Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of being "spared" in the Bible often refers to the act of being saved from danger, judgment, or destruction by divine intervention or mercy. This theme is prevalent throughout both the Old and New Testaments, illustrating God's compassion, justice, and sovereignty.
Old Testament Instances1.
Noah and the Flood: One of the earliest examples of being spared is found in the account of Noah. In
Genesis 6-9, God decides to bring a flood to destroy the wickedness on earth but spares Noah and his family due to Noah's righteousness.
Genesis 7:23 states, "Every living thing on the face of the earth was destroyed—man and livestock, crawling creatures and birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth, and only Noah and those with him in the ark remained."
2.
Lot and Sodom: In
Genesis 19, God spares Lot and his family from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Despite the cities' rampant sin, God shows mercy to Lot because of Abraham's intercession.
Genesis 19:16 notes, "But when he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters, and led them safely out of the city, because of the LORD’s compassion for them."
3.
The Israelites in Egypt: During the plagues in Egypt, God spares the Israelites from the final plague, the death of the firstborn, by instructing them to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb.
Exodus 12:13 records, "The blood on the houses where you are staying will distinguish them; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt."
New Testament Instances1.
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree: In
Luke 13:6-9, Jesus tells a parable about a fig tree that does not bear fruit. The owner wants to cut it down, but the gardener pleads for it to be spared for another year, hoping it will become fruitful. This parable illustrates God's patience and willingness to give people time to repent and bear spiritual fruit.
2.
Paul's Shipwreck: In
Acts 27, the Apostle Paul is aboard a ship caught in a violent storm. Despite the dire circumstances, God spares Paul and all aboard the ship.
Acts 27:24 recounts the angel's message to Paul: "Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you."
Theological SignificanceThe theme of being spared is deeply connected to God's mercy and grace. It underscores the belief that while God is just and righteous, He is also compassionate and willing to relent from sending calamity when there is repentance or intercession. This duality is seen in passages like
Ezekiel 18:23 , where God declares, "Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Would I not prefer he turn from his ways and live?"
Application for BelieversFor believers, the concept of being spared serves as a reminder of God's mercy and the importance of living a life that aligns with His will. It encourages intercession for others, as seen in the examples of Abraham and Moses, and highlights the importance of repentance and faithfulness to God. The ultimate act of being spared is found in the salvation offered through Jesus Christ, who spares believers from eternal separation from God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Spare.
Strong's Hebrew
2538. Chamul -- "spared," grandson of Judah... 2537, 2538. Chamul. 2539 . "
spared," grandson of Judah. Transliteration:
Chamul Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-mool') Short Definition: Hamul.
...2418. chaya -- to live
... live. Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding to chayah Definition to live NASB
Word Usage live (5),spared alive (1). live, keep alive....
2421a. chayah -- to live
... 1), restored to life (4), revive (20), revived (6), save (2), save his life (1),
saved (1), saved our lives (1), saving (1), spare (3),spared (2), stay alive...
2347. chus -- to pity, look upon with compassion
... 1), have compassion (3), have pity (1), have...pity (4), looked with pity (1), pity
(6), show pity (2), show...pity (1), sorry (1), spare (2),spared (1)....
2550. chamal -- to spare
... pity (1), had...compassion (2), have compassion (1), have pity (4), have...pity
(1), mercy (1), ruthlessly* (1), show pity (1), spare (11),spared (5), spares...
2820. chasak -- to withhold, refrain
... back (1), lessen (1), lessened (1), refrain (1), requited (1), reserved (2), restrain
(1), restrained (1), restrains (2), spare (2),spared (1), unrestrained...
5337. natsal -- to strip, plunder, deliver oneself, be delivered...
... 1), recover (1), recovered (2), rescue (11), rescued (5), saves (1), separate (1),
snatched (1), snatched away (1), snatches (1),spared (3), stripped (1...
Library
A Soldier whoSpared his Enemy
... THE OLD TESTAMENT A SOLDIER WHOSPARED HIS ENEMY.... Come back, my son David, for
I will do you no more harm, for you havespared my life to-day....
Of the Adversaries of the Name of Christ, whom the Barbarians for...
... The City of God.Book I. Chapter 1."Of the Adversaries of the Name of Christ, Whom
the Barbarians for Christ's SakeSpared When They Stormed the City....
Through the Day Thy Love HasSpared Us
... I. DAILY PRAYER: Morning Daily Prayer: Evening 15. Through the day thy love has
spared us.... Thomas Kelly, 1806. Through the day thy love hasspared us;...
That not Even the Romans, when they Took Cities,Spared the...
... The City of God.Book I. Chapter 6."That Not Even the Romans, When They
Took Cities,Spared the Conquered in Their Temples. Why...
Against those who Fancy that in the Judgment of God all the...
... Book XXI. Chapter 24."Against Those Who Fancy that in the Judgment of God All the
Accused Will BeSpared in Virtue of the Prayers of the Saints....
And Yet, by Reason of that Affection of the Human Heart...
... much respect bury in his own tomb, and took order for his own burying beside his
bones: in hope that thereby his own bones might bespared, when, according to...
Jonah at Nineveh.
... So they hoped God would forgive them and spare their city. God saw what they did
and how they turned from their evil ways, therefore Hespared their city....
On the Words of the Gospel, Luke xii. 56, 58, "Ye Know How to...
... admonitions of the Master, [3435] that he may not lose the season of the mercy of
the Saviour, which is now being dealt out, as long as the human race isspared...
How the Entire City of Jerusalem was Demolished, Excepting Three...
... as the army had no more people to slay or to plunder, because there remained none
to be the objects of their fury, [for they would not havespared any, had...
God's Imitators
... less we say the less likely we are to err, there is a quality of giving up, as well
as of giving, in God's love; for we read of the Father that 'spared not His...
Thesaurus
Spared (45 Occurrences)...Spared (45 Occurrences).
... Romans 8:32 He that
spared not his own Son, but delivered
him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
...Jonah (30 Occurrences)
... to the impatient prophet (ch. 4). Nineveh wasspared after Jonah's mission
for more than a century. The history of Jonah may well...
Agag (6 Occurrences)
... (2.) Another king of the Amalekites whom Saulspared unlawfully, but whom Samuel
on his arrival in the camp of Saul ordered, in retributive justice (Judges 1...
Totally (27 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 15:9 But Saul and the peoplespared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and
of the cattle, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and...
Hamul (3 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible DictionarySpared, one of the sons of Pharez, son of Judah (1 Chronicles
2:5). His descendants are called Hamulites (Numbers 26:21). Int....
Unwilling (30 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 15:9 But Saul and the peoplespared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and
of the cattle, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and...
Mephibosheth (13 Occurrences)
... that when some expiation from Saul's household was considered necessary to turn
away the famine sent by an offended deity, Mephibosheth isspared when other...
Hell (53 Occurrences)
... Here it stands for the place of punishment of the fallen angels: "spared not angels
when they sinned, but cast them down to hell, and committed them to pits...
Utterly (170 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 15:9 But Saul and the peoplespared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and
of the cattle, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and...
Jude (4 Occurrences)
... 2 Peter 2:4, 5 For if Godspared not the angels when they sinned.... andspared
not the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others.......
Resources
Who was Rahab in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the story of the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of a scarlet thread? | GotQuestions.orgSpared: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
