Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical literature, the term "sting" is often used metaphorically to describe the pain, harm, or consequences associated with sin and death. The concept is most prominently featured in the New Testament, particularly in the writings of the Apostle Paul.
1. The Sting of Death:The phrase "sting of death" is found in
1 Corinthians 15:55-56, where Paul writes, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" . Here, Paul is quoting from the Old Testament, specifically
Hosea 13:14, to emphasize the victory over death achieved through Jesus Christ. The "sting" of death is identified as sin, which brings about spiritual and physical death as a consequence of humanity's fall (Genesis 3). Paul further explains, "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law" (
1 Corinthians 15:56). This indicates that the law reveals sin and its consequences, but through Christ's resurrection, believers are promised victory over both sin and death.
2. Theological Implications:Theologically, the "sting" represents the painful and inevitable consequence of sin, which is death.
Romans 6:23 states, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" . This underscores the belief that sin leads to death, but through faith in Jesus Christ, believers receive the gift of eternal life, thus removing the "sting" of death.
3. Victory Over the Sting:The victory over the "sting" of death is a central theme in Christian eschatology. The resurrection of Jesus is seen as the pivotal event that conquers death and its sting. In
1 Corinthians 15:57, Paul declares, "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" . This victory is not only a future hope but also a present reality for believers who live in the power of the resurrection.
4. Symbolism and Imagery:The imagery of a "sting" is powerful, evoking the idea of a sharp, painful experience. In the ancient world, a sting, such as that from a scorpion or a bee, could be dangerous or even deadly. This imagery effectively communicates the serious and harmful nature of sin and death. However, the removal of the sting through Christ's work offers a message of hope and redemption.
5. Practical Application:For believers, understanding the "sting" of death and its removal through Christ encourages a life of faith and hope. It calls Christians to live in the light of the resurrection, free from the fear of death, and to share this message of victory with others. The assurance of victory over death provides comfort in times of loss and motivates a life of holiness and service.
In summary, the concept of "sting" in the Bible serves as a metaphor for the consequences of sin and death, which are overcome through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. This victory is central to the Christian faith, offering hope and assurance of eternal life.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) Any sharp organ of offense and defense, especially when connected with a poison gland, and adapted to inflict a wound by piercing; as the caudal sting of a scorpion. The sting of a bee or wasp is a modified ovipositor. The caudal sting, or spine, of a sting ray is a modified dorsal fin ray. The term is sometimes applied to the fang of a serpent.
2. (n.) A sharp-pointed hollow hair seated on a gland which secrets an acrid fluid, as in nettles. The points of these hairs usually break off in the wound, and the acrid fluid is pressed into it.
3. (v. t.) Anything that gives acute pain, bodily or mental; as, the stings of remorse; the stings of reproach.
4. (n.) The thrust of a sting into the flesh; the act of stinging; a wound inflicted by stinging.
5. (n.) A goad; incitement.
6. (n.) The point of an epigram or other sarcastic saying.
7. (v. t.) To pierce or wound with a sting; as, bees will sting an animal that irritates them; the nettles stung his hands.
8. (v. t.) To pain acutely; as, the conscience is stung with remorse; to bite.
9. (v. t.) To goad; to incite, as by taunts or reproaches.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
STINGsting (parash, "to cut into"; kentron, "a goad," "spur"): A sharp, pointed organ or instrument for inflicting wounds by puncture; sting of an adder,Proverbs 23:32; of scorpions,Revelation 9:10. In the free quotation of1 Corinthians 15:55 fromHosea 13:14, death is personified as a deadly animal, like a scorpion or serpent, which inflicts destruction by means of sin as its kentron. It should also be remembered that inActs 26:14 the same Greek word is used with reference to an instrument for exciting fear, rather than death. Both figures are pertinent; for death is powerless, except through sin, and, also, when sin is vanquished, the fear of death (Hebrews 2:15) is gone.
H. E. Jacobs
Greek
3817. paio -- to strike, spec. tosting... to
sting. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: paio Phonetic Spelling: (pah'-yo)
Short Definition: I strike, smite Definition: I strike, smite,
sting.
...2759. kentron -- a sharp point
... a sharp point. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: kentron Phonetic Spelling:
(ken'-tron) Short Definition: asting, goad Definition: asting, goad...
4651. skorpios -- a scorpion
... scorpion. Probably from an obsolete skerpo (perhaps strengthened from the base of
skopos and meaning to pierce); a "scorpion" (from itssting) -- scorpion....
2852. kolaphizo -- to strike with the fist
... 2852 (from "a blow from the fist") -- properly, to strike with the (literally
"knuckles"); to hit hard "with the knuckles, to make the blowsting and crush...
4615. sinapi -- mustard (a plant)
... mustard. Perhaps from sinomai (to hurt, ieSting); mustard (the plant) -- mustard.
(sinapeos) -- 5 Occurrences. 4614, 4615. sinapi. 4616 . Strong's Numbers
2660. katanusso -- to prick violently
... prick. From kata and nusso; to pierce thoroughly, ie (figuratively) to agitate
violently ("sting to the quick") -- prick. see GREEK kata. see GREEK nusso....
Strong's Hebrew
6567b. parash -- to pierce,sting... parash. 6568 . to pierce,
sting. Transliteration: parash Short Definition: stings.
