Topical Encyclopedia
The term "unoccupied" in a biblical context often refers to land, spaces, or positions that are vacant or not currently in use. This concept can be explored through various passages and themes in the Bible, where the absence of occupation can carry both literal and metaphorical significance.
Biblical References:1.
Land and Territory: In the Old Testament, the idea of unoccupied land is significant in the context of the Promised Land. When the Israelites were led by God to the land of Canaan, they encountered territories that were either sparsely populated or occupied by other nations. The command to take possession of these lands is seen in passages such as
Joshua 1:3-4, where God promises, "Every place where the sole of your foot will tread, I have given you, as I said to Moses." The notion of unoccupied land here is tied to divine promise and fulfillment.
2.
Parables and Teachings of Jesus: In the New Testament, Jesus uses the concept of unoccupied spaces in His parables to convey spiritual truths. For instance, in the Parable of the Ten Virgins (
Matthew 25:1-13), the unoccupied lamps of the foolish virgins symbolize a lack of preparedness and spiritual readiness. The absence of oil in their lamps when the bridegroom arrives highlights the consequences of neglect and unpreparedness.
3.
Spiritual Implications: The idea of being unoccupied can also relate to spiritual states. In
Matthew 12:43-45, Jesus speaks of an unclean spirit that leaves a person and wanders through arid places seeking rest but finds none. When it returns, it finds the house "unoccupied, swept clean and put in order" (
Matthew 12:44). This passage warns of the dangers of spiritual emptiness and the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit to prevent evil from returning.
4.
Work and Stewardship: The Bible also addresses the concept of unoccupied positions in the context of work and stewardship. In the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (
Matthew 20:1-16), the landowner finds workers standing idle in the marketplace and hires them to work in his vineyard. This parable emphasizes the value of labor and the call to be active participants in God's kingdom, rather than remaining unoccupied or idle.
Theological Themes:·
Divine Provision and Promise: The occupation of land and spaces often reflects God's provision and the fulfillment of His promises to His people. The transition from unoccupied to occupied signifies the realization of God's plans.
·
Readiness and Vigilance: The teachings of Jesus highlight the importance of being spiritually occupied and prepared. An unoccupied heart is vulnerable to spiritual attack, while a life filled with the Holy Spirit is protected and fruitful.
·
Active Participation in God's Work: The call to occupy positions of service and stewardship underscores the biblical principle of diligence and responsibility. Believers are encouraged to engage actively in the work of the kingdom, avoiding idleness and making the most of their God-given opportunities.
In summary, the concept of "unoccupied" in the Bible serves as a reminder of the importance of divine promise, spiritual readiness, and active participation in God's work. Through various narratives and teachings, Scripture calls believers to move from states of emptiness to fullness, from idleness to purposeful action, in alignment with God's will.
Greek
4980. scholazo -- to be at leisure, hence to devote oneself to... Word Origin from schole Definition to be at leisure, hence to devote oneself to
NASB Word Usage devote yourselves (1),
unoccupied (1). empty, give self.
...Strong's Hebrew
2308. chadal -- to cease... flabby, ie (by implication) desist; (figuratively) be lacking or idle -- cease,
end, fall, forbear, forsake, leave (off), let alone, rest, be
unoccupied, want.
...6359. patir -- free
... Word Origin see patar. free From patar; open, ieUnoccupied -- free. see HEBREW
patar. 6358, 6359. patir. 6360 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
Eighth Tractate. Why Distant Objects Appear Small.
... Those attributing the reduced appearance to the lesser angle occupied allow by their
very theory that theunoccupied portion of the eye still sees something...
God's Law Immutable.
... of the earth." Instead of overthrowing other powers to establish itself, the nation
thus represented must arise in territory previouslyunoccupied, and grow up...
God's Law Immutable
... out of the earth." Instead of overthrowing other powers to establish itself, the
nation thus represented must arise in territory preciouslyunoccupied and grow...
Sermon at the Opening Services of the General Convention, October...
... It was a singular providence that this continent, laden with the bounty of
God, wasunoccupied by civilization for thousands of years....
Preface to the First Edition
... If the ground is no longer sounoccupied as it was then, it appears to them that
there is still abundant room for the book which they now lay before the public...
Argument. --But, on the Ground that Liberty in Meats is Granted to...
... fasting they drink in the early morning, not thinking it Christian to drink after
meat, unless the wine poured into their empty andunoccupied veins should...
The Third Continental Journey.
... and for cottage cultivation. He desired me to go and see someunoccupied
land without the gate. 28th."According to appointment...
Chatter xviii. The Great Immigration.
... honorable conquest. It had not added largely to the population of the nation;
the new acquisitions were mainly ofunoccupied land. The...
The First Sermon Preached in Goobbe.
... After taking an extensive survey of the place, I returned to the first gate, and
seeing a large shop, open to the street,unoccupied, I took possession of it...
Habits and Condition of the People. Mission Work and Retirement.
... I preferred to face the storm to bearing the effluvia of that highland abode. I
was told of a littleunoccupied grass-shed a mile down the hill....
Thesaurus
Unoccupied (4 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Unoccupied (4 Occurrences).
... Judges 5:6 "In the days of
Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were
unoccupied.
...Vacancy (3 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) An open orunoccupied space between bodies or things; an interruption of
continuity; chasm; gap; as, a vacancy between buildings; a vacancy between...
Shamgar (2 Occurrences)
... which preceded the time of Deborah (Judges 5:6, 7) and followed those of Ehud, Israel's
subjugation was so complete that "the highways wereunoccupied, and the...
Void (64 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Containing nothing; empty; vacant; not occupied; not filled. 2. (a.) Having
no incumbent;unoccupied; -- said of offices and the like....
Unordered (1 Occurrence)
Unobserved (4 Occurrences)
Outfit (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) A fitting out, or equipment, as of a ship for a voyage,
or of a person for an expedition in anunoccupied region or residence in...
Wilderness (304 Occurrences)
... (4.) Tziyyah, a "dry place" (Psalm 78:17; 105:41). (5.) Tohu, a "desolate" place,
a place "waste" or "unoccupied" (Deuteronomy 32:10; Job 12:24; Comp....
Waste (668 Occurrences)
... 11. (v.) That which is wasted or desolate; a devastated, uncultivated, or wild country;
a deserted region; anunoccupied or unemployed space; a dreary void; a...
Winding (4 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Winding (4 Occurrences). Judges 5:6 "In the days of Shamgar
the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways wereunoccupied....
Resources
What is the significance of Jericho in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgIs Göbekli Tepe where the Garden of Eden was located? | GotQuestions.orgUnoccupied: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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