Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Usage:The term "overflowing" in the Bible often signifies abundance, excess, or a state of being filled beyond capacity. It is used both literally and metaphorically to describe physical, spiritual, and emotional states. The concept of overflowing is frequently associated with God's blessings, grace, and provision, as well as with judgment and wrath.
Biblical References:1.
Abundance and Blessing: The imagery of overflowing is commonly used to depict God's abundant blessings and provision for His people. In
Malachi 3:10 , God promises, "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this," says the LORD of Hosts, "and see if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure." This passage illustrates the idea of blessings being so abundant that they overflow, emphasizing God's generosity and faithfulness.
2.
Spiritual Fullness: Overflowing is also used to describe the spiritual fullness and joy that believers experience through their relationship with God. In
Romans 15:13 , Paul writes, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Here, the overflowing of hope is a result of the Holy Spirit's work in the believer's life, highlighting the transformative power of faith.
3.
Love and Good Works: The concept of overflowing is applied to the believer's love and good works. In
1 Thessalonians 3:12 , Paul prays, "And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows." This passage encourages believers to let their love for others be abundant and ever-increasing, reflecting the love of Christ.
4.
Judgment and Wrath: While often associated with positive connotations, overflowing can also describe God's judgment and wrath. In
Isaiah 28:17-18 , it is written, "I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place. Your covenant with death will be dissolved, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand. When the overwhelming scourge passes through, you will be trampled by it." Here, the overflowing waters symbolize the inescapable and overwhelming nature of divine judgment.
5.
Metaphorical Use: Overflowing is used metaphorically to describe the heart's condition. In
Luke 6:45 , Jesus teaches, "The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure. For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks." This passage underscores the idea that what fills a person's heart will naturally overflow into their words and actions.
Theological Implications:The concept of overflowing in the Bible underscores the nature of God's interaction with humanity. It highlights His desire to bless abundantly, the transformative power of His Spirit, and the call for believers to reflect His love and goodness. At the same time, it serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and the reality of divine judgment. The imagery of overflowing invites believers to live in a state of spiritual abundance, continually filled and renewed by God's presence and grace.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Overflow.
2. (n.) An overflow; that which overflows; exuberance; copiousness.
Greek
5249. huperperissos -- beyond measure, exceedingly... 5249 (from 5228 , "beyond" and 4057 , "exceeding, abundant") -- properly, (literally,
"going expected measure)"; , "
overflowing" (used only in Mk 7:37).
...5248. huperperisseuo -- to abound more exceedingly
... Word Origin from huper and perisseuo Definition to abound more exceedingly NASB
Word Usage abounded all (1), abounded all the more (1),overflowing (1)....
4052. perisseuo -- to be over and above, to abound
... abundance (1), increasing (1), lavished (1), left over (4), leftover (1), live in
prosperity (1), make...abound (1), overflowed (1),overflowing (2), surpasses...
5396. phluareo -- to talk nonsense
... Cognate: 5396 (from 5397 , "to bubble up, boil over") --overflowing with speech
"that is " (, 562). It is used only in 3 Jn 10. See 5397 ()....
Strong's Hebrew
7858. sheteph -- a flood... Word Origin from shataph Definition a flood NASB Word Usage flood (5), outburst
(1),
overflowing (1). flood, outrageous,
overflowing.
...2230. zerem -- a flood of rain, rainstorm, downpour
... flood,overflowing, shower, storm, tempest. From zaram; a gush of water -- flood,
overflowing, shower, storm, tempest. see HEBREW zaram. 2229, 2230....
1065. beki -- a weeping
...overflowing, sore, continual weeping, wept. From bakah; a weeping; by analogy, a
dripping --overflowing, X sore, (continual) weeping, wept. see HEBREW bakah....
7732. Shobal -- "flowing," an Edomite, also two Israelites
... NASB Word Usage Shobal (9). Shobal. From the same as shebel;overflowing; Shobal,
the name of an Edomite and two Israelites -- Shobal. see HEBREW shebel....
4390. male -- to be full, to fill
... 1), gratified (1), live (1), massed (1), messengers (1), mount* (1), mounted (1),
ordain* (4), ordained* (4), ordination* (1),overflowing* (1), overflows* (1...
