Topical Encyclopedia
The term "stricken" in the Bible often conveys a sense of being afflicted, smitten, or struck down, whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually. It is used to describe various forms of suffering and divine judgment, as well as the human condition in a fallen world. The concept of being stricken is deeply intertwined with themes of sin, repentance, and redemption.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "stricken" is "נָגַף" (nagaph), which means to strike, smite, or plague. This term is frequently used in the context of divine judgment or punishment. For example, in
Isaiah 53:4, the Suffering Servant is described as "stricken" by God: "Surely He took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted." This passage prophetically points to the Messiah, who would bear the sins and sufferings of humanity.
The concept of being stricken also appears in the context of personal affliction. In
Psalm 102:4, the psalmist laments, "My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread." Here, the term conveys a deep sense of personal anguish and distress.
New Testament UsageIn the New Testament, the Greek equivalent often used is "πληγή" (plēgē), which means a blow or wound. While the term "stricken" itself is less frequently used in the New Testament, the concept is present in the sufferings of Christ and the apostles. For instance, in
Acts 2:23, Peter speaks of Jesus being "delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross." This reflects the idea of Jesus being stricken for the sake of humanity's redemption.
Theological SignificanceTheologically, being stricken is often associated with the consequences of sin and the need for atonement. The stricken state of humanity due to sin necessitates divine intervention and redemption. The Suffering Servant in
Isaiah 53 is a profound illustration of this, as it foreshadows Christ's sacrificial death, where He was "pierced for our transgressions" and "crushed for our iniquities" (
Isaiah 53:5).
In a broader sense, the experience of being stricken can lead to spiritual growth and reliance on God. The afflictions faced by believers are seen as opportunities for refining faith and character, as expressed in
James 1:2-4: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
Practical ImplicationsFor believers, understanding the concept of being stricken involves recognizing the reality of suffering in a fallen world and the hope of redemption through Christ. It calls for a response of faith, repentance, and trust in God's sovereign purposes. The stricken state is not the end but a part of the journey toward ultimate restoration and healing in Christ.
In pastoral care, addressing the stricken involves offering comfort, encouragement, and the assurance of God's presence and promises. The church is called to be a community that supports those who are afflicted, reflecting the compassion and love of Christ, who was Himself stricken for our sake.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
p. p. & a.) Struck; smitten; wounded; as, the stricken deer.
2. (n.) Worn out; far gone; advanced.
3. (v. t.) Whole; entire; -- said of the hour as marked by the striking of a clock.
4. (p. p.) of Strike
Greek
4260. probaino -- to go forward... advance. From pro and the base of basis; to walk forward, ie Advance (literally,
or in years) -- + be of a great age, go farther (on), be well
stricken.
...Strong's Hebrew
5218a. naka --stricken... naka. 5218b .
stricken. Transliteration: naka Short Definition:
stricken. Word
Origin from naka Definition
stricken NASB Word Usage who are
stricken (1).
...5218. nake' --stricken
... 5217, 5218. nake'. 5218a .stricken. Transliteration: nake' Phonetic Spelling:
(naw-kay') Short Definition: broken. broken,stricken, wounded...
5218b. nake --stricken
... nake. 5219 .stricken. Transliteration: nake Short Definition: broken. Word Origin
from naka Definitionstricken NASB Word Usage broken (3). 5218a, 5218b....
5223. nakeh -- smitten,stricken
... 5222, 5223. nakeh. 5224 . smitten,stricken. Transliteration: nakeh Phonetic
Spelling: (naw-keh') Short Definition: crippled. Word...
5222. nekeh -- smitten,stricken
... 5221, 5222. nekeh. 5223 . smitten,stricken. Transliteration: nekeh Phonetic
Spelling: (nay-keh') Short Definition: smiters. Word...
5061. nega -- a stroke, plague, mark
... wounds (1). plague, sore,stricken, stripe, stroke, wound. From naga';
a blow (figuratively, infliction); also (by implication) a...
