Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical terms, the concept of "stir" often conveys the idea of arousing, awakening, or inciting action or emotion. This term appears in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, illustrating both positive and negative connotations depending on the circumstances and the individuals involved.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "stir" is "עורר" (ʿûr), which means to awaken or incite. One notable instance is found in the book of Isaiah, where God is depicted as stirring up the spirit of Cyrus, the Persian king, to fulfill His divine purposes.
Isaiah 45:13 states, "I will raise up Cyrus in righteousness, and I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild My city and set My exiles free, but not for a price or reward, says the LORD of Hosts."
The stirring of the spirit is also evident in the narrative of the rebuilding of the temple. In
Ezra 1:1 , it is recorded, "In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to issue a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing." Here, the divine stirring leads to the fulfillment of prophecy and the restoration of Jerusalem.
New Testament UsageIn the New Testament, the Greek word "παροξύνω" (paroxynō) is used, which can mean to provoke or incite. This term is seen in
Acts 17:16 , where Paul is described as being stirred in his spirit when he sees the city of Athens full of idols: "While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols." This stirring leads Paul to engage in dialogue and preach the gospel to the Athenians.
The concept of stirring is also present in the context of spiritual gifts and encouragement within the church. In
2 Timothy 1:6 , Paul exhorts Timothy, "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands." Here, the idea of stirring is linked to rekindling and actively using the spiritual gifts bestowed by God.
Theological ImplicationsTheologically, the act of stirring can be seen as a divine initiative that prompts individuals to action, whether it be for repentance, obedience, or the fulfillment of God's plans. It underscores the sovereignty of God in directing human affairs and the responsiveness required from His people. The stirring of the heart or spirit often leads to significant spiritual and communal outcomes, as seen in the rebuilding of the temple or the spread of the gospel.
Practical ApplicationFor believers, the concept of stirring serves as a reminder to remain sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. It encourages vigilance and readiness to act upon God's leading, whether in personal spiritual growth or in service to others. The stirring of one's spirit can lead to renewed passion, commitment, and effectiveness in fulfilling God's purposes in the world.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To change the place of in any manner; to move.
2. (v. t.) To disturb the relative position of the particles of, as of a liquid, by passing something through it; to agitate; as, to stir a pudding with a spoon.
3. (v. t.) To bring into debate; to agitate; to moot.
4. (v. t.) To incite to action; to arouse; to instigate; to prompt; to excite.
5. (v. i.) To move; to change one's position.
6. (v. i.) To be in motion; to be active or bustling; to exert or busy one's self.
7. (v. i.) To become the object of notice; to be on foot.
8. (v. i.) To rise, or be up, in the morning.
9. (n.) The act or result of stirring; agitation; tumult; bustle; noise or various movements.
10. (n.) Public disturbance or commotion; tumultuous disorder; seditious uproar.
11. (n.) Agitation of thoughts; conflicting passions.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
STIR, STIR UPstur: Used transitively and intransitively to indicate inner, concentrated movement; translates a number of Hebrew and Greek verbs, each of which has its different shade of meaning. Thus, e.g. inPsalm 39:2, we have `akhar, "to be troubled," "excited"; inSongs 2:7, `ur, "to awake," "disturb" (by the festal dances and songs). In2 Timothy 1:6, it stands for Greek anazopureo, used of the resuscitation of a flame; in2 Peter 1:13;2 Peter 3:1, Greek diegeiro, "to awaken from sleep or stupor"; inActs 21:27, Greek sugcheo, "to commingle," vividly portraying the confusion and tumult that resulted; inActs 13:50, Greek parotruno, "to urge on";Acts 17:13, Greek saleuo, "to shake to and fro."
Greek
383. anaseio -- to move to and fro,stir up... to move to and fro,
stir up. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anaseio Phonetic
Spelling: (an-as-i'-o) Short Definition: I shake up,
stir up, excite
...4787. sugkineo -- to move together, fig. tostir up
... tostir up. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sugkineo Phonetic Spelling:
(soong-kin-eh'-o) Short Definition: I move together,stir up Definition: I move...
