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Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "downfall" in the Bible often refers to the decline or destruction of individuals, nations, or spiritual entities due to sin, disobedience, or divine judgment. This theme is prevalent throughout Scripture, illustrating the consequences of turning away from God's commandments and the inevitable judgment that follows.

Human Downfall

The first and most significant instance of downfall in the Bible is the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve's disobedience to God's command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil led to their expulsion from paradise and the introduction of sin and death into the world. Genesis 3:6-7 states, "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed together fig leaves and made coverings for themselves."

National Downfall

The downfall of nations is a recurring theme, often linked to their leaders' and peoples' rejection of God. The nation of Israel experienced downfall multiple times due to idolatry and disobedience. The Babylonian exile is a prime example, where the Israelites were taken captive as a result of their persistent sin. 2 Kings 17:18 records, "So the LORD was very angry with Israel, and He removed them from His presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained."

Similarly, the downfall of other nations, such as Babylon, is prophesied and fulfilled due to their pride and opposition to God. Isaiah 13:19 declares, "And Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah."

Personal Downfall

Individual downfalls are also depicted in the Bible, often serving as moral lessons. King Saul's downfall is a notable example, as his disobedience and jealousy led to the loss of his kingdom. 1 Samuel 15:23 states, "For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king."

Another example is Judas Iscariot, whose betrayal of Jesus for thirty pieces of silver led to his tragic end. Matthew 27:3-5 recounts, "When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. 'I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,' he said. 'What is that to us?' they replied. 'You bear the responsibility.' So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself."

Spiritual Downfall

The Bible also addresses the spiritual downfall of Satan and his angels. Once a high-ranking angel, Satan's pride led to his rebellion against God and subsequent expulsion from heaven. Isaiah 14:12-15 poetically describes this fall: "How you have fallen from heaven, O day star, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O destroyer of nations. You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' But you will be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit."

Redemption and Restoration

While the Bible is replete with accounts of downfall, it also offers hope for redemption and restoration. God's grace and mercy provide a path to repentance and renewal for those who turn back to Him. The account of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 exemplifies this, illustrating that even after a personal downfall, reconciliation with the Father is possible through repentance and humility.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) A sudden fall; a body of things falling.

2. (n.) A sudden descent from rank or state, reputation or happiness; destruction; ruin.

Greek
4431. ptosis -- a fall
... fall. From the alternate of pipto; a crash, ie Downfall (literally or figuratively) --
fall. see GREEK pipto. (ptosin) -- 1 Occurrence. (ptosis) -- 1 Occurrence ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4431.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
8395. tebusah -- a treading down, ruin, downfall
... 8394, 8395. tebusah. 8396 . a treading down, ruin, downfall. Transliteration:
tebusah Phonetic Spelling: (teb-oo-saw') Short Definition: destruction. ...
/hebrew/8395.htm - 6k

3782. kashal -- to stumble, stagger, totter
... root Definition to stumble, stagger, totter NASB Word Usage bring you down (1),
bring down (1), brought down (1), cast down (1), downfall (1), fail (1), failed ...
/hebrew/3782.htm - 6k

5307. naphal -- to fall, lie
... dash down (1), defect (1), defected (3), deserted (3), deserters (3), did (1),
dismounted (1), divide by lot (2), divide it by lot (1), downfall (1), dropped ( ...
/hebrew/5307.htm - 7k

Library

That after Reflecting on the Downfall of those who had Worshiped ...
... Book I. Chapter XXVII."That after reflecting on the Downfall of those
who had worshiped Idols, he made Choice of Christianity. ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter xxvii that after reflecting on.htm

The Downfall, 1616-1621.
... BOOK ONE. The Bohemian Brethren. CHAPTER XIV. THE DOWNFALL, 1616-1621. The dream
of bliss became a nightmare. As the tide of Protestantism ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter xiv the downfall 1616-1621.htm

Whether Scandal is Fittingly Defined as Being Something Less ...
... OF SCANDAL (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether scandal is fittingly defined as being something
less rightly said or done that occasions spiritual downfall? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether scandal is fittingly defined.htm

Spanish Conquest-The Propagation, Decay, and Downfall of Spanish ...
... A HISTORY OF AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY. CHAPTER II. SPANISH CONQUEST-THE
PROPAGATION, DECAY, AND DOWNFALL OF SPANISH CHRISTIANITY. IT ...
/.../chapter ii spanish conquest-the propagation.htm

