In the Bible, the concept of confusion often relates to a lack of understanding, disorder, or a state of being perplexed. It is frequently associated with the consequences of sin, disobedience, or the absence of divine guidance. The term "confused" and its derivatives appear in various contexts throughout Scripture, illustrating both human experiences and divine interventions.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, confusion is sometimes depicted as a direct result of God's judgment. For instance, in the Tower of Babel narrative, God confuses the language of the people to prevent them from completing their city and tower, which they intended to reach the heavens (Genesis 11:7-9). This act of divine intervention serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the futility of human pride and ambition when it opposes His will.

Confusion is also seen in the context of warfare and divine retribution. In Deuteronomy 28:20, as part of the curses for disobedience, God warns the Israelites: "The LORD will send upon you curses, confusion, and rebuke in everything you do, until you are destroyed and quickly perish because of the wickedness of your deeds in forsaking Me" . Here, confusion is a consequence of turning away from God's commandments, leading to disorder and defeat.

Prophetic Literature

The prophets often speak of confusion as a state that will befall nations and peoples who oppose God. Isaiah 41:29 describes the idols of the nations as "worthless" and their works as "confusion" , highlighting the futility of idolatry and the clarity that comes from worshiping the one true God. Similarly, Jeremiah 20:11 speaks of the enemies of God's people being put to "everlasting confusion" as a result of divine justice .

Wisdom Literature

In the wisdom literature, confusion is contrasted with the clarity and understanding that come from fearing the Lord. Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" . This passage suggests that reliance on God brings order and direction, while self-reliance can lead to confusion.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, confusion is often associated with spiritual blindness and the rejection of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 14:33, Paul writes, "For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace" , emphasizing that confusion and chaos are contrary to God's nature. This verse is set in the context of orderly worship, underscoring the importance of clarity and edification within the church.

James 3:16 warns, "For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice" . Here, confusion is linked to sinful attitudes and behaviors that disrupt community harmony and spiritual growth.

Spiritual Warfare

Confusion is also a tactic used by spiritual adversaries. Ephesians 6:12 reminds believers that their struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil. In this battle, confusion can be a weapon used by the enemy to distract and mislead believers. However, the armor of God, including the belt of truth and the helmet of salvation, provides protection and clarity (Ephesians 6:13-17).

Conclusion

Throughout the Bible, confusion is depicted as a state that results from sin, disobedience, and the absence of divine guidance. It serves as a warning against pride, idolatry, and self-reliance, while also highlighting the peace and order that come from trusting in God and following His commandments.(imp. & p. p.) of Confuse.5422. phrenapatao -- to deceive the mind
... 5422 ("confused inside-out") means to become the victim of one's own confused --
which then God for it or makes others "the scapegoat." This mind-set is ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5422.htm - 7k

2351. thorubos -- an uproar
... an uproar. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: thorubos Phonetic Spelling:
(thor'-oo-bos) Short Definition: confused noise, riot, disturbance ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2351.htm - 7k

1260. dialogizomai -- to consider
... 3049 , "reckon, add up") -- properly, go back-and-forth when evaluating, in a way
that typically leads to a . The term implies one confused mind interacting ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1260.htm - 8k

4817. sullogizomai -- to reckon, to compute, ie to reason
... 4817 ("discuss one subject in terms of another") here refers to confused syllogistic
reasoning done by the Jews (chief priests, elders, Sadducees). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4817.htm - 7k

1375. diogmos -- persecution
... [1375 () is used in ancient and biblical Greek for (hostility) shown by confused,
spiritual "leaders." For example, it applies to the Roman Emperor, Decius ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1375.htm - 7k

1261. dialogismos -- a reasoning
... Cognate: 1261 (from 1260 , "") - reasoning that is self-based and therefore confused --
especially as it contributes to reinforcing others in discussion to ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1261.htm - 7k

1174. deisidaimonesteros -- very fearful of gods, religious ...
... 1174 (from , "to dread" and , "a deity") -- properly, religious (superstitious)
fear, driven by a confused concept of God -- producing "sincere" but religion. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1174.htm - 7k

2279. echos -- a noise, sound
... fame, sound. Of uncertain affinity; a loud or confused noise ("echo"), ie Roar;
figuratively, a rumor -- fame, sound. (echos) -- 2 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2279.htm - 6k

7494. raash -- a quaking, shaking
... 1), tumult (2). commotion, confused noise, earthquake, fierceness, quaking,
rattling, rushing, shaking. From ra'ash; vibration, bounding ...
/hebrew/7494.htm - 6k

7292. rahab -- to act stormily, boisterously or arrogantly
... rahab. 7293 . to act stormily, boisterously or arrogantly. Transliteration: rahab
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-hab') Short Definition: confused. Word Origin a prim ...
/hebrew/7292.htm - 6k

3001. yabesh -- to be dry, dried up, or withered
... A primitive root; to be ashamed, confused or disappointed; also (as failing) to
dry up (as water) or wither (as herbage) -- be ashamed, clean, be confounded ...
/hebrew/3001.htm - 6k

