Breaking Up
Jump to: TopicalGreekHebrewLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Context:
In biblical terms, "breaking up" can refer to the act of separating, dividing, or dissolving a union or relationship. This concept is often explored in the context of marriage, friendships, and covenants. The Bible addresses the theme of breaking up in various passages, emphasizing the spiritual, emotional, and social implications of such actions.

Marriage and Divorce:
The Bible provides specific guidance on the dissolution of marriage. In the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 24:1-4 outlines the conditions under which a man may divorce his wife, emphasizing the seriousness of such a decision. In the New Testament, Jesus addresses the issue of divorce in Matthew 19:3-9, where He underscores the sanctity of marriage and God's original design for a lifelong union: "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate" (Matthew 19:6). Jesus permits divorce only in cases of sexual immorality, highlighting the gravity of breaking up a marriage.

Friendships and Relationships:
The Bible also speaks to the breaking up of friendships and other relationships. Proverbs 17:9 warns against actions that can lead to division: "Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends" . The importance of reconciliation and forgiveness is emphasized throughout Scripture, as seen in Ephesians 4:32: "Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you" .

Covenants and Agreements:
Breaking up is also relevant in the context of covenants and agreements. The Bible records instances where covenants are broken, often leading to significant consequences. In the Old Testament, the Israelites frequently broke their covenant with God, resulting in periods of judgment and exile. Jeremiah 31:32 reflects on this broken covenant: "It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant they broke, though I was a husband to them," declares the LORD .

Spiritual Implications:
Breaking up, whether in marriage, friendships, or covenants, carries spiritual implications. The Bible encourages believers to seek unity and peace, as seen in Romans 12:18: "If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone" . The act of breaking up should be approached with prayer, wisdom, and a heart aligned with God's will, recognizing the potential for both personal and communal impact.

Restoration and Healing:
While breaking up can lead to pain and division, the Bible also offers hope for restoration and healing. God is portrayed as a restorer of broken relationships, as seen in Joel 2:25: "I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts—the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust—My great army that I sent against you" . Believers are encouraged to seek God's guidance and grace in the process of healing and reconciliation.
Topical Bible Verses
Romans 12:19
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place to wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, said the Lord.
Topicalbible.org

Greek
1267. diamerismos -- a division
... Noun, Masculine Transliteration: diamerismos Phonetic Spelling: (dee-am-er-is-mos')
Short Definition: breaking up, discord, hostility Definition: breaking up ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1267.htm - 6k

2646. kataluma -- a lodging place
... From kataluo; properly, a dissolution (breaking up of a journey), ie (by implication)
a lodging-place -- guestchamber, inn. see GREEK kataluo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2646.htm - 6k

1358. diorusso -- to dig through (as of breaking into a house)
... as of breaking into a house) NASB Word Usage break (2), broken (2). break through.
From dia and orusso; to penetrate burglariously -- break through (up). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1358.htm - 6k

3089. luo -- to loose, to release, to dissolve
... verb Definition to loose, to release, to dissolve NASB Word Usage annuls (1), break
(1), breaking (1), broke down (1), broken (4 ... break up, dissolve, loose. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3089.htm - 9k

1911. epiballo -- to throw over, to throw oneself
... Definition to throw over, to throw oneself NASB Word Usage breaking over (1 ... implied)
to reflect; impersonally, to belong to -- beat into, cast (up-)on, fall ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1911.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew
4290. machtereth -- a breaking in, burglary
... breaking up, secret search. From chathar; a burglary; figuratively, unexpected
examination -- breaking up, secret search. see HEBREW chathar. 4289, 4290. ...
/hebrew/4290.htm - 6k

4550. massa -- a pulling up, breaking (camp), setting out, a ...
... massa. 4551 . a pulling up, breaking (camp), setting out, a journey. Transliteration:
massa Phonetic Spelling: (mas-sah') Short Definition: journeys. ...
/hebrew/4550.htm - 6k

5927. alah -- to go up, ascend, climb
... root Definition to go up, ascend, climb NASB Word Usage all means go (1 ... 2), ascends
(2), ascent (1), attack (2), been (1), blow away (1), breaking (1), bring (33 ...
/hebrew/5927.htm - 8k

7665. shabar -- to break, break in pieces
... NASB Word Usage abolish (1), break (25), break down (1), breaking in pieces ... break
down, off, in pieces, up, brokenhearted, bring to the birth, crush, destroy,. ...
/hebrew/7665.htm - 6k

6555. parats -- to break through
... break their down (1), break down (1), break forth (1), breaker (1), breaking away
(1 ... X abroad, (make a) breach, break (away, down, -er, forth, in, up), burst out ...
/hebrew/6555.htm - 6k

Library

Breaking with God.
... Listen "Behold! the Lord's hand is not shortened: His ear is not heavy." There is
no trouble on the up side. God is all right. ... Sin is breaking with God. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on prayer/breaking with god.htm

The Division Between East and West
... [Sidenote: with the breaking up of the Roman Empire.] Heresies and schisms, especially
the great heresy of Arius, had indeed troubled the Church and threatened ...
/.../a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter ix the division between.htm

Made Known in the Breaking of Bread.
... And, as they gather over the simple evening meal, the Stranger picks up the loaf,
and looking up repeats the simple grace, and breaking the loaf reaches the ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks about jesus/made known in the breaking.htm

The Breaking Out of Discord
... XIII TO END THE BREAKING OUT OF DISCORD. ... and disputation with them, they determined
that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the breaking out of discord.htm

The Christian view of Sorrow
... personality, as delineated in the Gospels, is not only demonstrated by a change
of dynasties,"an entire new movement in the world,"a breaking up of the its ...
/.../chapin/the crown of thorns/the christian view of sorrow.htm

Jesus is God, Following us Up.
... You see, the heart of God had been breaking"is breaking over the ways things have ...
And having shut the light out, he gets tangled up in his ideas as to what ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks about jesus/jesus is god following us.htm

section 4
... Look at the last stage in the plant, before the inwrought life is free for use.
There is a breaking-up and a breaking-down such as it never had before. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/trotter/parables of the christ-life/section 4.htm

Spiritual Farming. --No. 3 Cultivation.
... the subject of ploughing, but we feel we have not pressed upon them with the force
it deserves, the necessity of what the Bible calls "breaking up the fallow ...
/.../champness/broken bread/x spiritual farming no 3 cultivation.htm

Introduction.
... under the labors of Whitefield, Edwards, and others in this country, the effects
of which were felt so powerfully at the time, in breaking up old systems of ...
/.../doddridge/practical discourses on regeneration/introduction.htm

An Interval. AD 1560-1616.
... that every man is personally responsible for his belief and his actions to God Himself,
was making itself felt in every field, breaking up old organizations ...
/.../winkworth/christian singers of germany/chapter vii an interval a d.htm

Resources
What is the difference between a covenant and a contract? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that the letter kills, but the spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 3:6)? | GotQuestions.org

What is the flesh? | GotQuestions.org

Breaking: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Breaking Traditions
Top of Page
Top of Page