5221. nakah -- to smite
... 5), slayer (1), slayers (1), slaying (1), slays (1), slew (8), smashed (1), smite
(12), smiter (1), smiting (1), smitten (7), smote (13),stricken (3), strike...
6879. tsara -- to be struck with leprosy, to be leprous
... leper, leprous. A primitive root; to scourge, ie (intransitive and figurative) to
bestricken with leprosy -- leper, leprous. 6878, 6879. tsara. 6880 ....
1856. daqar -- to pierce, pierce through
... pierce him through (1), pierce me through (2), pierced (1), pierced him through
(1), pierced of them through (1), pierced through (1),stricken (1), thrust me...
935. bo -- to come in, come, go in, go
... go (down, in, to war), grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention,
pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well)stricken (in age), X...
Library
Stricken with Exceeding Grief, He Remembers the Dissolute Passions...
... Book II. Chapter II."Stricken with Exceeding Grief, He Remembers the Dissolute
Passions in Which, in His Sixteenth Year, He Used to Indulge....
Unhappy Souls!Stricken through with all These Barbarisms as with...
... 10. Unhappy souls!stricken through with all these barbarisms as with so many lances!...
stricken through with all these barbarisms as with so many lances!...
And Just as through a Disobedient virgin Man wasStricken Down and...
... THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE APOSTOLIC PREACHING Chapter 33 And just as through a
disobedient virgin man wasstricken down and fell into death?...
When Wounded Sore theStricken Soul
... II. THE CHRISTIAN YEAR Ash Wednesday and Lent 138. When wounded sore thestricken
soul. CM... Cecil Frances Alexander, 1858. When wounded sore thestricken soul....
M. Italian. Prayer of aStricken People.
... 7 & 6s. M. Italian. Prayer of aStricken People. 1 O Thou, whose power stupendous
Upholds the earth and sky, Thy grace preserving send us," To Thee, O Lord!...
Prophecy.
... not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did
esteem himstricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But...
The Birth of John Foretold. Chs. 1:5-25
... the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.7 And they had no child, because
that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now wellstricken in years...
Eusebius the Bishop of C??sarea, of whom I have Made Mention Above...
... I amstricken down andstricken through, with a wound in the breast which will not
be appeased; my limbs which were white before are stained with gore; and you...
The Manna
... In the second of them, when He likened Himself to the brazen serpent lifted in the
camp, He claimed to be the Healer of a sin-stricken and poisoned world....
Valentinus, Ptolemy and Secundus, Heracleon.
... [8388] For he was panic-stricken, he says, and terror-stricken, and overcome
with sadness; and of these passions he conceived and bare....
Thesaurus
Stricken (32 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (pp & a.) Struck; smitten; wounded; as, the
stricken deer.
... 4. (pp) of Strike. Multi-Version Concordance
Stricken (32 Occurrences).
...Awe-stricken (1 Occurrence)
Awe-stricken. Awesome, Awe-stricken. Awestruck . Noah Webster's Dictionary
(a.) Awe-struck. Multi-Version Concordance Awe-stricken (1 Occurrence)....
Terror-stricken (1 Occurrence)
Terror-stricken. Terrors, Terror-stricken. Tertius . Multi-Version
Concordance Terror-stricken (1 Occurrence). Isaiah...
Conscience-stricken (2 Occurrences)
Conscience-stricken. Consciences, Conscience-stricken. Conscientious .
Multi-Version Concordance Conscience-stricken (2 Occurrences)....
Strike (168 Occurrences)
... the Revised Version margin "firing") stones to produce a fire is mentioned (2 Maccabees
10:3). The past participle of "strike" isstricken (modern English...
Zacharias (11 Occurrences)
... of incense in the holy place, it was announced to him by the angel Gabriel that
his wife Elisabeth, who was also of a priestly family, nowstricken in years...
Terrors (21 Occurrences)
Tertius (1 Occurrence)
Consciences (12 Occurrences)
Strict (7 Occurrences)
Resources
Why did Isa/Jesus have to die? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did Jesus have to die? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about child sexual abuse? | GotQuestions.orgStricken: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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