How the Britons, Compelled by the Great Famine, Drove the ...
... the barbarians out of the their territories, and soon after there ensued, along
with abundance of corn, decay of morals, pestilence, and the downfall of the ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xiv how the britons.htm

Isaac
... He lamented the downfall of Antioch in an elegiac poem, taking up the same strain
that Ephraim, the deacon, sounded on the downfall of Nicomedia. ...
/.../various/jerome and gennadius lives of illustrious men /chapter lxvii isaac.htm

Whether Scandal is a Sin?
... scandal is of two kinds, passive scandal in the person scandalized, and active scandal
in the person who gives scandal, and so occasions a spiritual downfall. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether scandal is a sin.htm

Whether Scandal is a Mortal Sin?
... I answer that, As stated above [2683](A[1]), scandal denotes a stumbling whereby
a person is disposed to a spiritual downfall. Consequently ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether scandal is a mortal.htm

The Apostle Judas
... From Adam to this day men have been trusted who failed and fell, and out of their
very downfall, but not be precipitating it, the plans of God have evolved ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 3 19 the apostle judas.htm

Whether Man could Commit a Venial Sin in the State of Innocence?
... Reply to Objection 2: This vainglory which preceded man's downfall, was his first
mortal sin, for it is stated to have preceded his downfall into the outward ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether man could commit a.htm

Thesaurus
Downfall (46 Occurrences)
...Downfall (46 Occurrences). ... (BBE). 2 Samuel 3:34 Your hands were free, your feet were
not chained: like the downfall of a man before evil men, so was your fall. ...
/d/downfall.htm - 20k

Designing (22 Occurrences)
... of deceit. (BBE). Psalms 41:7 All my haters are talking secretly together
against me; they are designing my downfall. (BBE). Psalms ...
/d/designing.htm - 13k

Nahum (3 Occurrences)
... On the other hand, the years immediately preceding the downfall of Nineveh offer
a most suitable occasion. The struggle continued for about 2 years. ...
/n/nahum.htm - 21k

Nero
... IV. DOWNFALL AND CHARACTER 1. Seven Causes of Downfall 2. Character V. "NERO
REDIVIVUS" VI. NERO ... IV. Downfall and Character. 1. Seven ...
/n/nero.htm - 41k

Downcast (11 Occurrences)

/d/downcast.htm - 9k

Causes (89 Occurrences)
... let that glory be enough for you, and keep in your country; why do you make causes
of trouble, putting yourself, and Judah with you, in danger of downfall? ...
/c/causes.htm - 33k

Benhadad (24 Occurrences)
... BENHADAD III 1. His Contemporaries 2. The Assyrians in the West 3. Downfall of Damascus
before Ramman-Nirari III 4. Breathing Space for Israel The Name: The ...
/b/benhadad.htm - 28k

Captivity (141 Occurrences)
... OF JUDAH (THE WORK OF THE CHALDAEAN POWER) Southern Kingdom and House of David 1.
Break-up of Assyria 2. Downfall of Nineveh, 606 BC 3. Pharaoh Necoh's Revolt 4 ...
/c/captivity.htm - 79k

New (1850 Occurrences)
... (3) Rome was regarded by both Jews and Christians as being antagonistic to the kingdom
of God, and its downfall was confidently expected, This conception is in ...
/n/new.htm - 101k

Danger (118 Occurrences)
... let that glory be enough for you, and keep in your country; why do you make causes
of trouble, putting yourself, and Judah with you, in danger of downfall? ...
/d/danger.htm - 38k

Resources
In what ways is sin a slippery slope? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Naboth in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that we live in a fallen world? | GotQuestions.org

Downfall: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus
Concordance
Downfall (46 Occurrences)

Luke 2:34
And Simeon gave them his blessing and said to Mary, his mother, See, this child will be the cause of the downfall and the lifting up of great numbers of people in Israel, and he will be a sign against which hard words will be said;
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 32:35
Punishment is mine and reward, at the time of the slipping of their feet: for the day of their downfall is near, sudden will be their fate.
(BBE)

2 Samuel 3:34
Your hands were free, your feet were not chained: like the downfall of a man before evil men, so was your fall. And the weeping of the people over him went on again.
(BBE)

1 Kings 13:34
This thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the surface of the earth.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 14:10
It is true that you have overcome Edom and your heart is uplifted; let that glory be enough for you, and keep in your country; why do you make causes of trouble, putting yourself, and Judah with you, in danger of downfall?
(BBE NIV)

