Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "reverse" in the Bible can be understood in various contexts, including the reversal of fortunes, the turning away from sin, and the transformation of the heart. The theme of reversal is prevalent throughout Scripture, illustrating God's sovereignty and the transformative power of His will.
Reversal of FortunesOne of the most prominent examples of reversal in the Bible is found in the account of Joseph. Sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph's fortunes are reversed by God's providence. He rises to become the second most powerful man in Egypt, ultimately saving his family from famine.
Genesis 50:20 captures this reversal: "As for you, you intended evil against me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
Similarly, the account of Esther highlights a dramatic reversal. Haman, who plotted to destroy the Jews, is ultimately hanged on the gallows he prepared for Mordecai.
Esther 9:1 states, "On the very day when the enemies of the Jews had hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them."
Turning Away from SinReversal is also seen in the call to repentance, where individuals are urged to turn away from sin and return to God. This turning is a reversal of one's spiritual direction. In the New Testament, John the Baptist and Jesus both preach repentance as a reversal of sinful ways.
Matthew 3:2 records John the Baptist's message: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
The Apostle Paul speaks of the transformative power of Christ in reversing the sinful nature of humanity. In
Ephesians 4:22-24 , Paul exhorts believers to "put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
Transformation of the HeartThe Bible also speaks of a reversal in the condition of the heart. In
Ezekiel 36:26 , God promises a heart transformation for His people: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." This divine reversal signifies a profound change in one's inner being, aligning it with God's will.
Reversal in the Kingdom of GodJesus often taught about the reversal of worldly values in the Kingdom of God. In the Beatitudes, He pronounces blessings on those whom the world might consider unfortunate.
Matthew 5:3-12 outlines these blessings, emphasizing that the meek, the poor in spirit, and those who mourn will be comforted and rewarded in God's kingdom.
Moreover, Jesus frequently taught that the last will be first, and the first will be last, as seen in
Matthew 19:30 : "But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first." This reversal challenges human expectations and underscores the radical nature of God's kingdom.
ConclusionThe theme of reversal in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of God's ability to change circumstances, transform hearts, and upend worldly values. Through His divine intervention, what seems impossible becomes possible, and His purposes are ultimately fulfilled.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Turned backward; having a contrary or opposite direction; hence; opposite or contrary in kind; as, the reverse order or method.
2. (a.) Turned upside down; greatly disturbed.
3. (a.) Reversed; as, a reverse shell.
4. (a.) That which appears or is presented when anything, as a lance, a line, a course of conduct, etc., is reverted or turned contrary to its natural direction.
5. (a.) That which is directly opposite or contrary to something else; a contrary; an opposite.
6. (n.) The act of reversing; complete change; reversal; hence, total change in circumstances or character; especially, a change from better to worse; misfortune; a check or defeat; as, the enemy met with a reverse.
7. (n.) The back side; as, the reverse of a drum or trench; the reverse of a medal or coin, that is, the side opposite to the obverse. See Obverse.
8. (n.) A thrust in fencing made with a backward turn of the hand; a backhanded stroke.
9. (n.) A turn or fold made in bandaging, by which the direction of the bandage is changed.
10. (v.) To turn back; to cause to face in a contrary direction; to cause to depart.
11. (v.) To cause to return; to recall.
12. (v.) To change totally; to alter to the opposite.
13. (v.) To turn upside down; to invert.
14. (a.) Hence, to overthrow; to subvert.
15. (v.) To overthrow by a contrary decision; to make void; to under or annual for error; as, to reverse a judgment, sentence, or decree.
16. (v. i.) To return; to revert.
17. (v. i.) To become or be reversed.
Greek
2551. kakologeo -- to speak ill of... 2551 ("calculated evil-speaking") tries to make evil good ("positive"),
ie presenting what is as "right" (or the
reverse). 2551
...4762. strepho -- to turn, ie to change
... Strengthened from the base of trope; to twist, ie Turn quite around orreverse
(literally or figuratively) -- convert, turn (again, back again, self, self about...
Strong's Hebrew
7725. shub -- to turn back, return... retire (1), retreat (1), return (261), return and take back (1), return* (1), returned
(151), returned* (1), returning (2), returns (9),
reverse (1), revived (1
...2016. hephek -- the contrary, contrariness, perversity
... contrary. : or hephek {hay'-fek}; from haphak; a turn, ie Thereverse -- contrary.
see HEBREW haphak. 2015, 2016. hephek. 2017 . Strong's Numbers.
7251. raba -- to square
... A primitive root (rather identical with raba' through the idea of sprawling "at
all fours" (or possibly thereverse is the order of deriv.); compare arba...
