by suffering ormisfortune, and conversely that calamity and...
Third Sunday after Easter
... They were to be thenceforth undisturbed by enemies, wars, famine ormisfortune,
and to enjoy the extremity of peace, leisure and happiness under their supreme...
Argument. Perpetua, when Besieged by Her Father, Comforts Him when...
... with rods. And my father'smisfortune grieved me as if I myself had been
beaten, I so grieved for his wretched old age. [8985] The...
Jesus in the World.
... That what the world countsmisfortune might befall him on his father's business,
would have been recognized by him, I think, as reason for their parental...
Thesaurus
Misfortune (24 Occurrences)... mischance. 2. (vi) To happen unluckily or unfortunately; to miscarry; to fail.
Multi-Version Concordance
Misfortune (24 Occurrences). Acts
...Calamity (108 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Any greatmisfortune or cause of misery; -- generally applied to events
or disasters which produce extensive evil, either to communities or individuals...
Misery (38 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Great unhappiness; extreme pain of body or mind;
wretchedness; distress; woe. 2. (n.) Cause of misery; calamity;misfortune....
Affliction (120 Occurrences)
... invariably followed by adequate punishment. Everymisfortune was a proof of
sin on the part of the sufferer. Thus Job's "friends" sought...
Redeemer (42 Occurrences)
... 9:26 2 Samuel 7:23 1 Chronicles 17:21 Isaiah 52:3). The idea of deliverance includes
deliverance from all forms of evil lot, from nationalmisfortune (Isaiah 52...
Redemption (46 Occurrences)
... 9:26 2 Samuel 7:23 1 Chronicles 17:21 Isaiah 52:3). The idea of deliverance includes
deliverance from all forms of evil lot, from nationalmisfortune (Isaiah 52...
Contend (56 Occurrences)
... 10 Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thy heart has lifted thee up: boast thyself,
and abide at home; for why shouldest thou contend withmisfortune, that thou...
Virginity (12 Occurrences)
... The Old Testament lays extreme emphasis on chastity before marriage (Deuteronomy
22:21), but childlessness was so great amisfortune that death before marriage...
Narrowly (2 Occurrences)
... a little margin or space; by a small distance; hence, closely; hardly; barely; only
just; -- often with reference to an avoided danger ormisfortune; as, he...
Narrow (21 Occurrences)
... Having but a little margin; having barely sufficient space, time, or number, etc.;
close; near; -- with special reference to some peril ormisfortune; as, a...
Resources
What is a jinx? What does it mean to be jinxed? | GotQuestions.orgHow should a Christian respond to chain letters? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of Hannah's prayer? | GotQuestions.orgMisfortune: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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