Topical Encyclopedia
The term "overthrow" in the Bible often refers to the act of bringing down or destroying a city, nation, or individual, typically as a result of divine judgment or intervention. This concept is prevalent throughout the Scriptures, illustrating God's sovereignty and justice in dealing with sin and rebellion.
Old Testament References1.
Sodom and Gomorrah: One of the most notable examples of overthrow in the Bible is the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. In
Genesis 19:24-25, the Lord rained down sulfur and fire from heaven, overthrowing these cities due to their grievous sins. The text states, "Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus He overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all the inhabitants of the cities and everything that grew on the ground."
2.
The Exodus: The overthrow of Pharaoh's army in the Red Sea is another significant event. In
Exodus 14:27-28, as the Israelites crossed the sea on dry ground, the waters returned and covered the Egyptian chariots and horsemen. The passage reads, "So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea returned to its normal state. As the Egyptians were fleeing toward it, the LORD swept them into the sea. The waters flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had chased the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived."
3.
Prophetic Warnings: The prophets frequently warned of impending overthrows as a result of Israel's disobedience. For instance, in
Amos 4:11, God reminds Israel of past judgments, saying, "I overthrew some of you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a firebrand snatched from the blaze, yet you did not return to Me," declares the LORD.
New Testament References1.
Jesus' Teachings: In the New Testament, Jesus alludes to the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah as a warning to unrepentant cities. In
Matthew 11:23-24, He says, "And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."
2.
Apostolic Writings: The apostle Peter references the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of God's judgment against ungodliness. In
2 Peter 2:6, he writes, "if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly."
Theological ImplicationsThe concept of overthrow in the Bible underscores the themes of divine justice and the consequences of sin. It serves as a sobering reminder of God's holiness and the seriousness with which He regards rebellion against His will. The biblical narrative consistently portrays God as patient and merciful, yet also as a righteous judge who will not tolerate sin indefinitely. The overthrows recorded in Scripture are not arbitrary acts of destruction but are depicted as necessary responses to persistent wickedness and unrepentance.
Moral and Spiritual LessonsFor believers, the accounts of overthrow serve as warnings to live in obedience to God's commands and to seek His mercy and forgiveness. They highlight the importance of repentance and the need to align one's life with God's standards. The biblical record of overthrows also offers hope, as it points to God's ultimate plan to establish His kingdom where righteousness dwells, free from the corruption and rebellion that necessitate such judgments.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To overturn; to upset; to vanquish an established ruler.
2. (v. t.) To cause to fall or to fail; to subvert; to defeat; to make a ruin of; to destroy.
3. (n.) The act of overthrowing; the state of being overthrow; ruin.
4. (n.) The act of throwing a ball too high, as over a player's head.
5. (n.) A faulty return of the ball by a fielder, so that the striker makes an additional run.
Greek
2647. kataluo -- to destroy,overthrow... to destroy,
overthrow. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kataluo Phonetic Spelling:
(kat-al-oo'-o) Short Definition: I break up,
overthrow, unharness, find
...2693. katastronnumi -- tooverthrow
... tooverthrow. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: katastronnumi Phonetic Spelling:
(kat-as-trone'-noo-mee) Short Definition: I scatter on the ground Definition...
5136. trachelizo -- to take by the throat, tooverthrow
... to take by the throat, tooverthrow. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: trachelizo
Phonetic Spelling: (trakh-ay-lid'-zo) Short Definition: I am laid bare...
2690. katastrepho -- to overturn
... to overturn. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: katastrepho Phonetic Spelling:
(kat-as-tref'-o) Short Definition: I overturn,overthrow Definition: I overturn...
396. anatrepo -- to overturn, destroy
... destroy. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anatrepo Phonetic Spelling:
(an-at-rep'-o) Short Definition: I subvert, overturn,overthrow Definition: I...
2692. katastrophe -- an overthrowing
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: katastrophe Phonetic Spelling:
(kat-as-trof-ay') Short Definition:overthrow, destruction Definition:overthrow...
390. anastrepho -- to overturn, turn back
... strepho; to overturn; also to return; by implication, to busy oneself, ie Remain,
live -- abide, behave self, have conversation, live,overthrow, pass, return...
384. anaskeuazo -- to pack up baggage, dismantle
... Phonetic Spelling: (an-ask-yoo-ad'-zo) Short Definition: I pervert, unsettle, destroy
Definition: I pervert, subvert, dismantle, unsettle,overthrow, destroy....
Strong's Hebrew
2018. haphekah -- anoverthrow... 2017, 2018. haphekah. 2019 . an
overthrow. Transliteration: haphekah Phonetic
Spelling: (haf-ay-kaw') Short Definition:
overthrow. Word Origin fem.
...4049. megar -- tooverthrow
... 4048, 4049. megar. 4050 . tooverthrow. Transliteration: megar Phonetic
Spelling: (meg-ar') Short Definition:overthrow. Word Origin...
4114. mahpekah -- anoverthrow
... 4113, 4114. mahpekah. 4115 . anoverthrow. Transliteration: mahpekah Phonetic
Spelling: (mah-pay-kaw') Short Definition: overthrew....
4658. mappeleth -- carcass, ruin, anoverthrow
... 4657, 4658. mappeleth. 4659 . carcass, ruin, anoverthrow. Transliteration:
mappeleth Phonetic Spelling: (map-peh'-leth) Short Definition: fall....
