Topical Encyclopedia
In the Bible, the concept of "thin" is often used both literally and metaphorically to describe physical appearances, conditions, or spiritual states. The term appears in various contexts, each carrying its own significance within the biblical narrative.
Physical Appearance and ConditionsOne of the most notable uses of "thin" in the Bible is found in the account of Pharaoh's dreams in the book of Genesis. Pharaoh dreams of seven thin cows that come up out of the Nile and consume seven fat cows. This dream is interpreted by Joseph as a prophecy of seven years of famine that will follow seven years of plenty in Egypt.
Genesis 41:3-4 states: "And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up after them out of the Nile and stood beside the other cows on the bank of the river. And the ugly, thin cows devoured the seven sleek, well-fed cows." Here, "thin" symbolizes scarcity and lack, contrasting with the abundance represented by the fat cows.
Metaphorical and Spiritual ImplicationsThe concept of "thin" can also be understood metaphorically, representing spiritual barrenness or a lack of faith. In a spiritual sense, being "thin" might suggest a deficiency in one's relationship with God or a lack of spiritual nourishment. This metaphorical use aligns with the biblical theme of spiritual sustenance, where believers are encouraged to seek the richness of God's word and presence to avoid spiritual "thinness."
Symbolism in Prophetic LiteratureIn prophetic literature, "thin" can symbolize weakness or vulnerability. For instance, in
Isaiah 17:4 , the prophet speaks of the diminishing glory of Jacob: "In that day the glory of Jacob will fade, and the fat of his body will waste away." Although the term "thin" is not directly used, the imagery of wasting away conveys a similar idea of reduction and frailty, often associated with divine judgment or the consequences of turning away from God.
Cultural and Historical ContextIn the ancient Near Eastern context, being "thin" was often associated with poverty, famine, or divine displeasure. The biblical narrative frequently contrasts thinness with fatness, where the latter is seen as a sign of prosperity and blessing. This cultural understanding underscores the significance of the imagery used in biblical texts, where physical descriptions often carry deeper theological meanings.
Practical LessonsFrom a practical standpoint, the biblical use of "thin" serves as a reminder of the importance of spiritual vigilance and preparedness. Just as Joseph advised Pharaoh to prepare for the years of famine, believers are encouraged to cultivate their spiritual lives to withstand times of trial and scarcity. The imagery of thinness calls for a reflection on one's spiritual health and the need to seek God's provision and strength.
In summary, the term "thin" in the Bible encompasses a range of meanings, from literal descriptions of physical conditions to metaphorical representations of spiritual states. Its usage in Scripture invites readers to consider the broader implications of scarcity, vulnerability, and the necessity of spiritual nourishment.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
superl.) Having little thickness or extent from one surface to its opposite; as, a thin plate of metal; thin paper; a thin board; a thin covering.
2. (superl.) Rare; not dense or thick; -- applied to fluids or soft mixtures; as, thin blood; thin broth; thin air.
3. (superl.) Not close; not crowded; not filling the space; not having the individuals of which the thing is composed in a close or compact state; hence, not abundant; as, the trees of a forest are thin; the corn or grass is thin.
4. (superl.) Not full or well grown; wanting in plumpness.
5. (superl.) Not stout; slim; slender; lean; gaunt; as, a person becomes thin by disease.
6. (superl.) Wanting in body or volume; small; feeble; not full.
7. (superl.) Slight; small; slender; flimsy; wanting substance or depth or force; superficial; inadequate; not sufficient for a covering; as, a thin disguise.
8. (adv.) Not thickly or closely; in a scattered state; as, seed sown thin.
9. (v. t.) To make thin (in any of the senses of the adjective).
10. (v. i.) To grow or become thin; -- used with some adverbs, as out, away, etc.; as, geological strata thin out, i. e., gradually diminish in thickness until they disappear.
Greek
3016. leptos -- peeled, fine,thin, small, light... peeled, fine,
thin, small, light. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration:
leptos Phonetic Spelling: (lep-ton') Short Definition: a small piece of money
...2766. keramos -- a tile
... tiling. Probably from the base of kerannumi (through the idea of mixing clay and
water); earthenware, ie A tile (by analogy, athin roof or awning) -- tiling....
Strong's Hebrew
1851. daq --thin, small, fine... 1850, 1851. daq. 1852 .
thin, small, fine. Transliteration: daq Phonetic
Spelling: (dak) Short Definition:
thin. Word Origin from
...7534. raq --thin, only, altogether, surely
... 7533, 7534. raq. 7535 .thin, only, altogether, surely. Transliteration: raq
Phonetic Spelling: (rak) Short Definition: only.... emaciated,thin, lean....
7550. raqiq --thin cake, wafer
...thin cake, wafer. Transliteration: raqiq Phonetic Spelling: (raw-keek') Short
Definition: wafers.... From, raqaq in its original sense; athin cake; -- cake, wafer....
1800b. dal -- low, weak, poor,thin
... 1800a, 1800b. dal. 1801 . low, weak, poor,thin. Transliteration: dal
Short Definition: poor. Word Origin from dalal Definition...
