In the context of the Bible, the term "decayed" often refers to the physical deterioration or moral decline of individuals, nations, or spiritual states. The concept of decay is frequently used metaphorically to describe the consequences of sin and the departure from God's commandments.

Physical Decay

Physical decay is a natural part of the human condition, a reminder of the mortality that entered the world through sin. In Genesis 3:19, God tells Adam, "By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground, because out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return." This passage highlights the inevitability of physical decay as a result of the Fall.

The Psalms also reflect on the transient nature of human life. Psalm 39:4-5 states, "O LORD, make me know my end and the measure of my days, let me know how fleeting my life is. Behold, You have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before You. Truly, each man at his best exists as but a breath."

Moral and Spiritual Decay

Moral and spiritual decay is a recurring theme in the Bible, often depicted as the result of turning away from God. In the Old Testament, the prophets frequently warned Israel of the consequences of their spiritual decay. Isaiah 1:4 laments, "Alas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, depraved children! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him."

The New Testament continues this theme, emphasizing the need for spiritual renewal and repentance. In Romans 1:21-22 , Paul describes the moral decay of humanity: "For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools."

Decay of Nations

The Bible also addresses the decay of nations as a consequence of collective sin and disobedience to God. The fall of Babylon is a prominent example, as described in Isaiah 47:1-3 : "Go down and sit in the dust, O Virgin Daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne, O Daughter of the Chaldeans. For you will no longer be called tender and delicate. Take millstones and grind flour; remove your veil, strip off your skirt, bare your thigh, and wade through the streams. Your nakedness will be uncovered and your shame will be exposed. I will take vengeance; I will spare no one."

Hope Amidst Decay

Despite the pervasive theme of decay, the Bible offers hope through redemption and restoration. The promise of new life in Christ is a central message of the New Testament. In 2 Corinthians 4:16 , Paul encourages believers, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day."

The ultimate hope for believers is the resurrection and the promise of eternal life, where decay will be no more. Revelation 21:4 assures, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away."1. (imp. & p. p.) of Decay.

2. (a.) Fallen, as to physical or social condition; affected with decay; rotten; as, decayed vegetation or vegetables; a decayed fortune or gentleman.

5349. phthartos -- perishable, corruptible
... corruptible. From phtheiro; decayed, ie (by implication) perishable -- corruptible.
see GREEK phtheiro. (phthartes) -- 1 Occurrence. (phthartois) -- 1 Occurrence ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5349.htm - 7k

1311. diaphtheiro -- to destroy utterly, to spoil, corrupt
... waste away by the decaying influence of moral (spiritual) impurity; " corrupt";
becoming disabled (morally depraved), "all the way through" ("utterly decayed ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1311.htm - 8k

7060. qamel -- to be decayed
... 7059, 7060. qamel. 7061 . to be decayed. Transliteration: qamel Phonetic
Spelling: (kaw-mal') Short Definition: away. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7060.htm - 5k

3782. kashal -- to stumble, stagger, totter
... bereave, cast down, be decayed, cause to fail, make to fall down feeble,
be the ruined. A primitive root; to totter or waver (through ...
/hebrew/3782.htm - 6k

2723. chorbah -- waste, desolation, ruin
... 10), wastes (1). decayed place, desolate place destruction, laid waste place.
Feminine of choreb; properly, drought, ie (by implication ...
/hebrew/2723.htm - 6k

5628. sarach -- to go free, be unrestrained, overrun, exceed
... root Definition to go free, be unrestrained, overrun, exceed NASB Word Usage decayed
(1), flowing (1), lap (2), sprawl (1), sprawlers' (1), spreading (1). ...
/hebrew/5628.htm - 6k

Death Changes, Without Destroying, Our Mortal Bodies Remains of ...
... For how many will most probably be found of men who had just died"so recently put
into their graves, that nothing in them would seem to be decayed? ...
/.../chapter xlii death changes without destroying.htm

