Topical Bible: Adversity

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Topical Encyclopedia

Adversity, a common theme throughout the Bible, refers to the trials, hardships, and difficulties that individuals and communities face. The Scriptures provide numerous examples and teachings on how to understand and respond to adversity, emphasizing its role in spiritual growth, character development, and reliance on God.

Biblical Examples of Adversity

1. Job: The Book of Job is perhaps the most comprehensive biblical narrative on adversity. Job, a righteous man, faces immense suffering, losing his wealth, children, and health. Despite his friends' insistence that his suffering is due to sin, Job maintains his integrity and ultimately learns about the sovereignty and wisdom of God. Job 1:21 states, "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD."

2. Joseph: Sold into slavery by his brothers and later imprisoned in Egypt, Joseph's life is marked by adversity. However, his faithfulness and trust in God lead to his rise as a powerful leader in Egypt, ultimately saving many from famine. Genesis 50:20 reflects Joseph's understanding of adversity: "As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."

3. David: King David faced numerous adversities, including persecution by King Saul, betrayal by his son Absalom, and personal failures. Throughout the Psalms, David expresses his struggles and reliance on God. Psalm 34:19 assures, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all."

Teachings on Adversity

1. Purpose and Growth: Adversity is often portrayed as a tool for spiritual growth and refinement. James 1:2-4 encourages believers to view trials as opportunities for growth: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

2. God's Sovereignty and Comfort: The Bible teaches that God is sovereign over all circumstances, including adversity. Romans 8:28 reassures believers, "And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose." Additionally, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 highlights God's comfort: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

3. Faith and Perseverance: Adversity tests and strengthens faith. Hebrews 12:7-11 explains that discipline, though painful, produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those trained by it. Believers are encouraged to endure hardship as discipline from a loving Father.

4. Community Support: The early church exemplified mutual support during times of adversity. Galatians 6:2 instructs, "Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." The community of believers is called to support and uplift each other through trials.

Responses to Adversity

1. Prayer and Dependence on God: Prayer is a vital response to adversity. Philippians 4:6-7 advises, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

2. Rejoicing and Gratitude: Believers are encouraged to maintain a spirit of joy and gratitude despite circumstances. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 states, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

3. Trust in God's Promises: Trusting in God's promises provides hope and strength. Isaiah 41:10 offers assurance: "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Adversity, while challenging, is an integral part of the Christian journey, shaping believers into the likeness of Christ and drawing them closer to God. Through biblical teachings and examples, Christians are equipped to face adversity with faith, hope, and love.

Topical Bible Verses

2 Corinthians 1:4
Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted of God.
Topicalbible.org

2 Corinthians 12:9
And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest on me.
Topicalbible.org

Revelation 21:4
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Topicalbible.org

James 1:13
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man:
Topicalbible.org

1 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Topicalbible.org

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(n.) Opposition; misfortune; contrariety.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ADVERSITY

ad-vur'-si-ti: In the Revised Version (British and American) exclusively an Old Testament term, expressing the various forms of distress and evil conveyed by four Hebrew words: tsela`, "a halting" or "fall"; tsarah, "straits" "distress," "affliction"; tsar, "straitness," "affliction"; ra`, "bad," "evil," "harmful." These words cover the whole range of misfortunes caused by enemies, poverty, sorrow and trouble. "Adversity," which occurs once in the King James Version in New Testament (Hebrews 13:3: kakouchoumenos, "ill-treated") is displaced in the Revised Version (British and American) by the literal rendering which illustrates or interprets a common phase of adversity.

Dwight M. Pratt

Greek

4778. sugkakoucheomai -- to endure adversity with (pass.)
... to endure adversity with (pass.). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sugkakoucheomai
Phonetic Spelling: (soong-kak-oo-kheh'-o) Short Definition: I suffer ill ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4778.htm - 6k

3986. peirasmos -- an experiment, a trial, temptation
... a putting to proof (by experiment (of good), experience (of evil), solicitation,
discipline or provocation); by implication, adversity -- temptation, X try. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3986.htm - 7k

2558. kakoucheo -- to ill-treat
... to maltreat, torment. From a presumed compound of kakos and echo; to maltreat --
which suffer adversity, torment. see GREEK kakos. see GREEK echo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2558.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

7451. ra' -- bad, evil
... ra'. 7451a . bad, evil. Transliteration: ra' Phonetic Spelling: (rah) Short
Definition: adversity. adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, displeasure, distress ...
/hebrew/7451.htm - 6k

