Topical Encyclopedia
The term "severe" in the biblical context often refers to the intensity or seriousness of God's actions, judgments, or the circumstances faced by individuals. It is used to describe the gravity of situations that demand a response or highlight the righteousness and justice of God.
Divine SeverityThe severity of God is a theme that underscores His holiness and justice. In
Romans 11:22, the Apostle Paul writes, "Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in His kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off." This passage illustrates the dual nature of God's dealings with humanity—His kindness towards those who remain faithful and His severity towards those who reject Him.
Judgment and DisciplineGod's severity is often manifested in His judgments. The Old Testament provides numerous examples where God's severe actions serve as a means of discipline and correction. In the account of the Flood (Genesis 6-9), God's severe judgment through the deluge was a response to the pervasive wickedness of humanity. Similarly, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) exemplifies God's severe judgment against sin.
The severity of God is also evident in His dealings with Israel. In
Deuteronomy 28, God outlines the blessings for obedience and the severe curses for disobedience. These severe consequences were intended to lead the people back to righteousness and covenant faithfulness.
Human Experience of SeverityThe Bible also records instances where individuals experience severe trials and tribulations. Job's account is a profound example of enduring severe suffering while maintaining faith in God.
Job 1:21-22 states, "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD." Despite the severity of his trials, Job's response reflects a deep trust in God's sovereignty.
Severe WarningsThe New Testament contains severe warnings about the consequences of rejecting the Gospel.
Hebrews 10:26-27 warns, "If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries." Such warnings serve to remind believers of the seriousness of apostasy and the importance of perseverance in faith.
Severe MercyInterestingly, God's severity can also be an expression of His mercy. Severe actions may be necessary to bring about repentance and restoration. In the book of Jonah, the severe storm that threatens the ship is a means by which God redirects Jonah to fulfill his prophetic mission (Jonah 1). This severity ultimately leads to the repentance of the Ninevites and their deliverance from impending judgment.
In summary, the concept of severity in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing God's righteous judgment, the trials faced by individuals, and the serious warnings given to humanity. It serves as a reminder of the holiness of God and the serious nature of sin, while also pointing to the possibility of redemption and restoration through repentance and faith.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
superl.) Serious in feeling or manner; sedate; grave; austere; not light, lively, or cheerful.
2. (superl.) Very strict in judgment, discipline, or government; harsh; not mild or indulgent; rigorous; as, severe criticism; severe punishment.
3. (superl.) Rigidly methodical, or adherent to rule or principle; exactly conformed to a standard; not allowing or employing unnecessary ornament, amplification, etc.; strict; -- said of style, argument, etc.
4. (superl.) Sharp; afflictive; distressing; violent; extreme; as, severe pain, anguish, fortune; severe cold.
5. (superl.) Difficult to be endured; exact; critical; rigorous; as, a severe test.
Greek
840. austeros -- harsh,severe... harsh,
severe. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: austeros Phonetic Spelling:
(ow-stay-ros') Short Definition: grim,
severe, strict, exacting Definition
...5604. odin -- a birth pang
... a birth pang. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: odin Phonetic Spelling:
(o-deen') Short Definition: the pain of childbirth,severe agony Definition...
857. apheidia -- unsparing treatment
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: apheidia Phonetic Spelling:
(af-i-dee'-ah) Short Definition: severity Definition: severity,severe treatment....
3356. metriopatheo -- to hold one's emotions in restraint
... controlled "). 3356 ("feel with divinely-measured intensity") expresses
(empathy) which is not toosevere or too tolerant. 3356...
4642. skleros -- hard, rough
... fierce, hard. From the base of skelos; dry, ie Hard or tough (figuratively, harsh,
severe) -- fierce, hard. see GREEK skelos. (skleron) -- 1 Occurrence....
5005. talaiporos -- distressed, miserable
... J. Thayer) -- properly, (beaten-down) from continued strain, leaving a person literally
full of (deep misery) -- describing a person withsevere side-effects...
3173. megas -- great
... 8), larger (2), larger ones (1), long time (1), loud (42), mighty (1), more important
(2), older (1), one greater (1), perfectly (2),severe (2), stricter (1...
1912. epibareo -- to put a burden on
... From epi and bareo; to be heavy upon, ie (pecuniarily) to be expensive to; figuratively,
to besevere towards -- be chargeable to, overcharge. see GREEK epi....
3148. mastix -- a whip, scourge
... a scourge, lash, sufferings Definition: (a) a scourge, lash, of leathern thongs
with pieces of metal sewn up in them, (b) met:severe pains (sufferings...
5003. talaiporeo -- to suffer hardship or distress
... Verb Transliteration: talaiporeo Phonetic Spelling: (tal-ahee-po-reh'-o) Short
Definition: I am miserable, distressed Definition: I enduresevere hardship, am...
Strong's Hebrew
7185. qashah -- to be hard,severe or fierce... qashah. 7186 . to be hard,
severe or fierce. Transliteration: qashah Phonetic
Spelling: (kaw-shaw') Short Definition: stiffened. Word Origin a prim.
...7186. qasheh -- hard,severe
... 7185, 7186. qasheh. 7187 . hard,severe. Transliteration: qasheh Phonetic
Spelling: (kaw-sheh') Short Definition: hard. Word Origin...
4273. machats -- asevere wound
... 4272, 4273. machats. 4274 . asevere wound. Transliteration: machats Phonetic
Spelling: (makh'-ats) Short Definition: bruise. Word...
