Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical terms, "spoiling" often refers to the act of plundering or taking goods by force, typically in the context of warfare or divine judgment. This concept is prevalent throughout the Old and New Testaments, illustrating both the physical and spiritual dimensions of spoiling.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, spoiling is frequently associated with the aftermath of battles, where victors would seize the possessions of the defeated. This is seen in the conquest narratives, such as in the Book of Joshua, where the Israelites, under divine command, took spoils from the cities they conquered. For instance, in
Joshua 8:27 , it is recorded, "Israel took only the livestock and the spoil of that city as their plunder, according to the word of the LORD which He had commanded Joshua."
The spoiling of Egypt during the Exodus is another significant event. As the Israelites prepared to leave Egypt, God instructed them to ask the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold.
Exodus 12:36 states, "And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians." This act of spoiling was a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham and a demonstration of His power and provision for His people.
Prophetic and Poetic LiteratureSpoiling is also a theme in the prophetic and poetic books, often symbolizing divine judgment. The prophets frequently warned Israel and other nations that their disobedience would lead to their being spoiled by enemies. For example, in
Isaiah 10:6 , God speaks of using Assyria as an instrument of judgment: "I will send him against a godless nation; I will dispatch him against a people destined for My rage, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets."
The Psalms and Proverbs also reflect on the concept of spoiling, often contrasting the fate of the wicked with the protection and provision God offers to the righteous.
Proverbs 22:23 declares, "For the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them."
New Testament PerspectiveIn the New Testament, the concept of spoiling takes on a more spiritual dimension.
Colossians 2:15 speaks of Christ's victory over spiritual powers: "And having disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." Here, the spoiling is not of physical goods but of spiritual forces, highlighting the triumph of Christ over sin and death.
The New Testament also warns believers against being spiritually spoiled by false teachings and philosophies.
Colossians 2:8 cautions, "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, rather than according to Christ."
Theological ImplicationsThe theme of spoiling in the Bible underscores the sovereignty of God in both judgment and salvation. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin and disobedience, as well as the ultimate victory and provision found in God. Spoiling, in its various forms, illustrates the reality of spiritual warfare and the assurance of God's justice and deliverance for His people.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Spoil.
Greek
2699. katatome -- concision, mutilation... mutilation. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: katatome Phonetic Spelling:
(kat-at-om-ay') Short Definition: a mutilation,
spoiling Definition: a
...724. harpage -- pillage, plundering
... extortion, robbery. From harpazo; pillage (properly abstract) -- extortion, ravening,
spoiling. see GREEK harpazo. (arpagen) -- 1 Occurrence....
Strong's Hebrew
957. baz --spoiling, robbery, spoil, booty... 956, 957. baz. 958 .
spoiling, robbery, spoil, booty. Transliteration:
baz Phonetic Spelling: (baz) Short Definition: prey. Word
...7908. shekol -- bereavement, loss of children
... loss of children,spoiling. Infinitive of shakol; bereavement -- loss of children,
spoiling. see HEBREW shakol. 7907, 7908. shekol. 7909 . Strong's Numbers
Library
Concerning those who have Fallen Without Compulsion, Without the...
... Canon XI. Concerning those who have fallen without compulsion, without
thespoiling of their property? Concerning those who have...
Peter of Chelcic, 1419-1450.
... If a king made a new law, he wasspoiling the teaching of Christ. If the
Pope issued a bull, he wasspoiling the teaching of Christ....
How Zerah, King of the Ethiopians, was Beaten by Asa; and How Asa...
... he had put them to flight, he pursued them to the country of Gerar; and when they
left off killing their enemies, they betook themselves tospoiling them, [for...
That the Judgment of God and Men as to Human Acts of violence, is...
... [257]. Footnotes: [256] The Manich??ans, like the deistical writers of the last century,
attacked thespoiling of the Egyptians, the slaughter of the Canaanites...
Hebrews x. 32-34
... For ye had compassion on those who were in bonds, [3177] and took joyfully thespoiling
of your goods, knowing that ye have for yourselves [3178] in heaven a...
Christ and Beelzebub
... He isspoiling the strong man, whose terrible ascendancy over the possessed resembles
the dominion of a man in his own house, among chattels without a will....
Hebrews xii. 28, 29
... will show it, if we do not seek superfluities, if we keep only to what is necessary.]
[3457] For he says above also, "And ye took joyfully thespoiling of your...
John xii. 25, 26
... In another place He calleth this "spoiling; no man can [1907] spoil a strong man's
goods, except he first bind the strong man, and then spoil his goods...
An Advance in the Exhortation.
... For ye both had compassion on them that were in bonds, and took joyfully thespoiling
of your possessions, knowing that ye yourselves have a better possession...
On Attractiveness.
... For the production of the effect of dulness; for the surespoiling of good thought
nobly conceived and nobly phrased, commend us to a manuscript slavishly read...
Thesaurus
Spoiling (20 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Spoil. Multi-Version Concordance
Spoiling (20 Occurrences). Hebrews 10:34 For ye had
...Spoileth (6 Occurrences)
Spoils (19 Occurrences)
Noisy (14 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 51:55 For Jehovah isspoiling Babylon, And hath destroyed out of it a great
voice, And sounded have its billows as many waters, Given forth a noise...
Lookest (8 Occurrences)
... iniquity, and lookest thou upon grievance? Forspoiling and violence are before
me; and there is strife, and contention riseth up. (DBY)....
Grievance (7 Occurrences)
... me to behold grievance? forspoiling and violence are before me: and there
are that raise up strife and contention. (KJV DBY WBS)....
Rewarded (37 Occurrences)
... hands in his eyesight. (WEB NIV). Psalms 35:12 They rewarded me evil for
good to thespoiling of my soul. (KJV WBS). Psalms 58:11...
Enjoying (9 Occurrences)
... Hosea 12:1 Ephraim is enjoying wind, And is pursuing an east wind, All the day lying
andspoiling he multiplieth, And a covenant with Asshur they make, And oil...
Pursues (15 Occurrences)
... Hosea 12:1 Ephraim is enjoying wind, And is pursuing an east wind, All the day lying
andspoiling he multiplieth, And a covenant with Asshur they make, And oil...
Beth-ar'bel (1 Occurrence)
... Hosea 10:14 And rise doth a tumult among thy people, And all thy fortresses are
spoiled, As thespoiling of Shalman of Beth-Arbel, In a day of battle, Mother...
Resources
What does the Bible say about corruption? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the origin of Valentine's Day, and should Christians celebrate it? | GotQuestions.orgSpoiling: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
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