Topical Encyclopedia
The term "pulverized" refers to the process of reducing something to fine particles or dust. In the context of the Bible, this concept is often associated with destruction, judgment, and the power of God to dismantle the proud and the wicked. The imagery of pulverization is used to convey the totality and thoroughness of divine judgment.
Biblical References:1.
Destruction of Idols: One of the most vivid examples of pulverization in the Bible is found in the account of Moses and the golden calf. After descending from Mount Sinai and witnessing the idolatry of the Israelites, Moses took the calf, burned it with fire, and ground it to powder. He then scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it (
Exodus 32:20). This act symbolized the complete eradication of the idol and served as a powerful reminder of the consequences of turning away from God.
2.
Judgment on Nations: The prophets often used the imagery of pulverization to describe the judgment that would come upon nations that opposed God. In
Isaiah 41:15, God speaks to Israel, saying, "Behold, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff" . This metaphor illustrates the power of God working through His people to bring about the downfall of their enemies.
3.
Symbol of Humility: Pulverization can also symbolize the humbling of the proud. In
Daniel 2:34-35, the vision of the statue made of various materials is shattered by a stone "cut out without hands," which strikes the statue and reduces it to dust. The wind carries the dust away, leaving no trace. This vision represents the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom over earthly powers and the futility of human pride.
4.
Divine Power and Authority: The concept of pulverization underscores the absolute authority of God over creation. In
Psalm 18:42, David describes his enemies as being "beaten as fine as dust before the wind" , highlighting the ease with which God can dismantle opposition. This serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the assurance that He will protect and vindicate His faithful.
Theological Implications:The use of pulverization in the Bible serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of sin and rebellion against God. It emphasizes the seriousness of idolatry and the inevitable judgment that follows. At the same time, it offers hope to the faithful, assuring them of God's ultimate victory over evil and His ability to humble the proud. The imagery calls believers to a posture of humility, recognizing their dependence on God's grace and power.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Pulverize.
Strong's Hebrew
4386. mekittah -- something crushed orpulverized, crushed...... mekittah. 4387 . something crushed or
pulverized, crushed fragments. Transliteration:
mekittah Phonetic Spelling: (mek-it-taw') Short Definition: pieces.
...1793b. dakka -- dust (aspulverized)
... dust (aspulverized). Transliteration: dakka Short Definition: dust. Word Origin
from daka Definition dust (aspulverized) NASB Word Usage dust (1)....
5310a. naphats -- to shatter
... root Definition to shatter NASB Word Usage broken (1), dash (1), dashes (1),pulverized
(1), shatter (11), shattered (1), shattering (1), smashed (1)....
7833. shachaq -- to rub away, beat fine, pulverize
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to rub away, beat fine, pulverize NASB Word
Usage beat (1), beat them fine (1),pulverized (1), wears away (1). beat, wear....
4417. melach -- salt
... saltpit. From malach; properly, powder, ie (specifically) salt (as easilypulverized
and dissolved -- salt((-pit)). see HEBREW malach. 4416, 4417....
Library
A Man Expects to Reap the Same Kind as He Sows.
... all wool when they are half cotton, and to adulterate groceries and say they are
pure, when they grind up white marble and put it intopulverized sugar, and...
Appendix iii. Rabbinic views as to the Lawfulness of Images...
... Z.44 b). But a statue used for idolatrous purposes was not only to bepulverized,
but the dust cast to the winds or into the sea, lest it might possible serve...
The Crucifixion.
... myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. [Myrrh was a resin and the aloe
waspulverized wood. Both were aromatic"Psalm 45:8.] ^a...
Elucidations.
... [1627] Psalm 72:1, 2. [1628] An absurditypulverized by the faith and learning of
Dr. Pusey. [1629] Pseudepigrapha OF Fritzsche, Lips., 1871, Codex Pseudepigr....
Christ Crucified and Buried.
... Myrrh and aloes. These were fragrant materials, and placed, in apulverized condition,
in the linen grave-clothes with which the body was wrapped....
Chapter ii
... writer tells us that the material God employed in making man was "the dust of the
ground." 'Aphar, rendered "dust," does not refer to drypulverized earth only...
Chaldaean Civilization
... on it; it could withstand water for a considerable length of time; even if broken,
the pieces were still of use: as long as it was notpulverized, the entire...
The Dialogue against the Luciferians.
... our party, or rather not mine any more, use it as a sort of controversial battering
ram: as such I am exceedingly glad to see it broken to pieces andpulverized...
Book ii. Jerome Answers the Second, Third, and Fourth Propositions...
The Principal Works of St. Jerome. <....
The Memphite Empire
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 2. <....
Thesaurus
Pulverized (2 Occurrences)... (imp. & pp) of Pulverize. Multi-Version Concordance
Pulverized (2 Occurrences).
2 Samuel 22:43 Then I beat them as small as the dust of the earth.
...Pulverize (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To reduce of fine powder or dust, as by beating, grinding, or the like;
as, friable substances may bepulverized by grinding or beating, but to...
Grind (12 Occurrences)
... 5. (vi) To perform the operation of grinding something; to turn the millstones.
6. (vi) To become ground orpulverized by friction; as, this corn grinds well....
Frankincense (22 Occurrences)
... The gum is obtained by incising the bark, and is collected in yellowish,
semitransparent tears, readilypulverized; it has a nauseous taste....
Flower (33 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) Grainpulverized; meal; flour. 5. (n.) A substance in the form of a powder,
especially when condensed from sublimation; as, the flowers of sulfur....
Furrow (3 Occurrences)
... When the showers had softened the earth, the seed was sown and the soil turned over
with the plow and left in furrows, not harrowed andpulverized as in our...
Tablets (31 Occurrences)
... She filled her basket with tablets and went home. How many she had alreadypulverized
and grown into leeks and cucumbers and melons will never be known....
Tell (3056 Occurrences)
... She filled her basket with tablets and went home. How many she had alreadypulverized
and grown into leeks and cucumbers and melons will never be known....
El-amarna
... She filled her basket with tablets and went home. How many she had alreadypulverized
and grown into leeks and cucumbers and melons will never be known....
Elamarna
... She filled her basket with tablets and went home. How many she had alreadypulverized
and grown into leeks and cucumbers and melons will never be known....
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