Topical Encyclopedia
The term "spue" is an archaic English word that appears in the Bible, primarily in the context of divine judgment and rejection. It is synonymous with "vomit" and is used metaphorically to describe God's reaction to certain behaviors or conditions that are abhorrent to Him. The imagery of spue conveys a strong sense of disgust and the act of forcefully expelling something that is intolerable.
Biblical References:1.
Revelation 3:16 : "So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth." In this passage, the term "vomit" is used in the Berean Standard Bible, but it is traditionally rendered as "spue" in older translations. This verse is part of the message to the church in Laodicea, which is criticized for its spiritual lukewarmness. The metaphor of spue illustrates God's intense displeasure with their lack of zeal and commitment. The Laodiceans' indifference is so distasteful to God that He threatens to reject them entirely, just as one would expel something nauseating.
2.
Leviticus 18:28 : "And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it spewed out the nations before you." Here, the land is personified and described as "vomiting out" its inhabitants due to their sinful practices. This passage underscores the holiness required by God and the consequences of defiling the land with immoral acts. The use of "spue" in this context serves as a warning to the Israelites to maintain purity and obedience to God's laws, lest they face the same fate as the nations that were expelled before them.
3.
Leviticus 20:22 : "You are to keep all My statutes and all My ordinances and follow them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live will not vomit you out." Similar to
Leviticus 18:28, this verse reiterates the conditional nature of the Israelites' occupation of the Promised Land. The land's "vomiting" is contingent upon the people's adherence to God's commandments. The imagery of spue here emphasizes the severity of divine judgment against disobedience and the necessity of living in accordance with God's will.
Theological Significance:The concept of spue in the Bible is a powerful metaphor for divine rejection. It highlights the seriousness with which God views spiritual complacency, impurity, and disobedience. The vivid imagery serves as a stark warning to believers about the consequences of failing to live up to the standards set by God. It calls for a wholehearted commitment to faith and righteousness, urging believers to avoid the lukewarmness and moral corruption that lead to divine expulsion.
In the broader biblical narrative, the use of spue underscores the holiness of God and His intolerance for sin. It reflects the covenant relationship between God and His people, where blessings and continued fellowship are contingent upon faithfulness and obedience. The metaphor serves as a reminder of the need for repentance and renewal in the Christian life, encouraging believers to strive for spiritual fervor and purity.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
v. t. & i.) See Spew.
Greek
3058. loidoreo -- to abuse, revile... 3058 (from 3060 , "a reviler") -- properly, to say harsh things (make verbal assaults);
to ; to
spue bitter (tasteless) statements, using , words to demoralize
...1692. emeo -- to vomit
... word Definition to vomit NASB Word Usage spit (1). to vomit. Of uncertain affinity;
to vomit -- (will)spue. (emesai) -- 1 Occurrence. 1691, 1692....
1829. exerama -- vomit (noun)
... vomit. From a comparative of ek and a presumed erao (tospue); vomit, ie Food disgorged
-- vomit. see GREEK ek. (exerama) -- 1 Occurrence. 1828, 1829....
Strong's Hebrew
6958. qo --spue out, vomit out, up, up again... qo. 6959 .
spue out, vomit out, up, up again. Transliteration: qo Phonetic Spelling:
(ko) Short Definition: vomit.
...spue out, vomit out, up, up again
...7006. qayah -- to vomit up, spew out
... to vomit up, spew out. Transliteration: qayah Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-yaw') Short
Definition:spue.spue A primitive root; to vomit --spue. 7005, 7006....
Library
Prayer-Equipment for Preachers
... No wonder the self-satisfied declaration brought forth its sentence of
punishment""Because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I willspue thee...
The Sixt Part.
... it? doth hee not threaten for all that tospue them out of his mouth?... Pulpit?
What man would notspue to see God thus worshipped?...
An Earnest Warning About Lukewarmness
... wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor
hot, I willspue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest...
The Author to the Reader.
... of God, and of the stupendously indifferent frame and disposition of the generality
of men, called Christians, not only provoking God tospue them out of his...
Laodicea
... prophetically in Leviticus 18:25-28 of Israel; where Jehovah warns that, if they
adopted the abominations of heathen idolatry, the Land mightspue them out...
What is Our Free Will, which Stands in Between the Lust of the...
... But now thou art lukewarm, and I will forthwithspue thee out of my mouth;" [1303]
were it not that these contentions which rise up on both sides disturb and...
The Answer Concerning the Threefold Condition of Souls.
... But now thou art lukewarm and I will begin tospue thee out of My mouth." [1308]
And not without good reason does the Lord declare that those whom he has...
Letter Xli to Thomas of St. Omer, after He had Broken his Promise...
... to wrath, a food of apostasy, such as must quench the Spirit, shut off grace, and
produce that lukewarmness which is wont to provoke God tospue men out of His...
Meditations for Household Piety.
... lii.5;) yea, when his iniquities are full (Genesis 15:16), he will make the land
tospue out every Canaanite (Leviticus 18:25.) Religion, then, and the service...
Consecration to God --Illustrated by Abraham's Circumcision
... So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I willspue thee
out of my mouth""a very solemn declaration; but what follows?...
Thesaurus
Spue (4 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Spue (4 Occurrences). Revelation 3:16 So then because
thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will
spue thee out of my mouth.
...Spued (1 Occurrence)
... Spued (1 Occurrence). Leviticus 18:28 That the landspue not you out also, when
ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. (KJV)....
Sprung (20 Occurrences)
Judgments (146 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 20:22 Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and
do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein,spue you not...
Drunken (38 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 25:27 Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts,
the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, andspue, and fall, and rise no...
Whither (151 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 20:22 Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and
do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein,spue you not...
Therein (269 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 20:22 Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and
do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein,spue you not...
Resources
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