1809. dalal -- to hang, be low, languish
... root Definition to hang, be low, languish NASB Word Usage brought low (1),
brought...low (3), fade (1), hang (1), look wistfully (1),thin (1)....
6341. pach -- a bird trap
... gin,thin plate, snare From pachach; a (metallic) sheet (as poundedthin); also
a spring net (as spread out like a lamina) -- gin, (thin) plate, snare....
4174. morad -- a descent, slope
... going down, steep place,thin work. From yarad; a descent; as architecture, an
ornamental appendage, perhaps a festoon -- going down, steep place,thin work....
4134. muk -- to be low or depressed, to grow poor
... be waxen poorer. A primitive root; to becomethin, ie (figuratively) be impoverished --
be (waxen) poor(-er). 4133, 4134. muk. 4135 . Strong's Numbers.
7828. shachaph -- a sea mew, gull
... cuckoo. From an unused root meaning to peel, ie Emaciate; the gull (asthin) --
cuckoo. 7827, 7828. shachaph. 7829 . Strong's Numbers.
7554. raqa -- to beat, stamp, beat out, spread out
... A primitive root; to pound the earth (as a sign of passion); by analogy to expand
(by hammering); by implication, to overlay (withthin sheets of metal) -- beat...
Library
TheThin Life
... XLVII THETHIN LIFE. Matthew xiii.1-9.... It is not the unreceptive, but the impulsively
receptive life. It is not too hard, or too soft, but it is toothin....
Before the End of the Month, Ruby had Got RespectablyThin...
... Chapter 34 Before the end of the month, Ruby had got respectablythin?
Before the end of the month, Ruby had got respectablythin...
A Prisoner who Became a Mighty Ruler
... Then seven other cows came up after them out of the Nile, poorly fed andthin,
and they stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile....
Personal Notes: Relics Nearby that the Three Kings had Given to...
... They had several cloaks: a thick strong one for bad weather, a yellow one, and a
red one of verythin light wool. These cloaks blew in the wind as they went....
Joseph, a Servant, a Prisoner, and a Saint.
... Behind them came seven other cows, lookingthin and poorly fed, and the
thin and poorly fed cows ate up the well-kept and fat ones....
Chapter xli
... 3. The second seven cows are in every way the opposite of the first: "ugly and skinny"
"daqq??th basar, "beaten, orthin of flesh." Watha'am??vdhnah ""and...
We must Consider the Fact, which Comes First, and So in Order...
... cease they will become superfluous: and that our bodies themselves will grow a?�rial
and spirit-like, and gradually vanish and disperse intothin air and into...
The Story of Joseph and his Coat of Many Colors
... And while they were feeding, seven other cows followed them up from the river, very
thin, and poor, and lean"such miserable creatures as I had never seen...
Divine and Worldly Conformity
... Christian apparel should be modest in texture; that is, it should not
be sothin that it displays the body or the underwear. No...
Of the Intestines in Man, and their Use.
... For He has made a kind of intestines soft andthin, [1886] which we call the lungs,
into which the breath might pass by an alternate interchange; [1887] and He...
Thesaurus
Thin (39 Occurrences)... 1. (superl.) Having little thickness or extent from one surface to its opposite;
as, a
thin plate of metal;
thin paper; a
thin board; a
thin covering.
...Slice (4 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Athin, broad piece cut off; as, a slice of bacon; a slice of cheese; a
slice of bread. 2. (vt) That which isthin and broad, like a slice....
Shoots (32 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 17:6 And it springeth up, and becometh a spreading vine, humble of stature,
To turn itsthin shoots toward itself, And its roots are under it, And it...
Scale (38 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) One of the small,thin, membranous, bony or horny pieces which form the
covering of many fishes and reptiles, and some mammals, belonging to the dermal...
Ugly (7 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Genesis 41:3 Behold, seven other cattle came up after them out of the
river, ugly andthin, and stood by the other cattle on the brink of the river....
Gaunt (7 Occurrences)
... Genesis 41:3 Behold, seven other cattle came up after them out of the river, ugly
andthin, and stood by the other cattle on the brink of the river....
Wash (105 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) To cover with athin or watery coat of color; to tint lightly and thinly.
6. (vt) To overlay with athin coat of metal; as, steel washed with silver....
Cows (33 Occurrences)
... (BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV). Genesis 41:3 And after them seven other cows came out of
the Nile, poor-looking andthin; and they were by the side of the other cows....
Web (5 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) Athin metal sheet, plate, or strip, as of lead. 8. (n.) The blade of a
sword. 9. (n.) The blade of a saw. 10. (n.) Thethin, sharp part of a colter....
Plates (19 Occurrences)
... Exodus 39:3 They beat the gold intothin plates, and cut it into wires, to work
it in the blue, in the purple, in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, the work...
Resources
What is theodicy? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are some biblical examples of dream interpretation? | GotQuestions.orgHow are magicians / illusionists able to levitate / perform levitation tricks? | GotQuestions.orgThin: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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