Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "withdraw" in the Bible encompasses both physical and spiritual dimensions, often reflecting a deliberate action to separate oneself from certain situations, people, or influences. This term is used in various contexts throughout Scripture, illustrating both divine and human actions.
1.
Divine Withdrawal: In the Old Testament, God's withdrawal from His people is often depicted as a consequence of their disobedience and sin. For instance, in
Hosea 5:6, it is written, "They will go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn Himself from them." This withdrawal signifies a temporary removal of God's presence and favor, intended to lead His people to repentance.
2.
Jesus' Withdrawal: The Gospels frequently describe instances where Jesus withdrew from crowds or situations to pray or to avoid premature confrontation. In
Matthew 14:13, after hearing of John the Baptist's death, "When Jesus heard about it, He withdrew from there by boat privately to a solitary place." This withdrawal underscores the importance of solitude and communion with the Father, as well as strategic retreat in the face of potential danger or overwhelming circumstances.
3.
Apostolic Instruction: The New Testament also provides guidance on withdrawal from sinful influences or divisive individuals within the church. In
2 Thessalonians 3:6, Paul instructs, "Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life and not according to the tradition you received from us." This directive emphasizes the need for maintaining purity and order within the Christian community.
4.
Personal Withdrawal for Reflection and Prayer: The practice of withdrawing for personal reflection and prayer is a recurring theme in Scripture. Jesus often modeled this behavior, as seen in
Luke 5:16: "But Jesus Himself frequently withdrew to the wilderness and prayed." This practice highlights the necessity of withdrawing from daily distractions to seek God's guidance and strength.
5.
Withdrawal from Worldly Influences: Believers are called to withdraw from worldly influences that can lead them away from their faith. In
1 Timothy 6:5, Paul warns Timothy about those who are "deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such men." This withdrawal is a protective measure to preserve one's spiritual integrity and focus on godly living.
The biblical concept of withdrawal serves as a multifaceted principle, guiding believers in their relationship with God, their interactions with others, and their personal spiritual disciplines. It is a call to discernment, intentionality, and devotion in the Christian walk.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To take back or away, as what has been bestowed or enjoyed; to draw back; to cause to move away or retire; as, to withdraw aid, favor, capital, or the like.
2. (v. t.) To take back; to recall or retract; as, to withdraw false charges.
3. (v. i.) To retire; to retreat; to quit a company or place; to go away; as, he withdrew from the company.
Greek
402. anachoreo -- to go back,withdraw... to go back,
withdraw. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anachoreo Phonetic Spelling:
(an-akh-o-reh'-o) Short Definition: I return, retire, depart,
withdraw...1593. ekneuo -- to bend the head away, towithdraw
... to bend the head away, towithdraw. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekneuo
Phonetic Spelling: (ek-nyoo'-o) Short Definition: I retire,withdraw Definition...
1633. ekchoreo -- to depart,withdraw
... to depart,withdraw. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekchoreo Phonetic Spelling:
(ek-kho-reh'-o) Short Definition: I go out, depart from Definition: I go...
5226. hupeiko -- to retire,withdraw, submit
... to retire,withdraw, submit. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: hupeiko Phonetic
Spelling: (hoop-i'-ko) Short Definition: I yield Definition: I yield, submit...
3327. metabaino -- to pass over,withdraw, depart
... to pass over,withdraw, depart. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: metabaino
Phonetic Spelling: (met-ab-ah'-ee-no) Short Definition: I leave, depart, remove...
5288. hupostello -- to draw in, let down, draw back
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: hupostello Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-os-tel'-
lo) Short Definition: I draw back, conceal Definition: Iwithdraw, draw back...
4724. stello -- to arrange, prepare, gather up, hence to restrain
... hence to restrain. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: stello Phonetic Spelling:
(stel'-lo) Short Definition: I arrange, take care,withdraw from Definition...
5298. hupochoreo -- to go back, retire
... to go back, retire. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: hupochoreo Phonetic Spelling:
(hoop-okh-o-reh'-o) Short Definition: Iwithdraw, retire Definition: I...
868. aphistemi -- to lead away, to depart from
... Definition: I lead away, seduce, depart, abstain from Definition: I make to stand
away, draw away, repel, take up a position away from,withdraw from, leave...
657. apotasso -- to set apart, take leave of
... to set apart, take leave of. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apotasso Phonetic
Spelling: (ap-ot-as'-som-ahee) Short Definition: Iwithdraw from, take...
Strong's Hebrew
1639. gara -- to diminish, restrain,withdraw... 1638, 1639. gara. 1640 . to diminish, restrain,
withdraw. Transliteration:
gara Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-rah') Short Definition: withdrawn. Word Origin a prim
...2502. chalats -- to draw off or out,withdraw
... 2501, 2502. chalats. 2502a . to draw off or out,withdraw. Transliteration:
chalats Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-lats') Short Definition:withdraw....
2247. chabah -- towithdraw, hide
... 2246, 2247. chabah. 2248 . towithdraw, hide. Transliteration: chabah Phonetic
Spelling: (khaw-bah') Short Definition: hide. Word Origin a prim....
