Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "scattering" in the Bible often conveys themes of judgment, dispersion, and divine sovereignty. It is used both literally and metaphorically to describe the dispersal of people, nations, and even spiritual forces. The term appears in various contexts throughout Scripture, illustrating God's power to disperse and gather according to His will.
Old Testament Usage1.
Judgment and Dispersion: One of the most prominent uses of "scatter" in the Old Testament is in the context of divine judgment. God warns Israel that disobedience will lead to their scattering among the nations. In
Leviticus 26:33, God declares, "But I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out a sword after you, and your land will become desolate and your cities will become waste." This scattering serves as a consequence of Israel's failure to uphold the covenant.
2.
Tower of Babel: The scattering of people at the Tower of Babel (
Genesis 11:8-9) is a foundational narrative illustrating God's intervention to disperse humanity across the earth. "So the LORD scattered them from there over the face of all the earth, and they stopped building the city." This act of scattering was a response to human pride and an attempt to centralize power and glory apart from God.
3.
Prophetic Imagery: Prophets often use the imagery of scattering to describe the fate of Israel and other nations. In
Ezekiel 12:15, God says, "Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them throughout the countries." This scattering is both a punishment and a means to reveal God's sovereignty and holiness.
New Testament Usage1.
Spiritual Warfare: In the New Testament, scattering is sometimes used in the context of spiritual warfare. Jesus speaks of the scattering of the sheep when the shepherd is struck, a prophecy concerning His own disciples during His crucifixion (
Matthew 26:31). "Then Jesus said to them, 'This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’"
2.
The Church and Persecution: The early church experienced scattering due to persecution, which paradoxically led to the spread of the Gospel.
Acts 8:1 notes, "On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria." This scattering fulfilled Jesus' command to be His witnesses "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (
Acts 1:8).
3.
Gathering and Restoration: While scattering often signifies judgment, it is also accompanied by promises of gathering and restoration. In
John 11:52, Jesus' death is said to gather "the scattered children of God, to make them one." This reflects the redemptive purpose of God to unite His people through Christ.
Theological ImplicationsThe theme of scattering underscores God's control over human history and His ability to use dispersion as a means of judgment, correction, and ultimately, redemption. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the hope of restoration through divine intervention. The scattering and gathering of God's people highlight His covenant faithfulness and the unfolding of His redemptive plan throughout Scripture.
Greek
4650. skorpizo -- to scatter... alms. Word Origin of uncertain origin Definition to scatter NASB Word Usage
scattered (2),
scatters (3). scatter, disperse abroad.
...Strong's Hebrew
6340. pazar -- to scatter... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to scatter NASB Word Usage freely
(1), scattered (7),
scatters (2). disperse, scatter abroad.
...4650. mephits -- scatterer, disperser
... Word Origin from puts Definition scatterer, disperser NASB Word Usage club (1),
one whoscatters (1). maul. From puwts; a breaker, ie Mallet -- maul....
6327a. puts -- to be dispersed or scattered
... disperse yourselves (1), dispersed (2), dispersed* (1), disperses (1), harry (1),
pour (1), scatter (16), scattered (33), scattering (2),scatters (1), sow (1...
Library
The Word thatScatters Fear
... GENESIS THE WORD THATSCATTERS FEAR. 'Fear not, Abram... of Jezreel. The night
falls, and down he swoops upon them andscatters them. Coming...
You Observe How New and Terrible a Form of Oath this is which He...
... not speak of our Tully,' our Flaccus,' our Maro.' As to Chrysippus and Aristides,
Empedocles and all the rest of the Greek writers, hescatters their names...
On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xxii. 42, Where the Lord Asks...
... accusations against the saints. He knows his accusations can have no avail
with God, and so Hescatters them among men. Yet what does...
On Dissipation
... So the sun dissipates, that is,scatters, the clouds; the wind dissipates, orscatters,
the dust; and, by an easy metaphor, our thoughts are said to be...
Letter Xlv (Circa AD 1120) to a Youth Named Fulk, who Afterwards...
... My cross. He who does not gather with Mescatters (S. Matthew 12:30).
How much more he whoscatters what has been gathered? And...
The Political Constitution of Egypt
... the dead, in the attitude adopted at funerals by professional mourners of both sexes;
the right fist resting on the ground, while the left handscatters on the...
God Himself an Example of Patience.
... arrangement of a living and celestial discipline, holding up before us God Himself
in the very first place as an example of patience; whoscatters equally over...
To the Right Honourable the Earl of Lichfield.
... bowl: A thousand phantoms, and a thousand spells,. A thousand opiatesscatters,
to delude,. To fascinate, inebriate, lay asleep,. And...
On Fruit Bearing.
... Like as the gentle south wind blows upon the flowers of the garden andscatters
the fragrance; so the Spirit of God fans the heavenly graces implanted in the...
Fragrance.
... As the rose scents the evening air, so a pure lifescatters a sweet Christian
influence and a knowledge of God throughout the world....
Thesaurus
Scatters (12 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Scatters (12 Occurrences). Matthew 12:30 "He who is not
with me is against me, and he who doesn't gather with me,
scatters.
...Scatter (65 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:30 "He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn't gather
with me,scatters.... He who doesn't gather with mescatters....
Doesn't (300 Occurrences)
... (WEB). Matthew 12:30 "He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn't gather
with me,scatters. (WEB).... He who doesn't gather with mescatters. (WEB)....
Gathers (27 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Gathers (27 Occurrences). Matthew 12:30 He that is not
with me is against me, and he that gathers not with mescatters. (DBY)....
Scene (3 Occurrences)
Gather (251 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Matthew 12:30 "He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn't
gather with me,scatters.... He who doesn't gather with mescatters....
Upside (7 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Isaiah 24:1 Behold, Yahweh makes the earth empty, makes it waste, turns it
upside down, andscatters its inhabitants. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS)....
Jezreel (37 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Godscatters. (1.) A town of Issachar (Joshua 19:18),
where the kings of Israel often resided (1 Kings 18:45; 21:1; 2 Kings 9:30)....
Leaves (55 Occurrences)
... coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep, andscatters
them. (WEB WEY DBY NAS RSV). 1 Corinthians 7:15 But...
Gains (19 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Proverbs 11:24 There is one whoscatters, and increases yet more. There
is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty. (WEB NIV)....
Resources
What is the meaning of the Parable of the Sower? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of the Parable of the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29)? | GotQuestions.orgWhy should we want God to teach us to number our days (Psalm 90:12)? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