7857. shataph -- to overflow, rinse or wash off
... to overflow, rinse or wash off NASB Word Usage charging (1), engulfed (1), flooded
away (1), flooding (2), flowed (1), overflow (9),overflowing (6), overflows...
5674a. abar -- to pass over, through, or by, pass on
... led through (3), left (1), liquid (2), made (1), mates (1), means cross over (1),
offer (1), over (4), overcome (1), overflow (1),overflowing (1), overlook (1...
5921. al -- upon, above, over
... 13), now* (1), obliging* (1), off (6), off* (5), opposed (1), opposite (1), opposite*
(4), ornamented* (1), over (538), over* (6),overflowing* (1), overflows...
Library
His Eyes are Like a Dove's by the Rivers of Waters, Washed with...
... CHAPTER V. 12. His eyes are like a dove's by the rivers of waters, washed
with milk, and sitting besideoverflowing streams. She...
Cups Running Over
... of Revival. Revival itself is being absolutely filled tooverflowing with
the Holy Spirit, and that is victorious living. If we...
Isaiah's Discourse
... Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one; as a tempest of hail, a destroying
storm, as a tempest of mighty watersoverflowing, shall he cast down to the...
Letter X . --To Libanius.
... Whether it were that the soul by theoverflowing sense of release from anxiety,
and by a sudden rebound, disposed the body to be in the same condition as itself...
February 1. "A Well of Water Springing Up" (John iv. 14).
... In the lifeoverflowing in service for others, we find the deep fountain of life
running over the spring and finding vent in rivers of living water that go out...
On the Worthy Praise of the Pure Queen of Heaven.
... attained to grace. Who is the sinner, how great soever his crimes, to whom
thyoverflowing goodness has denied assistance? Lo, when...
The Highway of Holiness
... dark and forbidding, but radiant and glowing, and we no longer see Jesus stretched
across its arms, but walking the Highwayoverflowing with resurrection life....
Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity
... Next comes the measure that is shaken together; and this signifies anoverflowing
love which draws all things into itself; that is to say, all good deeds and...
On the Feast of St Andrew the Apostle
... These words teach us three things, first, theoverflowing Wisdom of Christ in the
words of the Master, secondly, the Dwelling-place of His inscrutable Being...
The Full Measure
... does the measure run over indeed with the goodness and the sweetness that He the
Lord is, evermore; and far and wide there spreads theoverflowing tide, and...
Thesaurus
Overflowing (54 Occurrences)... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Overflow. 2. (n.) An overflow; that which overflows; exuberance;
copiousness. Multi-Version Concordance
Overflowing (54 Occurrences).
...Flooding (4 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 28:2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, as a storm of hail, a
tempest of destruction, as a storm of mighty watersoverflowing, that casteth...
Shower (22 Occurrences)
... Figuratively, of blessing, "showers of blessing" (Ezekiel 34:26); of destruction:
"There shall be anoverflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in...
Waters (386 Occurrences)
... waters" (Isaiah 43:2); of force, "like the breach of waters" (2 Samuel 5:20); of
that which is overwhelming, "a tempest of mighty watersoverflowing" (Isaiah 28...
Ice-drops (7 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 13:11 Say to those who put whitewash on it, There will be anoverflowing
shower; and you, O ice-drops, will come raining down; and it will be broken in...
Torrents (17 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 13:11 say unto them that daub it with whited plaster, that it shall fall;
there shall be anoverflowing shower, and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall...
Storm-wind (19 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 13:11 Say to those who put whitewash on it, There will be anoverflowing
shower; and you, O ice-drops, will come raining down; and it will be broken in...
Hailstones (10 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 13:11 tell those who daub it with whitewash, that it shall fall: there shall
be anoverflowing shower; and you, great hailstones, shall fall; and a...
Overflow (43 Occurrences)
... on them the waters of the River, deep and strong, even the king of Assyria and all
his glory: and it will come up through all its streams,overflowing all its...
Rushing (61 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Job 40:23 Truly, if the river isoverflowing, it gives him no cause for fear;
he has no sense of danger, even if Jordan is rushing against his mouth....
Resources
What does it mean that my cup runneth over? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Anna the prophetess in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgHow can I become a more cheerful giver? | GotQuestions.orgOverflowing: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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