8659. Tarshish -- a son of Javan, his desc. and their land, also a...
... Probably the same as tarshiysh (as the region of the stone, or thereverse); Tarshish,
a place on the Mediterranean, hence, the ephithet of a merchant vessel...
Library
The SubsequentReverse.
... Book IX. Chapter II."The SubsequentReverse. 1. But the tyrant who, as
we have said, ruled over the districts of the Orient, a...
The Purport of Ancient Scholia, and Notes in Mss. On the Subject...
... CHAPTER VIII. THE PURPORT OF ANCIENT SCHOLIA, AND NOTES IN MSS. ON THE SUBJECT OF
THESE VERSES, SHEWN TO BE THEREVERSE OF WHAT IS COMMONLY SUPPOSED....
The Purport of Ancient Scholia, and Notes in Mss. On the Subject...
... CHAPTER VIII. THE PURPORT OF ANCIENT SCHOLIA, AND NOTES IN MSS. ON THE SUBJECT OF
THESE VERSES, SHEWN TO BE THEREVERSE OF WHAT IS COMMONLY SUPPOSED....
Conduct of the Arians Towards the Nicene Council. Ignorant as Well...
... Ignorant as well as irreligious to attempt toreverse an Ecumenical Council:
proceedings at Nic??a: Eusebians then signed what they now complain of: on the...
He Rejoices that He Proceeded from Plato to the Holy Scriptures...
... Book VII. Chapter XX."He Rejoices that He Proceeded from Plato to the
Holy Scriptures, and Not theReverse. 26. But having then...
Internal Evidence Demonstrated to be the VeryReverse of...
... THE LAST TWELVE VERSES OF THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO S. MARK. CHAPTER IX. INTERNAL
EVIDENCE DEMONSTRATED TO BE THE VERYREVERSE OF UNFAVOURABLE TO THESE VERSES....
Internal Evidence Demonstrated to be the VeryReverse of...
... CHAPTER IX. INTERNAL EVIDENCE DEMONSTRATED TO BE THE VERYREVERSE OF
UNFAVOURABLE TO THESE VERSES. The "Style" and "Phraseology" of...
The Joyous Return
... It is a very instructive call; for it tells the sinner exactly what he has to
do. Return: that is,reverse your course....Reverse the original....
Colossians and Ephesians Compared and vindicated.
... has recently been doubted and denied, but the negative critics are by no means agreed;
some surrender Ephesians but retain Colossians, othersreverse the case...
Concerning the Heaven.
... Therefore, taking them in thereverse order, we have in the lowest situation earth
and water: but water is lighter than earth, and hence is more easily set in...
Thesaurus
Reverse (12 Occurrences)... 1. (a.) Turned backward; having a contrary or opposite direction; hence; opposite
or contrary in kind; as, the
reverse order or method.
...Revoke (10 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) Hence, to annul, by recalling or taking back; to repeal; to rescind; to
cancel; toreverse, as anything granted by a special act; as, , to revoke a will...
Money (284 Occurrences)
... The earliest Lydian coins were struck by Gyges in the 7th century BC These coins
were of electrum and elliptical in form, smooth on thereverse but deeply...
Register (14 Occurrences)
... types are cast. 11. (n.) The correspondence of pages, columns, or lines
on the opposite orreverse sides of the sheet. 12. (n.) The...
Revert (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To change back to a former condition; toreverse.
2. (vt) To throw back; to reflect; to reverberate. 3. (vt) To change back....
Pile (16 Occurrences)
... called Volta's pile, voltaic pile, or galvanic pile. 13. (n.) Thereverse
of a coin. SeeReverse. 14. (vt) To lay or throw into a...
Communities (2 Occurrences)
... Amos 1:6 Thus said Jehovah: For three transgressions of Gaza, And for four, I do
notreverse it, Because of their removing a complete captivity, To deliver up...
Back (5096 Occurrences)
... to barbarism. 30. (adv.) (Of time) In times past; ago. 31. (adv.) Away from
contact; byreverse movement. 32. (adv.) In concealment...
Reconciliation (11 Occurrences)
... But the whole statement shows that it is not a question of the one who is offering
the gift laying aside his enmity against his brother, but thereverse....
Reconcile (10 Occurrences)
... But the whole statement shows that it is not a question of the one who is offering
the gift laying aside his enmity against his brother, but thereverse....
Resources
What is a chiasm / chiastic structure in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is truth? | GotQuestions.orgWhy is the resurrection of Jesus Christ important? | GotQuestions.orgReverse: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
