Delicateness in the biblical context often refers to a state of luxury, ease, and refinement, sometimes associated with moral and spiritual softness or weakness. The concept is addressed in various passages throughout the Bible, often highlighting the contrast between a life of ease and the virtues of strength, resilience, and faithfulness to God.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, delicateness is frequently associated with the consequences of disobedience and the resulting judgment. For instance, in Deuteronomy 28:54-56, the curses for disobedience include a vivid description of the delicate and refined man and woman who will become harsh and cruel due to the dire circumstances brought upon them:

"The most gentle and refined man among you will begrudge his brother, the wife he embraces, and the rest of his children, so that he will not give to any of them the flesh of his children that he will eat, because he has nothing left in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on all your cities. The most gentle and refined woman among you, so delicate and sensitive that she would not venture to touch the ground with the sole of her foot, will begrudge the husband she embraces and her son and daughter."

This passage illustrates how delicateness, when stripped of its comforts, can lead to desperation and moral decay.

Prophetic Literature

The prophets also speak to the theme of delicateness, often in the context of judgment against nations. Isaiah 47:1-2 addresses Babylon, personified as a delicate and pampered woman who will be brought low:

"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, lift up your skirts, bare your legs, and wade through the streams."

Here, delicateness is associated with pride and self-indulgence, which ultimately leads to humiliation and servitude.

New Testament Insights

In the New Testament, the concept of delicateness is less explicitly mentioned but can be inferred through teachings on wealth, luxury, and the Christian call to simplicity and humility. Jesus' teachings often contrast the pursuit of earthly comforts with the call to discipleship. In Luke 16:19-31, the parable of the rich man and Lazarus highlights the dangers of living a life of luxury without regard for others or for one's spiritual state.

Spiritual Implications

From a spiritual perspective, delicateness can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual complacency or a lack of spiritual discipline. The Bible encourages believers to cultivate virtues such as endurance, strength, and faithfulness, which stand in contrast to the softness implied by delicateness. In 2 Timothy 2:3, Paul exhorts Timothy to "endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus," emphasizing the need for resilience in the Christian life.

Overall, the biblical treatment of delicateness serves as a caution against the perils of luxury and ease, urging believers to remain vigilant and steadfast in their faith and conduct.(n.) The quality of being delicate.6026. anog -- to be soft, delicate, dainty
... root Definition to be soft, delicate, dainty NASB Word Usage dainty (1), delicateness
(1), delight (4), delighted (1), jest (1), take delight (2). ...
/hebrew/6026.htm - 6k

The Sin of Unbelief
... in the streets of Samaria, for "the tender and delicate woman who would not adventure
to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness," had an ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the sin of unbelief.htm

What and Whence are These?
... children, neither are they like "the tender and delicate woman who would not adventure
to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness." They are ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/what and whence are these.htm

The Oration of Moses at the Rehearsal of the Blessing and the ...
... The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole
of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/i the oration of moses.htm

A Discourse of the Building, Nature, Excellency, and Government of ...
... make a beggar sing, a cripple dance. V. THE DELICATENESS OF THE SITUATION
OF THIS HOUSE. As her foundation and her beauty's much ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a discourse of the building.htm

How we Should Learn to Die, and of the Nature of an Unprovided
... body! Begone, begone, from me, soft reclining, long sleeping, good eating
and drinking, perishable honours, delicateness and luxury! ...
/.../suso/a little book of eternal wisdom/chapter xxi how we should.htm

Ephesians iv. 17-19
... very ones, in a moment, seized with Christ's flame, have put off all that indolence
and even their very nature, have forgotten their delicateness and youth ...
/.../homily xiii ephesians iv 17-19.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem.
... before: "The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set
the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her ...
/.../1 the destruction of jerusalem.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem
... before: "The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set
the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 1 the destruction of.htm

Delicateness (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The quality of being delicate. Multi-Version
Concordance Delicateness (1 Occurrence). Deuteronomy ...
/d/delicateness.htm - 7k

Delicately (11 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 28:56 The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not adventure
to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness ...
/d/delicately.htm - 11k

Venture (10 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 28:56 The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not adventure
to set the sole of her foot on the ground for delicateness and tenderness ...
/v/venture.htm - 10k

Tenderness (4 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 28:56 The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not adventure
to set the sole of her foot on the ground for delicateness and tenderness ...
/t/tenderness.htm - 8k

Refinement (1 Occurrence)
... Deuteronomy 28:56 The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not adventure
to set the sole of her foot on the ground for delicateness and tenderness ...
/r/refinement.htm - 7k

Refined (26 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 28:56 The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not adventure
to set the sole of her foot on the ground for delicateness and tenderness ...
/r/refined.htm - 14k

Delicates (1 Occurrence)

/d/delicates.htm - 6k

Begrudge (2 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 28:56 The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not adventure
to set the sole of her foot on the ground for delicateness and tenderness ...
/b/begrudge.htm - 7k

Bred (7 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 28:56 The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not adventure
to set the sole of her foot on the ground for delicateness and tenderness ...
/b/bred.htm - 8k

Cherishes (6 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 28:56 The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not adventure
to set the sole of her foot on the ground for delicateness and tenderness ...
/c/cherishes.htm - 8k

Delicateness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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