Wesley Describes Himself at Eighty-Five
... I now find I grow old: 1) my sight is decayed so that I cannot read a small print,
unless in a strong light; 2) my strength is decayed so that I walk much ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/wesley describes himself at eighty-five.htm

Whether in Some Cases it May be Lawful to Maim Anyone?
... Now a member of the human body is of itself useful to the good of the whole body,
yet, accidentally it may happen to be hurtful, as when a decayed member is a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether in some cases it.htm

Life and Death
... When the stone is decayed and crumbled down to dust and clay, it makes SOIL"this
very soil here, which you plough, is the decayed ruins of ancient hills; the ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon iii life and death.htm

section i.
... the Martyrs confirmed; but by the sinister ends of Princes, the ambition and avarice
of Prelates, and the fatal corruption of times, so decayed, impaired, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/browne/religio medici/section i.htm

Centenary Commemoration of the Consecration of Bishop Seabury. ...
... the enemies of Judah and Jerusalem cried, "What do these feeble Jews?" No wonder
that "Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed and there ...
/.../centenary commemoration of the consecration.htm

How Deceitful the Love of this World Is, and How Amiable God Is.
... and such tenderness of love; now I see nothing but a poor, outcast, miserable pilgrim
who stands wretchedly leaning on his staff before an old decayed city. ...
/.../suso/a little book of eternal wisdom/chapter vi how deceitful the.htm

Blessed is He who Atoned Your Sins, that Ye Might Receive his Body ...
... 12. In the river Jeremiah buried"the linen girdle that was marred;"and [the People]
waxed old and decayed."...The peoples that were decayed and marred ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn vii blessed is he.htm

"How is the Tide Turned!"
... be while I live. My sight is so decayed that I cannot well read by
candlelight; but I can write as well as ever. My strength is ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/how is the tide turned.htm

Whether There is Only one Truth, According to which all Things are ...
... Therefore there is only one truth, by which all things are true. On the contrary,
it is written (Ps.11:2), "Truths are decayed from among the children of men.". ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether there is only one 2.htm

Decayed (7 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Fallen, as to physical or social condition; affected with decay; rotten;
as, decayed vegetation or vegetables; a decayed fortune or gentleman. ...
/d/decayed.htm - 8k

Decay (18 Occurrences)
... In Nehemiah 4:10 (kashal, "to be feeble," "stumble") the Revised Version (British
and American) retains "is decayed"; in Job 14:11 (charebh, "to be dried up ...
/d/decay.htm - 13k

Ruin (135 Occurrences)
... the like. 4. (n.) The state of being decayed, or of having become ruined or
worthless; as, to be in ruins; to go to ruin. 5. (n.) That ...
/r/ruin.htm - 37k

Vital (2 Occurrences)
... Romans 4:19 And, without growing weak in faith, he could contemplate his own vital
powers which had now decayed--for he was nearly 100 years old--and Sarah's ...
/v/vital.htm - 7k

Naughty (3 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Naughty figs. (Jeremiah 24:2). "The bad figs may have
been such either from having decayed, and thus been reduced to a rotten condition ...
/n/naughty.htm - 9k

Nearly (13 Occurrences)
... Romans 4:19 And, without growing weak in faith, he could contemplate his own vital
powers which had now decayed--for he was nearly 100 years old--and Sarah's ...
/n/nearly.htm - 10k

Laborers (19 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Nehemiah 4:10 Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed,
and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. ...
/l/laborers.htm - 11k

Growing (31 Occurrences)
... Romans 4:19 And, without growing weak in faith, he could contemplate his own vital
powers which had now decayed--for he was nearly 100 years old--and Sarah's ...
/g/growing.htm - 15k

Failing (12 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Nehemiah 4:10 Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed,
and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. ...
/f/failing.htm - 10k

Rubbish (5 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 4:10 Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and
there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. ...
/r/rubbish.htm - 8k

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