Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical contexts, the concept of "thickening" can be understood both literally and metaphorically, often relating to the physical and spiritual states of individuals or groups. While the term "thickening" itself is not directly used in the Berean Standard Bible, related themes and imagery can be found throughout Scripture.
Physical Thickening:1.
Clouds and Darkness: The Bible frequently uses the imagery of thick clouds and darkness to describe God's presence and the awe-inspiring nature of divine encounters. In
Exodus 19:9, the Lord tells Moses, "Behold, I will come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and will always put their trust in you." Here, the "dense cloud" signifies the thickening of the atmosphere as a manifestation of God's glory and majesty.
2.
Plagues and Judgment: In the context of the plagues of Egypt, the thickening of the air with locusts or darkness serves as a sign of God's judgment.
Exodus 10:21-22 describes the plague of darkness: "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness spreads over Egypt—darkness that can be felt.' So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days." This "darkness that can be felt" suggests a thickening of the air, emphasizing the severity of God's judgment.
Metaphorical Thickening:1.
Spiritual Insensitivity: The concept of thickening can also be applied metaphorically to describe the spiritual insensitivity or hardening of hearts. In
Isaiah 6:10, the prophet is instructed, "Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed." The thickening of the heart and senses symbolizes a resistance to God's message and a refusal to repent.
2.
Moral and Ethical Dullness: The thickening of moral and ethical understanding is evident in the New Testament as well. In
Ephesians 4:18-19, Paul speaks of those who are "darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts." This hardening, or thickening, of the heart leads to a loss of sensitivity and a descent into moral depravity.
Symbolism in Prophetic Literature:1.
Visions and Revelations: Prophetic literature often employs thickening imagery to convey the intensity and mystery of divine revelations. In
Daniel 7:13, Daniel describes his vision: "In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven." The "clouds of heaven" suggest a thickening presence that accompanies the revelation of divine truth and authority.
2.
End Times Imagery: The Book of Revelation uses thickening imagery to depict the culmination of history and the final judgment.
Revelation 16:10-11 describes the fifth bowl of God's wrath: "The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done." The thickening darkness here symbolizes the intensification of God's judgment and the stubbornness of human rebellion.
In summary, while the term "thickening" is not explicitly found in the Berean Standard Bible, the concept is richly illustrated through various biblical themes and imagery. Whether describing physical phenomena or spiritual conditions, thickening serves as a powerful metaphor for the presence, judgment, and revelation of God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Thicken.
2. (n.) Something put into a liquid or mass to make it thicker.
Greek
2361. thrombos -- a lump... great drop. Perhaps from trepho (in the sense of
thickening); a clot -- great drop.
see GREEK trepho. (thromboi) -- 1 Occurrence. 2360, 2361. thrombos. 2362
...Library
But if Life is to be Happy, Something Else must Come into Them...
... This darkness, thickness, or substantiality, is not co-existent with, or independent
of, God, but is the compressing, astringing,thickening work of the first...
The Faithful Servant
... hissing of combat. But under an ever-thickening veil of horrid airs, the
struggle went on. The Roman Ides of July arrived. Titus had...
Hymn Before Meat
... Foaming milkpails bubble o'er With the udders' snowy stream, Which inthickening
churns we pour Or in wicker baskets store, As the cheese is pressed from cream...
The Final Arrest
... Phygellus and Hermogenes were the first to go. Then Demas, dismayed by thethickening
clouds of difficulty and danger, forsook the persecuted apostle....
Outside the Eden Gate.
... If you think there were no crab-apples in Eden, then the touch of thosethickening
lips must have soured it in the eating"man's teeth are still on edge....
He was Transfigured
... The gloom of their surroundings seems in harmony with their sorrowful lives,
around which the clouds are gathering andthickening....
The Border of his Sanctuary
... Hail Him ere we go! Once more let that Name be sounded. With a trumpet tone".
Here, amidst thethickening darkness,. Then, before the throne....
Stephen's vision
... from our sight. Thethickening veil of increasing centuries becomes more
and more difficult for faith to pierce. What Stephen saw...
Third Sunday in Advent and it Shall be Said in that Day, Lo, this...
... Thy love is deeper still. Oh write this promise in your hearts,. Ye sorrowful, on
whom. Fallthickening cares, while joy departs. And darker grows your gloom....
M. Gaskell. Christ who Strengtheneth Me.
... 3 When the way grows dark and drear, When, beset by doubt and fear, We can see no
beam of light Struggling through thethickening night; Lord, we would...
Thesaurus
Thickening (1 Occurrence)... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Thicken. 2. (n.) Something put into a liquid or mass to
make it thicker. Multi-Version Concordance
Thickening (1 Occurrence).
...Wart (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) A small, usually hard, tumor on the skin formed by enlargement of its vascular
papillae, andthickening of the epidermis which covers them....
Thick-bossed (1 Occurrence)
Thick-bossed. Thick, Thick-bossed.Thickening . Multi-Version Concordance... (See
RSV). Thick, Thick-bossed.Thickening . Reference Bible.
Thicker (2 Occurrences)
Eyes (6285 Occurrences)
... There was with it probably a considerable amount of conjunctivalthickening,
and it is possible that the remedy might have removed this....
Pad (1 Occurrence)
... 13. (n.) A cushion likethickening of the skin one the under side of the toes of
animals. 14. (n.) A floating leaf of a water lily or similar plant. 15....
Corn (107 Occurrences)
... Psalm 65:13). Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) Athickening of the epidermis
at some point, esp. on the toes, by friction or pressure....
Diseases (38 Occurrences)
... There was with it probably a considerable amount of conjunctivalthickening,
and it is possible that the remedy might have removed this....
Resources
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