The term "breakings" in the Bible often refers to acts of destruction, division, or the shattering of something whole. This concept can be both literal and metaphorical, appearing in various contexts throughout Scripture. It is important to understand the different dimensions of "breakings" to grasp its theological significance.

1. Breakings as Divine Judgment:

In the Old Testament, "breakings" frequently symbolize God's judgment upon nations and individuals. The prophets often spoke of the breaking of nations as a consequence of their disobedience and idolatry. For instance, in Isaiah 30:14 , the prophet describes the breaking of a potter's jar: "It will break in pieces like pottery, shattered so that no fragment can be found among its broken pieces to take coals from a hearth or scoop water from a cistern." This imagery illustrates the totality of God's judgment, leaving nothing useful behind.

2. Breakings in Personal Trials:

The concept of breakings also appears in the context of personal trials and tribulations. In Psalm 51:8 , David, in his penitential psalm, cries out, "Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice." Here, the breaking of bones is a metaphor for the deep conviction and repentance David experiences. It reflects the process of being broken by God to bring about spiritual renewal and restoration.

3. Breakings as a Call to Repentance:

Breakings can serve as a divine call to repentance. In Jeremiah 23:29 , God declares, "Is not My word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that smashes a rock?" The breaking here is the powerful effect of God's word, which convicts and breaks the hardness of human hearts, urging them to turn back to Him.

4. Breakings in the Life of Jesus:

The New Testament also presents the theme of breakings in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. In the breaking of bread during the Last Supper, Jesus signifies the breaking of His body for the salvation of humanity. Matthew 26:26 states, "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, 'Take and eat; this is My body.'" This act symbolizes the sacrificial breaking that leads to redemption and communion with God.

5. Breakings and the Church:

In the early church, breakings can be seen in the context of persecution and the spread of the Gospel. The breaking of the apostles and early Christians through suffering and martyrdom served to strengthen and expand the church. Acts 8:1 notes, "On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria." This scattering, though a breaking of the community, resulted in the wider dissemination of the Gospel message.

6. Breakings in Eschatological Context:

Finally, breakings are present in eschatological prophecies concerning the end times. The book of Revelation describes the breaking of seals as part of the unfolding of God's final judgment and the establishment of His kingdom. Revelation 6:1 states, "Then I watched as the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, 'Come!'" These breakings herald the culmination of God's redemptive plan and the ultimate restoration of creation.

In summary, the concept of breakings in the Bible encompasses divine judgment, personal transformation, calls to repentance, the sacrificial work of Christ, the growth of the church, and eschatological fulfillment. Each instance of breaking serves a purpose within God's sovereign plan, demonstrating His justice, mercy, and redemptive power.

How to Make Use of Christ for Taking the Guilt of Our Daily Out ...
... CHAPTER VIII. HOW TO MAKE USE OF CHRIST FOR TAKING THE GUILT OF OUR DAILY
OUT-BREAKINGS AWAY. The next part of our sanctification ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter viii how to make.htm

I Desire to Die.
... Let fire and the cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let tearings, [854] breakings,
and dislocations of bones; let cutting off of members; let shatterings of ...
/.../ignatius/the epistle of ignatius to the romans/chapter v i desire to die.htm

An Exhortation to Peace and Unity
... And on the other hand, how often has the disjointing of the body, and the
breakings thereof, occasioned the expiration of the spirit? ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exhortation to peace and.htm

Mene, Tekel, Peres
... The inscription, as given in verse 25, is simply 'Numbered, numbered, weighed and
breakings.' The variation in verse 28 (Peres) is the singular of the noun ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/mene tekel peres.htm

God.
... What mean the tremblings, the tears, those breakings and shakings of heart that
attend the people of God, when in an eminent manner they receive the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/i god.htm

The Sixt Part.
... Why is it then my brethren (oh let my plainest rebukes bee the fruits and signes
of my best love to mine owne Tribe; let them not bee as breakings of the head ...
/.../ward/a coal from the altar to kindle the holy fire of zeale/the sixt part.htm

"The Truth. " Some Generals Proposed.
... 3. An harmless life, without scandalous out-breakings to the reproach of Christianity,
a foundation on which no wise man, led by truth, would build his ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter x the truth some.htm

The Image of God.
... process. The plan is a detail of the purpose. There is one unfailing purpose
through continual breakings of the plan. God's purpose ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks about jesus/the image of god.htm

"For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus Hath Made Me ...
... to beat it out of the outworks of the outward man, to chase it out of the external
members; some means to restrain it from such gross out-breakings; but there ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon ix for the law.htm

Matt. xxvii. 27-29.
... At any rate, he, who was depraved in such great wickedness, and who had spent his
whole life in murders and house-breakings, when these things were being said ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxxxvii matt xxvii 27-29.htm

Breakings (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Breakings (1 Occurrence). Job 41:25 When he raiseth up
himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves. ...
/b/breakings.htm - 6k

Breaks (35 Occurrences)

/b/breaks.htm - 16k

Quarries (4 Occurrences)
... eg Proverbs 16:18), from shabhar, "to break." The form shebarim is also found in
Job 41:25, "consternation," the King James Version "breakings." In Joshua 7:5 ...
/q/quarries.htm - 11k

Raiseth (33 Occurrences)
... (See JPS). Job 41:25 When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason
of breakings they purify themselves. (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS). ...
/r/raiseth.htm - 15k

Baalperazim (2 Occurrences)
... ba-al-pe-ra'-zim, ba-al-per'-azim ba`al peratsim; Baal'pharasein, ("the lord of
breakings through"): The spot in or near the Valley of Rephaim where David ...
/b/baalperazim.htm - 8k

Baal-perazim (2 Occurrences)
... ba-al-pe-ra'-zim, ba-al-per'-azim ba`al peratsim; Baal'pharasein, ("the lord of
breakings through"): The spot in or near the Valley of Rephaim where David ...
/b/baal-perazim.htm - 8k

Breaking (69 Occurrences)

/b/breaking.htm - 27k

Purify (39 Occurrences)
... (WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV). Job 41:25 When he raiseth up himself, the mighty
are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves. (KJV WBS). ...
/p/purify.htm - 19k

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