6761. tsela -- limping, stumbling
... adversity, halting. From tsala'; a limping or full (figuratively) -- adversity,
halt(-ing). see HEBREW tsala'. 6760, 6761. tsela. 6762 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6761.htm - 6k

6869. tsarah -- straits, distress
... Short Definition: adversary. adversary, adversity, affliction, anguish,
distress, tribulation, trouble Feminine of tsar; tightness ...
/hebrew/6869.htm - 5k

3915. layil -- night
... 11) leyl {lale}; also laylah {lah'- yel-aw}; from the same as luwl; properly, a
twist (away of the light), ie Night; figuratively, adversity -- ((mid-))night ...
/hebrew/3915.htm - 6k

7451b. ra -- evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity
... Word Origin from the same as roa Definition evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity
NASB Word Usage adversity (7), calamity (4), disaster (2), evil (94), harm ...
/hebrew/7451b.htm - 5k

3511. keeb -- a pain
... grief, pain, sorrow. From ka'ab; suffering (physical or mental), adversity -- grief,
pain, sorrow. see HEBREW ka'ab. 3510, 3511. keeb. 3512 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/3511.htm - 6k

7463a. raah -- evil, misery, distress, injury
... Word Origin from the same as roa Definition evil, misery, distress, injury NASB
Word Usage adversities (1), adversity (7), afflictions (1), calamities (1 ...
/hebrew/7463a.htm - 6k

Library

The Sweet Uses of Adversity
... The Sweet Uses of Adversity. A Sermon (No.283). Delivered on Sabbath Morning,
November 13th, 1859, by the. REV. CH SPURGEON. at the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the sweet uses of adversity.htm

Rejoicing in Adversity.
... SUBMISSION AND RELIANCE. 629. " Rejoicing in Adversity. 629. CM Burder's
Coll. Rejoicing in Adversity. 1 What though no flowers ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/629 rejoicing in adversity.htm

Prosperity and Adversity are from the Lord
... ESSAYS ii Prosperity and Adversity are from the Lord. There is one that toileth,
and laboureth, and maketh haste, and is so much the more behind. ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/ii prosperity and adversity are.htm

Of the Uses of Adversity
... THE FIRST BOOK. ADMONITIONS PROFITABLE FOR THE SPIRITUAL LIFE CHAPTER XII Of
the uses of adversity. It is good for us that we sometimes ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kempis/imitation of christ/chapter xii of the uses.htm

The Twelfth Chapter: the Value of Adversity
... BOOK ONE. THOUGHTS HELPFUL IN THE LIFE OF THE SOUL The Twelfth Chapter:
The Value of Adversity. IT IS good for us to have trials ...
/.../kempis/the imitation of christ/the twelfth chapter the value.htm

Of True Meekness and Adversity: and of the Example of the Saints ...
... BOOK I CHAPTER XXVII OF TRUE MEEKNESS AND ADVERSITY: AND OF THE EXAMPLE OF THE SAINTS:
AND OF THE MANNER OF GHOSTLY PROFITING: AND OF THINKING ON CHRIST'S ...
/.../rolle/the fire of love/chapter xxvii of true meekness.htm

Blessed Adversity.
... Blessed Adversity. INTRODUCTORY. ... May we not well say that if Job's prosperity was
blessed prosperity, his adversity, likewise, was blessed adversity? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/taylor/a ribband of blue/blessed adversity.htm

Of the Weight of Government; and that all Manner of Adversity is ...
... ROME, Chapter III. Of the weight of government; and that all manner of
adversity is to be despised, and prosperity feared. So much ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter iii of the weight.htm

Of Divers Gifts of God's Chosen: and How Saints Come to Love in ...
... BOOK II CHAPTER VI OF DIVERS GIFTS OF GOD'S CHOSEN: AND HOW SAINTS COME TO LOVE
IN PRAYING, MEDITATING, LOVING, SUFFERING, ADVERSITY AND HATING VICE, AND THAT ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter vi of divers gifts.htm

An Even Mind Should be Preserved in Adversity as Well as in ...
... An even mind should be preserved in adversity as well as in prosperity.? An even
mind should be preserved in adversity as well as in prosperity. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xxxvii an even mind.htm