3951. parotruno -- to urge on, tostir up
... to urge on, tostir up. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: parotruno Phonetic
Spelling: (par-ot-roo'-no) Short Definition: Istir up, incite Definition: I...
2042. erethizo -- tostir up
... tostir up. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: erethizo Phonetic Spelling:
(er-eth-id'-zo) Short Definition: Istir up, provoke Definition: Istir up, arouse...
5015. tarasso -- tostir up, to trouble
... tostir up, to trouble. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: tarasso Phonetic Spelling:
(tar-as'-so) Short Definition: I agitate,stir up, trouble Definition...
387. anastatoo -- tostir up, unsettle
... tostir up, unsettle. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anastatoo Phonetic Spelling:
(an-as-tat-o'-o) Short Definition: I turn upside down, upset, unsettle...
4797. sugcheo -- to pour together, ie to confuse, throw into...
... into confusion. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sugcheo or sugchunno Phonetic
Spelling: (soong-kheh'-o) Short Definition: I bewilder,stir up Definition...
329. anazopureo -- to kindle afresh
... to kindle afresh. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anazopureo Phonetic Spelling:
(an-ad-zo-poor-eh'-o) Short Definition: Istir up the fire, fan the flame...
1326. diegeiro -- to arouse completely
... diegeiro Phonetic Spelling: (dee-eg-i'-ro) Short Definition: I wake out of sleep,
I arouse Definition: I wake out of sleep, arouse in general,stir up....
2795. kineo -- to move
... to move. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kineo Phonetic Spelling:
(kin-eh'-o) Short Definition: I move,stir, excite Definition: I set in motion,...
Strong's Hebrew
1624. garah -- tostir up (strife), engage in strife... to
stir up (strife), engage in strife. Transliteration: garah Phonetic Spelling:
(gaw-raw') Short Definition: provoke.
... contend, meddle,
stir up, strive.
...5916. akar -- tostir up, disturb, trouble
... akar. 5917 . tostir up, disturb, trouble. Transliteration: akar Phonetic Spelling:
(aw-kar') Short Definition: trouble. Word Origin a prim.... trouble,stir....
1481b. gur -- tostir up strife, quarrel
... 1481a, 1481b. gur. 1481c . tostir up strife, quarrel. Transliteration:
gur Short Definition: assails. Word Origin a prim. root...
7246. rabak -- to mix,stir
... 7245, 7246. rabak. 7247 . to mix,stir. Transliteration: rabak Phonetic Spelling:
(raw-bak') Short Definition: stirred. Word Origin a prim....
7370. rachash -- to keep moving,stir
... 7369, 7370. rachash. 7371 . to keep moving,stir. Transliteration: rachash
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-khash') Short Definition: overflows. Word Origin a prim....
5782. ur -- to rouse oneself, awake
... awake (15), awaken (2), awakened (2), awakens (2), awakes (1), exulted (1), lifted
(1), raise (1), rouse (3), rouse yourself (2), roused (1),stir (7), stirred...
5496. suth -- to incite, allure, instigate
... persuaded (2), stirred (1). entice, move, persuade, provoke, remove, set
on,stir up, take away. Perhaps denominative from shayith...
8663. teshuah -- noise
... crying, noise, shouting,stir. From show'; a crashing or loud clamor -- crying,
noise, shouting,stir. see HEBREW show'. 8662, 8663. teshuah. 8664 ....
6965. qum -- to arise, stand up, stand
... perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-)rise (up) (again, against), rouse
up, set (up), (e-)stablish, (make to) stand (up),stir up, strengthen...
6470. paam -- to thrust, impel
... troubled. Word Origin a prim. root Definition to thrust, impel NASB Word
Usage anxious (1),stir (1), troubled (3). move, trouble....