2000. hamam -- to make a noise, move noisily, confuse, discomfit
... root Definition to make a noise, move noisily, confuse, discomfit NASB Word Usage
brought (1), confounded (1), confuse (1), confused (1), confusion (1 ...
/hebrew/2000.htm - 6k

1104. bala -- to swallow down, swallow up, engulf
... root Definition to swallow down, swallow up, engulf NASB Word Usage brought to
confusion (1), confound (1), confuse (2), confused (1), consume (1), destroy (1 ...
/hebrew/1104.htm - 6k

1101a. balal -- to mingle, mix, confuse, confound
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to mingle, mix, confuse, confound NASB Word
Usage anointed (1), confuse (1), confused (1), mixed (38), mixes (1). ...
/hebrew/1101a.htm - 5k

And Still Continuing a Little Confused, and not Taking Care to See ...
... Chapter IX. And still continuing a little confused, and not taking care
to see what was relevant? And still continuing a little ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter ix and still continuing.htm

Celsus Again, as is Usual with Him, Gets Confused...
... Chapter LXXI. Celsus again, as is usual with him, gets confused? Celsus
again, as is usual with him, gets confused, and attributes ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter lxxi celsus again as.htm

Whether the Separated Soul Knows all Natural Things?
... kind of knowledge is natural, the soul apart from the body through such species
does not receive perfect knowledge, but only a general and confused kind of ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the separated soul knows.htm

In the Hands of Giant Accuser
... Not an angel appeared, and God seemed to have forsaken me. My mind was all confused
over the battle. ... "I was so confused, I hardly knew what to do. ...
/.../berry/adventures in the land of canaan/chapter seven in the hands.htm

Appion Proceeds to Interpret the Myths.
... "There was once a time when nothing existed but chaos and a confused mixture of
orderless elements, which were as yet simply heaped together. ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter iii appion proceeds to interpret.htm

None of These Answers Will You Give Us. You Turn to Other Things ...
... rise with the same sex with which they died; and that Mary will still be Mary and
John be John; or whether the sexes will be so mixed and confused that there ...
/.../5 none of these answers.htm

The Preface. First Advertisement.
... are two ways of going to God, the one by Consideration and Mental Discourse, and
the other by the Purity of Faith, an indistinct, general and confused knowledge ...
/.../the preface first advertisement.htm

To Don Giovanni of the Cells of Vallombrosa
... barren tears, The powerful goodness want"worse need for them: The wise want love;
and those who love want wisdom; And all best things are thus confused to ill ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to don giovanni of the.htm

Article xii (V): of Repentance.
... all ranks, and also of the theological rank undoubtedly confess that before the
writings of Luther appeared, the doctrine of repentance was very much confused. ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 15 article xii v .htm

"And what is There in Common," You Will Say to Me...
... you will say to me, "between your belief in God and your love for the People?"
I:answer: My belief in God is not that vague, confused, indefinite, shadowy ...
/.../lamartine/atheism among the people/ii and what is there.htm

Confused (13 Occurrences)
...Confused (13 Occurrences). ... (KJV WBS YLT). Genesis 11:9 Therefore its name was called
Babel, because there Yahweh confused the language of all the earth. ...
/c/confused.htm - 10k

Chaos (4 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A disorderly, confused, condition or state. ... 3. (n.) Any confused or disordered
collection or state of things; a confused mixture; confusion; disorder. ...
/c/chaos.htm - 7k

Rabble (7 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi) To speak in a confused manner. 4. (n.) A tumultuous crowd of vulgar,
noisy people; a mob; a confused, disorderly throng. ...
/r/rabble.htm - 9k

Roar (53 Occurrences)
... 4. (vi) To make a loud, confused sound, as winds, waves, passing vehicles,
a crowd of persons when shouting together, or the like. ...
/r/roar.htm - 23k

Din (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Loud, confused, harsh noise; a loud,
continuous, rattling or clanging sound; clamor; roar. 2. (n ...
/d/din.htm - 7k

Panic (22 Occurrences)
... Joshua 10:10 Yahweh confused them before Israel, and he killed them with a great
slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth Horon ...
/p/panic.htm - 12k

Confounded (64 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp. & pp) of Confound. 2. (a.) Confused; perplexed.
3. (a.) Excessive; extreme; abominable. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/c/confounded.htm - 26k

Noise (126 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Sound of any kind. 2. (n.) Especially, loud,
confused, or senseless sound; clamor; din. 3. (n.) Loud ...
/n/noise.htm - 41k

Confusion (71 Occurrences)
... American Standard Revised Version) and tebhel, "profanation" (Leviticus 18:23;
Leviticus 20:12); ra`ash, "shaking," "trembling," rendered "confused" in Isaiah ...
/c/confusion.htm - 39k

Thunder (48 Occurrences)
... "The thunder of his power who can understand?" (Job 26:14); "The God of glory
thundereth" (Psalm 29:3). Yahweh also confused the Philistines with thunder (1 ...
/t/thunder.htm - 25k

What happened at the Tower of Babel? | GotQuestions.org

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Confused: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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