Thesaurus

Adversity (54 Occurrences)
... (n.) Opposition; misfortune; contrariety. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ADVERSITY. ...
Dwight M. Pratt. Multi-Version Concordance Adversity (54 Occurrences). ...
/a/adversity.htm - 22k

Night (3322 Occurrences)
... concealment. 3. (n.) Intellectual and moral darkness; ignorance. 4. (n.) A state
of affliction; adversity; as, a dreary night of sorrow. 5 ...
/n/night.htm - 15k

Overseer (84 Occurrences)
... A Psalm of David. In my calling answer Thou me, O God of my righteousness. In adversity
Thou gavest enlargement to me; Favour me, and hear my prayer. (YLT). ...
/o/overseer.htm - 32k

Redeemed (78 Occurrences)
... Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them,
"As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity, (WEB KJV ...
/r/redeemed.htm - 31k

Unaware (16 Occurrences)
... his iniquity. (See NAS). Psalms 35:15 But in my adversity, they rejoiced,
and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered ...
/u/unaware.htm - 11k

Glee (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Glee (2 Occurrences). Psalms 35:15 But in my
adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. ...
/g/glee.htm - 7k

Intercede (12 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 15:11 Jehovah said, Did I not direct thee for good? Did not I intercede
for thee in a time of evil, And in a time of adversity, with the enemy? (YLT). ...
/i/intercede.htm - 10k

Fortitude (5 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) That strength or firmness of mind which enables a person to encounter danger
with coolness and courage, or to bear pain or adversity without murmuring ...
/f/fortitude.htm - 8k

Faintest (2 Occurrences)
... thee, and thou art troubled. (KJV ASV WBS). Proverbs 24:10 If thou faintest
in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. (WBS). ...
/f/faintest.htm - 6k

Forsake (88 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To quit or leave entirely; to desert; to abandon; to depart or withdraw
from; to leave; as, false friends and flatterers forsake us in adversity. ...
/f/forsake.htm - 34k

Resources

Was some of Proverbs copied from the Instruction of Amenemope? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about fortitude? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about how widows are to be treated? | GotQuestions.org

Adversity: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Adversity (54 Occurrences)

Hebrews 13:3
Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
(KJV WBS)

Numbers 11:1
The people were complaining in the ears of Yahweh. When Yahweh heard it, his anger was kindled; and Yahweh's fire burnt among them, and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.
(See NAS)

Numbers 20:14
Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying: "Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the travail that has happened to us:
(See RSV)

Deuteronomy 29:21
Yahweh will set him apart to evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that is written in this book of the law.
(See NAS)

Deuteronomy 30:15
Behold, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil;
(See NAS)

Judges 10:14
Go and cry unto the gods on which ye have fixed; they -- they save you in the time of your adversity.'
(YLT)

1 Samuel 1:6
and her adversity hath also provoked her greatly, so as to make her tremble, for Jehovah hath shut up her womb.
(YLT)

2 Samuel 4:9
David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, "As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT RSV)

2 Samuel 22:7
In mine adversity I call Jehovah, And unto my God I call, And He heareth from His temple my voice, And my cry 'is' in His ears,
(YLT)

1 Kings 1:29
The king swore, and said, "As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
(WEB JPS ASV YLT RSV)

1 Kings 9:9
and they shall answer,'Because they forsook Yahweh their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold of other gods, and worshiped them, and served them. Therefore Yahweh has brought all this evil on them.'"
(See NAS)

2 Chronicles 7:22
They shall answer, Because they abandoned Yahweh, the God of their fathers, who brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshiped them, and served them: therefore has he brought all this evil on them.
(See NAS)

2 Chronicles 15:6
They were broken in pieces, nation against nation, and city against city; for God troubled them with all adversity.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Esther 7:4
for we have been sold, I and my people, to cut off, to slay, and to destroy; and if for men-servants and for maid-servants we had been sold I had kept silent -- but the adversity is not equal to the loss of the king.'
(YLT)

Job 2:10
But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job didn't sin with his lips.
(See NAS)

Job 15:24
Terrify him do adversity and distress, They prevail over him As a king ready for a boaster.
(YLT)

Job 36:15
He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.
(See RSV)

Psalms 9:9
And Jehovah is a tower for the bruised, A tower for times of adversity.
(YLT)

Psalms 10:1
Why, Jehovah, dost Thou stand at a distance? Thou dost hide in times of adversity,
(YLT)