... root Definition to pierce,
sting NASB Word Usage stings (1). 6567a, 6567b
...6567. parash -- to make distinct, declare
... to make distinct, declare. Transliteration: parash Phonetic Spelling: (paw-rash')
Short Definition: scatter. scatter, declare, distinctly, show,sting...
5391. nashak -- to bite
... bite, lend upon usury A primitive root; to strike with asting (as a serpent);
figuratively, to oppress with interest on a loan -- bite, lend upon usury....
7057. qimmos -- perhaps thistles
... nettle. Or qiymowsh {kee-moshe'}; from an unused root meaning tosting; a prickly
plant -- nettle. Compare qimmashown. see HEBREW qimmashown. 7056, 7057....
3654. ken -- gnat, gnats, a gnat swarm
... lice, manner. From kanan in the sense of fastening; a gnat (from infixing itssting;
used only in plural (and irreg. In Exod. 8:17, Exod. 8:18; Heb....
5621. sarab -- perhaps thorns
... Usage thistles (1). brier. From an unused root meaning tosting; a thistle --
brier. 5620, 5621. sarab. 5622 . Strong's Numbers.
6986. qeteb -- destruction
... destruction. Word Origin from an unused word Definition destruction NASB Word
Usage destruction (3),sting (1). destroying, destruction....
2312. chedeq -- a briar
... brier, thorn. From an unused root meaning tosting; a prickly plant -- brier,
thorn. 2311, 2312. chedeq. 2313 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
Scorpiace. Antidote for the Scorpion'sSting
Scorpiace. Antidote for the Scorpion'sSting. <. Scorpiace. Antidote
for the Scorpion'sSting Tertullian. Translated by Rev....
TheSting of Death, What?
... Book III. Chapter 20."TheSting of Death, What? But even in the passage
to the Corinthians, where he had been treating fully of...
SM Bowring. O Death, Where is ThySting?
... 349. SM Bowring. O Death, Where Is ThySting? 1 Where is thysting, O death? Grave!...
3 Then, death, where is thysting? And where thy victory, grave?...
Scorpiace. Antidote for the Scorpion'sSting
Scorpiace. Antidote for the Scorpion'sSting. <....
Hell.
... "Thesting of death is sin." Sin in the general of it is thesting of hell, for
there would be no such thing as torment even there, were it not that sin is...
"And if Christ be in You, the Body is Dead Because of Sin: but the...
... of righteousness.". "Thesting of death is sin, and the strength of sin
is the law," saith our apostle, 1 Corinthians 15:56. These...
Vanity of the Creature Sanctified.
... Honey though the bee prepares,. An envenomedsting he wears; Piercing thorns a guard
compose.... Where we think to find a sweet,. Oft a painfulsting we meet:...
The Fourth Word
... principle which St. Paul has laid down in a familiar, but little understood,
sentence: "thesting of death is sin.". The simplest...
What is the Meaning of "In whom all have Sinned"?
... follows. Because sin is thesting of death"that is, thesting by whose stroke
death occurs, not thesting with which death strikes....
On the Beginning of the World, and Its Causes.
... O death, thysting has been swallowed up: thesting of death is sin, and the strength
of sin is the law." [2078] Some such meaning, then, as this, seems to be...
Thesaurus
Sting (5 Occurrences)... vt) Any sharp organ of offense and defense, especially when connected with a poison
gland, and adapted to inflict a wound by piercing; as the caudal
sting of a
...Prick (2 Occurrences)
... on; -- sometimes with on, or off. 15. (n.) To affect with sharp pain; to
sting, as with remorse. 16. (n.) To make sharp; to erect...
Scorpion (6 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Any one of numerous species of pulmonate arachnids of the order Scorpiones,
having a suctorial mouth, large claw-bearing palpi, and a caudalsting....
Stinging (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) ofSting. 2. (a.) Piercing,
or capable of piercing, with asting; inflicting acute...
Nettle (2 Occurrences)
... wild camomile; but probably it is correctly rendered "nettle," the Urtica pilulifera,
"a tall and vigorous plant, often 6 feet high, thesting of which is much...
Hornet (3 Occurrences)
... (n.) A large, strong wasp. The European species (Vespa crabro) is of a dark brown
and yellow color. It is very pugnacious, and itssting is very severe....
Victory (71 Occurrences)
... NIV). 1 Corinthians 15:55 "Death, where is yoursting? Hades, where is your
victory?" (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). 1...
Zebul (5 Occurrences)
... was the head of the community of Shechem, but as he was a subject of Abimelech,
who was the king or prince of Shechem, there could not be muchsting in calling...
Lice (4 Occurrences)
... The sandflies are much smaller than mosquitoes, and are nearly noiseless, but
give a sharpsting which may leave an unpleasant irritation....
Weapon (21 Occurrences)
... weapon. 3. (n.) A thorn, prickle, orsting with which many plants are furnished.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HAND WEAPON. hand...
Resources
What does the Bible say about the hornet? | GotQuestions.orgWhy is the resurrection of Jesus Christ important? | GotQuestions.orgIs “I will deliver” or “Will I deliver” the correct translation of Hosea 13:14? | GotQuestions.orgSting: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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