The concept of "diminished" in the Bible often relates to the reduction or lessening of something, whether it be physical, spiritual, or moral. This term can be applied to various contexts within Scripture, including the diminishing of resources, strength, or spiritual fervor.

Diminished Resources and Strength

In the Old Testament, the idea of diminished resources is evident in the context of God's judgment or discipline. For example, in Leviticus 26:20, God warns the Israelites that if they disobey His commandments, their strength will be spent in vain, and their land will not yield its produce: "Your strength will be spent in vain, because your land will not yield its produce, and the trees of the land will not bear their fruit." This passage highlights the consequences of disobedience, where the blessings of abundance are diminished due to a lack of faithfulness to God's covenant.

Similarly, in the book of Haggai, the prophet addresses the people of Israel who have neglected the rebuilding of the temple. As a result, their resources are diminished: "You have planted much but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a bag with holes" (Haggai 1:6). This serves as a reminder that spiritual priorities must align with God's will to avoid the diminishing of material blessings.

Diminished Spiritual Fervor

The New Testament also addresses the concept of diminished spiritual fervor. In Revelation 2:4-5, the church in Ephesus is admonished for having forsaken their first love: "But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love. Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place." Here, the diminishing of love and devotion to Christ is a serious concern, and the call to repentance is urgent to restore their spiritual vitality.

Moral and Ethical Diminishment

The Bible also speaks to the moral and ethical diminishment that occurs when individuals or nations turn away from God's statutes. In Romans 1:21-22, Paul describes the spiritual decline of those who reject God: "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." This passage illustrates the moral diminishment that results from a failure to honor God, leading to a corrupted understanding and behavior.

Restoration from Diminishment

Despite the theme of diminishment, the Bible consistently offers hope for restoration. God's desire is for His people to return to Him and be restored. In Joel 2:25, God promises to restore what has been lost: "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm—My great army that I sent among you." This assurance of restoration underscores God's mercy and faithfulness, even when His people have experienced diminishment due to their actions.

In summary, the concept of "diminished" in the Bible serves as a warning against disobedience and a call to maintain spiritual fervor and moral integrity. It also offers the hope of restoration through repentance and alignment with God's will.(imp. & p. p.) of Diminish.4591. maat -- to be or become small, diminished, or few
... maat. 4592 . to be or become small, diminished, or few. Transliteration: maat
Phonetic Spelling: (maw-at') Short Definition: decrease. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/4591.htm - 6k

1639. gara -- to diminish, restrain, withdraw
... root Definition to diminish, restrain, withdraw NASB Word Usage cut off (1), cut
short (1), deducted (1), diminished (1), draws (1), hinder (1), limit (1 ...
/hebrew/1639.htm - 6k

Whether a Habit is Corrupted or Diminished through Mere Cessation ...
... HOW HABITS ARE CORRUPTED OR DIMINISHED (THREE ARTICLES) Whether a habit
is corrupted or diminished through mere cessation from act? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether a habit is corrupted.htm

But How is that Future Diminished or Consumed, which as yet is Not ...
... Book XI Chapter XXVIII But how is that future diminished or consumed, which as yet
is not? ... But how is that future diminished or consumed, which as yet is not? ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter xxviii but how is.htm

How Habits are Corrupted or Diminished (Three Articles)
... HOW HABITS ARE CORRUPTED OR DIMINISHED (THREE ARTICLES). ... (2) Whether it can
be diminished? (3) How are habits corrupted or diminished? ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/how habits are corrupted or.htm

Of the Diminished Power of the Devils.
... II. Second Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter XXIII. Of the diminished power
of the devils. But we have thoroughly discovered both ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xxiii of the diminished.htm

Whether Religious Perfection is Diminished by Possessing Something ...
... OF THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF RELIGIOUS LIFE (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether religious
perfection is diminished by possessing something in common? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether religious perfection is diminished.htm

That the Birth of Christ in Time Diminished Nothing of the Glory ...
... Book VI. Chapter XIX. That the birth of Christ in time diminished nothing
of the glory and power of His Deity. For the fact that ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter xix that the birth.htm

Answer to Another Objection, Showing that the Destruction of ...
... Book IV Chapter IV."Answer to another objection, showing that the destruction of
Jerusalem, which was the city of the great King, diminished nothing from the ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter iv answer to another objection.htm

Concupiscence Remains after Baptism, Just as Languor Does after ...
... Book I. Chapter 28 [XXV.]"Concupiscence Remains After Baptism, Just as Languor Does
After Recovery from Disease; Concupiscence is Diminished in Persons of ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 28 xxv concupiscence remains after.htm

Whether the Entire Good of Human Nature Can be Destroyed by Sin?
... Since therefore the good of nature can be continually diminished by sin,
it seems that in the end it can be entirely taken away. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the entire good of.htm

Whether the Whole Good of Human Nature Can be Destroyed by Sin
... 3. Again, the natural good which is diminished by sin is the capacity for virtue.
Sin destroys this capacity altogether in some persons. ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/article two whether the whole.htm

Diminished (11 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Diminished (11 Occurrences). ... Psalms 107:39 Again, they
are diminished and bowed down through oppression, trouble, and sorrow. ...
/d/diminished.htm - 9k

Diminish (22 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To make smaller by a half step; to make (an interval) less than minor; as,
a diminished seventh. ... The streams of Egypt will be diminished and dried up. ...
/d/diminish.htm - 14k

Minished (3 Occurrences)
... Psalms 107:39 Again, they are diminished and bowed down through oppression, trouble,
and sorrow. ... The streams of Egypt will be diminished and dried up. ...
/m/minished.htm - 7k

Fever (13 Occurrences)
... but immediately after sunset the air becomes chilly and damp, and the physiological
resistance to the influence of the parasite is remarkably diminished. ...
/f/fever.htm - 17k

Reduced (16 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Exodus 5:11 Go yourselves, get straw where you can find it, for
nothing of your work shall be diminished.'" (See NAS NIV). ...
/r/reduced.htm - 11k

Decrease (4 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) To grow less, -- opposed to increase; to be diminished gradually, in size,
degree, number, duration, etc., or in strength, quality, or excellence; as ...
/d/decrease.htm - 8k

Ministry (44 Occurrences)
... As the earlier decades passed, their numbers increased rather than diminished. They
are brought vividly before us in such writings as the Didache. ...
/m/ministry.htm - 51k

Stream (96 Occurrences)
... 5);, the Revised Version (British and American) "stream," the King James Version
"brook"; "The streams (margin "canals") of Egypt shall be diminished and dried ...
/s/stream.htm - 42k

Quantity (18 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) That which can be increased, diminished, or measured; especially (Math.),
anything to which mathematical processes are applicable. ...
/q/quantity.htm - 13k

Lessen (4 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To become less; to shrink; to contract; to decrease; to be diminished; as,
the apparent magnitude of objects lessens as we recede from them; his care ...
/l/lessen.htm - 7k

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