Library
A Caution toStir up to Watch against Sin
... A CAUTION TOSTIR UP TO WATCH AGAINST SIN. BY J. BUNYAN. ADVERTISEMENT BY
THE EDITOR.... OFFOR. CAUTION TOSTIR UP TO WATCH AGAINST SIN....
Farther Meditations toStir up to Prayer in the Morning.
... THE PRACTICE OF PIETY. Farther Meditations tostir up to Prayer in the
Morning. Think not any business or haste, though never so...
Meditations toStir us up to Morning Prayer.
... THE PRACTICE OF PIETY. Meditations tostir us up to Morning Prayer. 1.
If, when thou art about to pray, Satan shall suggest that...
Up, Lord, and Do;Stir us Up, and Recall Us...
... Book VIII Chapter IV Up, Lord, and do;stir us up, and recall us? Up,
Lord, and do;stir us up, and recall us; kindle and draw...
Again, when it Becomes Necessary toStir and Sway the Hearer's...
... Book 4 Chapter 58. Again, when it becomes necessary tostir and sway the
hearer's mind by the? 58. Again, when it becomes necessary...
That it was Before Predicted that the World Would Hold us in...
... That it was before predicted that the world would hold us in abhorrence, and that
it wouldstir up persecutions against us, and that no new thing is happening...
I Charge You, O Ye Daughters of Jerusalem, by the Roes and the...
... CHAPTER III. 5. I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes and the hinds
of the fields, that yestir not up, nor awake my love, till she please....
Charge You, O Ye Daughters of Jerusalem, by the Roes and by the...
... CHAPTER II. 7. I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes and by the
hinds of the field, that yestir not up, nor awake my love till she please....
I Charge You, O Daughters of Jerusalem, that YeStir not Up, nor...
... CHAPTER VIII. 4. I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that yestir not
up, nor awake my love, until she please. The Bridegroom...
Julian, on his Settlement in the Empire, Began Quietly toStir up...
... Book V. Chapter III."Julian, on his Settlement in the Empire, began quietly tostir
up Opposition to Christianity, and to introduce Paganism artfully....
Thesaurus
Stir (57 Occurrences)... 2. (vt) To disturb the relative position of the particles of, as of a liquid, by
passing something through it; to agitate; as, to
stir a pudding with a spoon.
...Arouse (24 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To excite to action from a state of rest; tostir,
or put in... (WEY RSV). Job 41:10 None is so fierce that he darestir him up....
Reviving (4 Occurrences)
... In 1 Maccabees 13:7 the Revised Version (British and American) we have "And the
spirit of the people revived," anazopureo, "tostir or kindle up as a fire...
Revive (31 Occurrences)
... In 1 Maccabees 13:7 the Revised Version (British and American) we have "And the
spirit of the people revived," anazopureo, "tostir or kindle up as a fire...
Rouse (25 Occurrences)
... 7. (v.) To put in motion; tostir up; to agitate.... Psalms 35:23Stir up thyself, and
awake to the justice due unto me, Even unto my cause, my God and my Lord....
Raise (175 Occurrences)
... to awaken; to arouse. 7. (vt) To rouse to action; tostir up; to incite
to tumult, struggle, or war; to excite. 8. (vt) To bring...
Move (113 Occurrences)
... vt) To cause to change place or posture in any manner; to set in motion; to carry,
convey, draw, or push from one place to another; to impel; tostir; as, the...
Awaken (10 Occurrences)
... Song of Songs 2:7 I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, or by the hinds
of the field, that you notstir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires....
Adjure (16 Occurrences)
... Song of Songs 2:7 I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, or by the hinds
of the field, that you notstir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires....
Adjured (11 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Song of Songs 2:7 I have adjured you, daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes
or by the hinds of the field,Stir not up nor wake the love till she please!...
Resources
What does it mean to stir up the gift (2 Timothy 1:6)? | GotQuestions.orgIn the Song of Solomon, why is it said that we shouldn't awaken love until it pleases? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is ultimate reconciliation? | GotQuestions.orgStir: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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