Psalms 10:6
He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Psalms 18:6
In mine adversity I call Jehovah, And unto my God I cry. He heareth from His temple my voice, And My cry before Him cometh into His ears.
(YLT)

Psalms 22:11
Be not far from me, For adversity is near, for there is no helper.
(YLT)

Psalms 35:15
But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I didn't know it. They tore at me, and didn't cease.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

Psalms 35:26
Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine adversity; let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.
(DBY)

Psalms 37:39
And the salvation of the righteous 'is' from Jehovah, Their strong place in a time of adversity.
(YLT)

Psalms 40:14
Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be turned backward and confounded that take pleasure in mine adversity;
(DBY)

Psalms 49:5
Wherefore should I fear in the days of adversity, when the iniquity of my supplanters encompasseth me? --
(DBY NAS)

Psalms 50:15
And call Me in a day of adversity, I deliver thee, and thou honourest Me.
(YLT)

Psalms 59:16
And I -- I sing 'of' Thy strength, And I sing at morn 'of' Thy kindness, For thou hast been a tower to me, And a refuge for me in a day of adversity.
(YLT)

Psalms 60:11
Give to us help from adversity, And vain 'is' the deliverance of man.
(YLT)

Psalms 70:2
Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion that seek after my soul; let them be turned backward and confounded that take pleasure in mine adversity;
(DBY)

Psalms 94:13
that you may give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit is dug for the wicked.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS)

Psalms 102:2
Hide not Thou Thy face from me, In a day of mine adversity, Incline unto me Thine ear, In the day I call, haste, answer me.
(YLT)

Psalms 107:6
And they cry unto Jehovah in their adversity, From their distress He delivereth them,
(YLT)

Psalms 107:13
And they cry unto Jehovah in their adversity, From their distresses He saveth them.
(YLT)

Psalms 107:19
And cry unto Jehovah in their adversity, From their distresses He saveth them,
(YLT)

Psalms 107:28
And they cry to Jehovah in their adversity, And from their distresses He bringeth them out.
(YLT)

Psalms 107:39
And they are diminished and brought low, through oppression, adversity, and sorrow:
(DBY)

Psalms 108:12
Give to us help from adversity, And vain is the salvation of man.
(YLT)

Psalms 119:143
Adversity and distress have found me, Thy commands 'are' my delights.
(YLT)

Proverbs 1:27
When your fear cometh as destruction, And your calamity as a hurricane doth come, When on you come adversity and distress.
(YLT)

Proverbs 13:21
Evil will overtake sinners, but the upright will be rewarded with good.
(See NAS)

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 24:10
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT RSV)

Proverbs 24:16
For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again; But the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
(See JPS)

Ecclesiastes 7:14
In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yes, God has made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything after him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Isaiah 8:22
And unto the land it looketh attentively, And lo, adversity and darkness! -- Dimness, distress, and thick darkness is driven away, But not the dimness for which she is in distress!
(YLT)

Isaiah 30:6
The burden of the beasts of the south. Into a land of adversity and distress, Of young lion and of old lion, Whence 'are' viper and flying saraph, They carry on the shoulder of asses their wealth, And on the hump of camels their treasures, Unto a people not profitable.
(YLT)

Isaiah 30:20
Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers won't be hidden anymore, but your eyes will see your teachers;
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Isaiah 33:2
O Jehovah, favour us, for thee we have waited, Be their arm, in the mornings, Yea, our salvation in time of adversity.
(YLT)

Isaiah 46:7
They lift him up on the shoulder, They carry him, and cause him to rest in his place, And he standeth, from his place he moveth not, Yea, one crieth unto him, and he answereth not, From his adversity he saveth him not.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 15:11
Jehovah said, Did I not direct thee for good? Did not I intercede for thee in a time of evil, And in a time of adversity, with the enemy?
(YLT)

Jeremiah 30:7
Wo! for great 'is' that day, without any like it, Yea, a time of adversity it 'is' to Jacob, Yet out of it he is saved.
(YLT)

Zephaniah 1:15
A day of wrath 'is' that day, A day of adversity and distress, A day of waste and desolation, A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of cloud and thick darkness.
(YLT)

Subtopics

Adversity

Related Terms

Bill (9 Occurrences)

Adversity (54 Occurrences)

Post (26 Occurrences)

Cry (431 Occurrences)

Advise (10 Occurrences)

Sign (181 Occurrences)

Advice (52 Occurrences)

Announce (56 Occurrences)