In the biblical context, the term "devouring" often conveys the idea of consuming or destroying with great intensity. This concept appears in various forms throughout Scripture, symbolizing both physical and spiritual destruction. The imagery of devouring is frequently used to describe the actions of enemies, the consequences of sin, and the judgment of God.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, the notion of devouring is often associated with the destructive power of enemies and wild beasts. For instance, in Jeremiah 5:17, the prophet warns of an invading nation: "They will devour your harvest and your food; they will devour your sons and daughters; they will devour your flocks and herds; they will devour your vines and fig trees. With the sword they will destroy the fortified cities in which you trust." Here, devouring signifies the complete and utter consumption of resources and security by foreign powers.

The imagery of devouring is also used to describe the consequences of sin and disobedience. In Isaiah 9:18-19, the prophet speaks of wickedness as a fire that consumes: "For wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes the briers and thorns; it sets the forest thickets ablaze, so that they go up in columns of smoke. By the wrath of the LORD of Hosts the land is scorched, and the people are fuel for the fire; no one spares his brother." This passage illustrates how sin leads to self-destruction and societal collapse.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, devouring takes on a more spiritual dimension. The Apostle Peter warns believers of the devil's destructive intent in 1 Peter 5:8: "Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." Here, devouring is a metaphor for the spiritual danger and temptation that believers face from Satan, who seeks to lead them away from faith and into destruction.

The concept is also applied to false teachers and their impact on the church. In Galatians 5:15, Paul cautions the believers: "But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another." This warning highlights the destructive nature of discord and division within the Christian community, which can lead to spiritual ruin.

Symbolism and Themes

The theme of devouring in the Bible often symbolizes the consuming nature of sin, the destructive power of evil, and the righteous judgment of God. It serves as a vivid reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's commandments and the dangers posed by spiritual adversaries. The imagery of devouring underscores the need for vigilance, repentance, and reliance on God's protection and guidance.

Divine Judgment

Devouring is also a motif in the context of divine judgment. In the prophetic literature, God's judgment is sometimes depicted as a consuming fire. For example, in Nahum 1:6, the prophet declares, "Who can withstand His indignation? Who can endure His burning anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are shattered before Him." This portrayal emphasizes the totality and inevitability of God's judgment against sin and rebellion.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of devouring serves as a powerful metaphor for destruction, whether it be physical, spiritual, or moral. It is a call to awareness of the forces that threaten to consume and destroy, urging believers to remain steadfast in faith and obedience to God.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Devour.1105. bela -- a swallowing, devouring, a thing swallowed
... 1104, 1105. bela. 1106 . a swallowing, devouring, a thing swallowed.
Transliteration: bela Phonetic Spelling: (beh'-lah) Short Definition: devour. ...
/hebrew/1105.htm - 6k

398. akal -- to eat
... 1), consume (30), consumed (30), consumes (9), consuming (9), devour (38), devour
you will be devoured (1), devoured (30), devourer (2), devouring (3), devours ...
/hebrew/398.htm - 6k

4682. matstsah -- unleavened bread or cake
... From matsats in the sense of greedily devouring for sweetness; properly, sweetness;
concretely, sweet (ie Not soured or bittered with yeast); specifically, an ...
/hebrew/4682.htm - 6k

2991. Yibleam -- a city of Manasseh
... Ibleam. From bala' and am; devouring people; Jibleam, a place in Palestine -- Ibleam.
see HEBREW bala'. see HEBREW am. 2990, 2991. Yibleam. 2992 . ...
/hebrew/2991.htm - 6k

How to Dwell in the Fire of God
... HOW TO DWELL IN THE FIRE OF GOD. 'Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? ...
The man who is to 'dwell in the devouring fire' is the good man. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/how to dwell in the.htm

A Great Question and Its Answer
... the question is cast by the fervent and somewhat gloomy imagination of one of the
prophets, who puts it thus: 'Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/a great question and its.htm

And when all were in Such Joy, came Satan the Heir of Darkness...
... And when all were in such joy, came Satan the heir of darkness, and said
to Hades: O all-devouring and insatiable, hear my words. ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of nicodemus /chapter 4 20 and when.htm

The Law of Change, or Mutation, Universal.
... whirling backwards the contentious encounters of the mains, invested the sea with
a novel vice, the vice not of spuing out wrecks, but of devouring them! ...
/.../tertullian/on the pallium/chapter ii the law of change.htm

The Bush that Burned, and did not Burn Out
... God whom they reveal. When, for instance, Isaiah (xxxiii.14) asks, 'Who
among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the bush that burned and.htm

Evans -- the Fall and Recovery of Man
... Wrath is coming upon "the beloved city," even "wrath unto the uttermost." The
tender and delicate mother is devouring her darling infant. ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/evans the fall and.htm

The Fortress of the Faithful
... 'Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire?' is the prophet's question;
'who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?' That question really means ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the fortress of the faithful.htm

The Folly of Slander. Part 2.
... His words are, as the psalmist saith of Doeg, devouring words: "Thou lovest all
devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue:" and, "A man," saith the wise man ...
/.../barrow/sermons on evil-speaking by isaac barrow/the folly of slander part 2.htm

Death.
... He looks upon it; "full of things creeping innumerable, both small and great
beasts," for ever dying, for ever devouring each other. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon xviii death.htm

The Ship on Fire --A Voice of Warning
... Attempts arc made to quench the fire; but when the hatches are lifted up, the wind
rushes in, and the fire is fanned to a dreadful, all-devouring conflagration ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/the ship on firea voice.htm

Devouring (20 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Devouring (20 Occurrences). ... (WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS RSV).
Deuteronomy 4:24 For Yahweh your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God. ...
/d/devouring.htm - 12k

Tempest (30 Occurrences)
... 29:6 Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake,
and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire. ...
/t/tempest.htm - 17k

Indignation (56 Occurrences)
... rising smoke. His lips are full of indignation, and his tongue is as a devouring
fire. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Isaiah ...
/i/indignation.htm - 24k

Storm (62 Occurrences)
... 29:6 She will be visited by Yahweh of Armies with thunder, with earthquake, with
great noise, with whirlwind and storm, and with the flame of a devouring fire. ...
/s/storm.htm - 25k

Devoureth (27 Occurrences)

/d/devoureth.htm - 14k

Devours (26 Occurrences)

/d/devours.htm - 14k

Visitation (17 Occurrences)
... 29:6 She shall be visited of Jehovah of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake,
and great noise, with whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire ...
/v/visitation.htm - 15k

Uplifting (2 Occurrences)
... of Jehovah cometh from far, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke: his
lips are full of indignation, and his tongue is as a devouring fire; (See JPS ...
/u/uplifting.htm - 7k

Lighting (9 Occurrences)
... his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with
the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with ...
/l/lighting.htm - 9k

Lovest (13 Occurrences)
... righteousness. Selah. (KJV JPS ASV WBS). Psalms 52:4 Thou lovest all devouring
words, O thou deceitful tongue. (KJV JPS ASV WBS). Ecclesiastes ...
/l/lovest.htm - 10k

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Devouring: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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