2035. harisuth -- anoverthrow, destruction, ruin
... 2034b, 2035. harisuth. 2036 . anoverthrow, destruction, ruin. Transliteration:
harisuth Phonetic Spelling: (har-ee-sooth') Short Definition: destroyed....
2041. heres -- anoverthrow, destruction
... 2040, 2041. heres. 2042 . anoverthrow, destruction. Transliteration: heres
Phonetic Spelling: (heh'-res) Short Definition: destruction....
2040. haras -- to throw down, break or tear down
... break or tear down NASB Word Usage break down (2), break through (2), broken down
(1), destroyed (2), destroyers (1), overthrew (2),overthrow (5), overthrown...
2015. haphak -- to turn, overturn
... 1), came (1), change (1), changed (6), changes (1), come (1), drained (1), give
(1), had a change (1), inundate (1), overthrew (5),overthrow (5), overthrown (3...
5287. naar -- to shake, shake out or off
... shaken off (1), shakes (1), shook (1). shake off, out, self,overthrow,
toss up and down. A primitive root (probably identical with...
8058. shamat -- to let drop
... discontinue,overthrow, release, let rest, shake, stumble, throw down. A primitive
root; to fling down; incipiently to jostle; figuratively...
Library
On theOverthrow of Petrus and the Introduction of Lucius the...
... Book IV. Chapter XVIII."On theoverthrow of Petrus and the introduction
of Lucius the Arian. No sooner had they seated him on...
TheOverthrow of the Tyrants and the Words which they Uttered...
... Book IX. Chapter X."TheOverthrow of the Tyrants and the Words which they
uttered before their Death. 1. The circumstances which...
Overthrow of an Idol Temple, and Abolition of Licentious Practices...
... Book III. Chapter LV."Overthrow of an Idol Temple, and Abolition of
Licentious Practices, at Aphaca in Phoenicia. The emperor's...
Overthrow of the Usurper Magnentius.
... Book II. Chapter XXXII."Overthrow of the Usurper Magnentius. Magnentius
in the meanwhile having made himself master of the imperial...
Overthrow and Death of the Usurper Maximus.
... Book V. Chapter XIV."Overthrow and Death of the Usurper Maximus. As the
emperor marched against the usurper the intelligence of...
A SecondOverthrow of the Persians by the Romans.
... Book VII. Chapter XX."A SecondOverthrow of the Persians by the Romans.
Now the emperor of the Romans dwelling in Constantinople...
That theOverthrow of Rome Has not Corrected the vices of the...
... The City of God.Book I. Chapter 33."That theOverthrow of Rome Has Not
Corrected the Vices of the Romans. Oh infatuated men, what...
Of the System of Plato, which Would Lead to theOverthrow of...
... the divine institutes Book III. Of the False Wisdom of Philosophers. Chap.
XXI."Of the System of Plato, Which Would Lead to theOverthrow of States....
Admission of the Fugitive Goths into the Roman Territories, which...
... Chapter XXXIV."Admission of the Fugitive Goths into the Roman Territories, which
caused the Emperor'sOverthrow, and eventually the Ruin of the Roman Empire....
Exultation of the Disciples on their Return. --TheOverthrow of...
... Section 205. Exultation of the Disciples on their Return."TheOverthrow of Satan's
Kingdom."Christ warns the Disciples against Vanity. (Luke, x., 17-20.)....
Thesaurus
Overthrow (48 Occurrences)... 3. (n.) The act of overthrowing; the state of being
overthrow; ruin. 4
... Multi-Version Concordance
Overthrow (48 Occurrences). Luke
...Overthrew (17 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp.) ofOverthrow. Multi-Version Concordance
Overthrew (17 Occurrences). Matthew 21:12 Jesus entered...
Subvert (4 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To overturn from the foundation; tooverthrow; to ruin utterly.... 3. (vi) To
overthrow anything from the foundation; to be subversive. Int....
Gomor'rah (23 Occurrences)
... 2 Peter 2:6 and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah having turned to ashes, with an
overthrow did condemn, an example to those about to be impious having set 'them...
Destruction (734 Occurrences)
... In Job 26:6, 28:22 (Hebrews abaddon) is sheol, the realm of the dead. Destruction,
City of. (Isaiah 19:18; Hebrews Ir-ha-Heres, "city ofoverthrow, " because of...
Obadiah (21 Occurrences)
... Consequent upon theoverthrow of Edom is the enlargement of the borders
of Judah and the establishment of the kingship of Yahweh....
Gomorrah (25 Occurrences)
... that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not
sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like theoverthrow of Sodom...
Zeboiim (7 Occurrences)
... that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and a burning, that it is not
sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like theoverthrow of Sodom...
Upset (9 Occurrences)
... hammering on the ends. 4. (vt) To overturn,overthrow, or overset; as, to
upset a carriage; to upset an argument. 5. (vt) To disturb...
Overturn (5 Occurrences)
... building. 2. (vt) To subvert; to destroy; tooverthrow. 3. (vt) To overpower;
to conquer. 4. (n.) The act off overturning, or the...
Resources
What is the significance of the city of Sidon in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho is the king of the South in Daniel 11? | GotQuestions.orgWho is the king of the North in Daniel 11? | GotQuestions.orgOverthrow: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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