680. atsal -- to lay aside, reserve,withdraw, withhold
... 679, 680. atsal. 681 . to lay aside, reserve,withdraw, withhold. Transliteration:
atsal Phonetic Spelling: (aw-tsal') Short Definition: refuse....
2502a. chalats -- to draw off or out,withdraw
... 2502, 2502a. chalats. 2502b . to draw off or out,withdraw. Transliteration:
chalats Short Definition: rescue. Word Origin a prim....
2244. chaba -- towithdraw, hide
... 2243, 2244. chaba. 2245 . towithdraw, hide. Transliteration: chaba Phonetic
Spelling: (khaw-baw') Short Definition: hidden. Word Origin a prim....
7725. shub -- to turn back, return
... take it back (1), take me back (1), take my back (2), take your back (1), take back
(2), there (1), took back (2), turn (49), turn and andwithdraw (1), turn...
2559. chamaq -- to turn away
... go about,withdraw self. A primitive root; properly, to wrap; hence, to depart
(ie Turn about) -- go about,withdraw self. 2558, 2559. chamaq. 2560 ....
622. asaph -- to gather, remove
... surely assemble (1), surely gathered (1), take (3), take my away (1), take away
(2), taken away (5), took (1), victims (1), wane (1),withdraw (3), withdrawn (1...
3365. yaqar -- to be precious, prized or appraised
... be make precious, be prized, be set by,withdraw. A primitive root; properly,
apparently, to be heavy, ie (figuratively) valuable...
Library
To what Extent the MassiliansWithdraw from the Pelagians.
... A Treatise on the predestination of the saints, Chapter 2."To What Extent the
MassiliansWithdraw from the Pelagians. For on consideration...
But Why did He notWithdraw his Body from the Jews
... Section 22. But why did He notwithdraw His body from the Jews. Section 22. But
why did He notwithdraw His body from the Jews, and so guard its immortality?...
Then Midas, King of Pessinus, Wishing toWithdraw the Youth from...
... Book V. 7 Then Midas, king of Pessinus, wishing towithdraw the youth from
so disgraceful an intimacy? Then Midas, king of Pessinus...
Constantine's Letter to the Antiochians, Directing them not to...
... Book III. Chapter LX."Constantine's Letter to the Antiochians, directing them not
towithdraw Eusebius from C??sarea, but to seek some one else....
Go in Peace
... The first was, when he silently accepted her manifestations of love. When the copious
tears from her eyes fell upon his feet, he did notwithdraw them....
1 Cor. Iii. 18, 19
... so does the phrase, "Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God, and the Spirit of
God dwelleth in you?" For these two things are most apt towithdraw us from...
1 Timothy vi. 7-Feb
... railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute
of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from suchwithdraw thyself...
Against those who Say that Demons Govern Human Affairs, and who...
... But there indeed towithdraw more quickly is praiseworthy, but here to
withdraw more quickly is not praiseworthy, but excusable....
2 Thessalonians iii. 5-Mar
... Ver.6. "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
yewithdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly and not...
The Security of Contemplatives Lies in their not Ascending to High...
... And they advise us much towithdraw from all bodily imagination, and draw near to
the contemplation of the Divinity; for they say that those who have advanced...
Thesaurus
Withdraw (52 Occurrences)... 1. (vt) To take back or away, as what has been bestowed or enjoyed; to draw back;
to cause to move away or retire; as, to
withdraw aid, favor, capital, or the
...Retire (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) Towithdraw; to take away; -- sometimes
used reflexively. 2. (vt) Towithdraw from circulation...
Recede (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To move away; to retreat; towithdraw.
2. (vi) Towithdraw a claim or pretension; to desist; to...
Retract (2 Occurrences)
... muscle. 2. (vt) Towithdraw; to recall; to disavow; to recant; to take
back; as, to retract an accusation or an assertion. 3. (vt...
Disorderly (8 Occurrences)
... or'-der-li (ataktos): The word is found four times in the Epistles to the Thess
(1 Thessalonians 5:14 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 7, 11), "Withdraw yourselves from...
Avoid (31 Occurrences)
... 2. (v.) To emit or throw out; to void; as, to avoid excretions. 3. (v.) To quit
or evacuate; towithdraw from.... 8. (vi) To retire; towithdraw....
Steal (29 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) Towithdraw or convey clandestinely (reflexive); hence, to creep furtively,
or to insinuate. 4. (vt) To gain by insinuating arts or covert means....
Shrink (10 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) Towithdraw or retire, as from danger; to decline action from fear; to recoil,
as in fear, horror, or distress.... 5. (vt) To draw back; towithdraw....
Darkened (28 Occurrences)
... The sun and the moon are darkened, and the starswithdraw their shining.... Joel 3:15
The sun and the moon are darkened, and the starswithdraw their shining....
Brightness (36 Occurrences)
... The sun and the moon are darkened, and the starswithdraw their shining.... Joel 3:15
The sun and the moon are darkened, and the starswithdraw their shining....
Resources
What is the “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” sermon? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Conservative Baptist Association? What is a Conservative Baptist Church? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is a Congregational Church / Congregationalism? | GotQuestions.orgWithdraw: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