3515. kabed -- heavy
... 1), difficult (2), great (4), grievous (1), heavier (1), heavy (11), huge (1), large
(4), large number (1), much (1), numerous (1), rich (1),severe (7), slow...
2388. chazaq -- to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen
... 12), repaired (14), repairers (1), repairing (1), resist (1), resolutely (2), retain
(1), retained (1), seize (4), seized (6), seizes (2),severe (5), show...
7451a. ra -- bad, evil
... 1), evils (1), great (1), grievous (4), harm* (1), harmful (3), man (1), miserable
(1), misfortune* (1), sad (4), selfish* (1), serious (1),severe (2), sore (2...
1419. gadol -- great
... mighty (1), mighty and great (1), more* (1), much (1), nobles (1), old (1), older
(8), oldest (3), prominent (1), rich (1), screamed* (1),severe (1), spacious...
3513. kabad -- to be heavy, weighty, or burdensome
... Or kabed {kaw-bade'}; a primitive root; to be heavy, ie In a bad sense (burdensome,
severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable; causatively...
4605. maal -- above, upwards
... greatly (1), heaven (4), high above (1), high* (1), higher (4), highly (2), hovered*
(2), older (2), onward (2), over (4), over* (1),severe (1), successive...
2389. chazaq -- strong, stout, mighty
... NASB Word Usage compulsion* (3), fiercest (1), hard (2), harder (1), loud (1), might
(1), mighty (20), obstinate* (1), powerful (1),severe (3), stalwart (1...
Library
Wesley EncountersSevere Weather
... Chapter 7.Severe Weather; Ireland; Wesley's Protest against Lawlessness cWesley
and Faith-healing Wesley EncountersSevere Weather. 1747....
He was a Strict andSevere Applier of all Things to Himself
... THE FOURTH CENTURY 55 He was a strict andsevere applier of all things to
himself. He was a strict andsevere applier of all things...
A Hymn on Recovery fromSevere Illness
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First CCIII A HYMN ON RECOVERY FROMSEVERE
ILLNESS. C. Smart. When Israel's ruler on the royal bed....
This ChapterShows How, when God Bestows Greater Favours on the...
... THE SIXTH MANSIONS CHAPTER I. THIS CHAPTER SHOWS HOW, WHEN GOD BESTOWS GREATER
FAVOURS ON THE SOUL, IT SUFFERS MORESEVERE AFFLICTIONS....
Letter i. My Dear Friend, I Employed the Compelled and Most...
... LETTERS ON THE INSPIRATION OF THE SCRIPTURES. LETTER I. My dear friend, I employed
the compelled and most unwelcome leisure ofsevere indisposition in?...
He Abandons the School-Room. Remarkable Meeting Near Alexandria....
... Mischief-making Preachers. Long andSevere Attack of Typhoid Fever. Does not Lose
Hope.... Mischief-making Preachers. Long andSevere Attack of Typhoid Fever....
God's Love for Man
... evidences have been given, the enemy of good blinded the minds of men, so that they
looked upon God with fear; they thought of Him assevere and unforgiving....
Called to Reach a Higher Standard
... appeal. Those who desired their names entered as competitors for the prize
had first to undergo asevere preparatory training. Harmful...
To Olympias. Having Risen from the Very Gates of Death I Address...
... For the winter, which has become more than commonlysevere, brought on a storm of
internal disorder even more distressing, and during the last two months I...
The Whole of that in which we Appear Before God, Justifies Us. But...
... which he has performed, yet he will not obtain from God, the judge, a sentence of
justification, unless He quit the tribunal of Hissevere justice, and place...
Thesaurus
Severe (53 Occurrences)... 2. (superl.) Very strict in judgment, discipline, or government; harsh; not mild
or indulgent; rigorous; as,
severe criticism;
severe punishment.
...Famine (99 Occurrences)
... Luke 15:14 When he had spent all of it, there arose asevere famine in that country,
and he began to be in need.... The famine wassevere in the land of Egypt....
Fever (13 Occurrences)
... These fevers are generally moresevere in late summer and autumn, when the mosquitoes
are most numerous, and when there is a liability to chill, owing to the...
Purity (16 Occurrences)
... The minute regulations against marriage with relatives, and thesevere punishments
inflicted for disregard of the restrictions (Leviticus 18 and 20), were a...
Smart (2 Occurrences)
... 5. (vi)Severe, pungent pain of mind; pungent grief; as, the smart of affliction....
9. (vi) Keen;severe; poignant; as, smart pain. 10....
Hail (42 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HAIL (1). hal (baradh; chalaza): 1. Its Occurrence:
Hail usually falls in the spring or summer duringsevere thunder storms....
Second (2060 Occurrences)
... RESUME OF EVENTS III. THE NEW SITUATION 1. The Offender 2. The False Teachers
3. The Painful Visit 4. TheSevere Letter IV. HISTORICAL...
Grind (12 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To oppress bysevere exactions; to harass.... 11. (n.) Anysevere continuous
work or occupation; esp., hard and uninteresting study. 12....
Gird (44 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A stroke with a rod or switch; asevere spasm; a twinge; a pang.... 5. (vi)
To gibe; to sneer; to break a scornful jest; to uttersevere sarcasms....
Worst (8 Occurrences)
... moral sense. 2. (n.) That which is most bad or evil; the mostsevere,
pernicious, calamitous, or wicked state or degree. 3. (v.) To...
Resources
How can I spiritually survive a severe physical trauma? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about famine? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about Bipolar Disorder / Manic Depression? | GotQuestions.orgSevere: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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