2 Chronicles 22:7
Now by the purpose of God, Ahaziah's journey to see Jehoram was the cause of his downfall: for when he came there, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu, the son of Nimshi, who had been marked out by the Lord for the destruction of the family of Ahab.
(BBE JPS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 25:19
You say, See, I have overcome Edom; and your heart is lifted up with pride: now keep in your country; why do you make causes of trouble, putting yourself, and Judah with you, in danger of downfall?
(BBE NIV)

2 Chronicles 26:16
But when he became strong his heart was lifted up to his downfall; and he transgressed against Jehovah his God, and went into the temple of Jehovah to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
(DBY NIV)

2 Chronicles 28:23
For he made offerings to the gods of Damascus, who were attacking him, and said, Because the gods of the kings of Aram are giving them help, I will make offerings to them so that they may give me help. But they were the cause of his downfall, and of that of all Israel.
(BBE NAS NIV)

Esther 6:13
And Haman gave his wife Zeresh and all his friends an account of what had taken place. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, If Mordecai, who is starting to get the better of you, is of the seed of the Jews, you will not be able to do anything against him, but you will certainly go down before him.
(See NIV)

Job 6:21
Surely now ye have become the same! Ye see a downfall, and are afraid.
(YLT)

Psalms 5:10
Hold them guilty, O God, let them fall by their own counsels; cast them down in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against Thee.
(See NIV)

Psalms 41:7
All my haters are talking secretly together against me; they are designing my downfall.
(BBE)

Psalms 44:15
My downfall is ever before me, and I am covered with the shame of my face;
(BBE)

Psalms 49:5
What cause have I for fear in the days of evil, when the evil-doing of those who are working for my downfall is round about me?
(BBE)

Psalms 92:11
My eye has also seen my enemies. My ears have heard of the wicked enemies who rise up against me.
(See RSV)

Psalms 140:4
O Lord, take me out of the hands of sinners; keep me safe from the violent man: for they are designing my downfall.
(BBE)

Proverbs 6:15
For this cause his downfall will be sudden; quickly he will be broken, and there will be no help for him.
(BBE)

Proverbs 24:16
For an upright man, after falling seven times, will get up again: but trouble is the downfall of the evil.
(BBE)

Proverbs 24:17
Do not be glad at the fall of your hater, and let not your heart have joy at his downfall:
(BBE)

Proverbs 24:22
For their downfall will come suddenly; and who has knowledge of the destruction of those in high positions?
(BBE)

Proverbs 29:16
When the wicked increase, sin increases; but the righteous will see their downfall.
(WEB BBE RSV NIV)

Ecclesiastes 5:13
There is a great evil which I have seen under the sun--wealth kept by the owner to be his downfall.
(BBE)

Isaiah 32:19
But it shall hail in the downfall of the forest; and the city shall be utterly laid low.
(ASV JPS)

Jeremiah 3:25
Let us be stretched on the earth in our downfall, covering ourselves with our shame: for we have been sinners against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our earliest years even till this day: and we have not given ear to the voice of the Lord our God.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 18:17
I will send them in flight, as from an east wind, before the attacker; I will let them see my back and not my face on the day of their downfall.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 48:2
The praise of Moab is no more; in Heshbon they have devised evil against her: Come, and let us cut her off from being a nation. You also, Madmen, shall be brought to silence: the sword shall pursue you.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 49:18
As at the downfall of Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighbouring towns, says the Lord, no man will be living in it, no son of man will have a resting-place there.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 49:21
The earth trembles at the noise of their fall; there is a cry, the noise which is heard in the Red Sea.
(See NAS)

Jeremiah 51:8
Sudden is the downfall of Babylon and her destruction: make cries of grief for her; take sweet oil for her pain, if it is possible for her to be made well.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 51:35
May the violent things done to me, and my downfall, come on Babylon, the daughter of Zion will say; and, May my blood be on the people of Chaldaea, Jerusalem will say.
(BBE)

Lamentations 1:7
Jerusalem remembers in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that were from the days of old: when her people fell into the hand of the adversary, and none did help her, The adversaries saw her, they did mock at her desolations.
(See RSV)

Ezekiel 18:30
Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, everyone according to his ways, says the Lord Yahweh. Return, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
(See NIV)

Ezekiel 27:27
Your wealth and your goods, the things in which you do trade, your seamen and those guiding your ships, those who make your boards watertight, and those who do business with your goods, and all your men of war who are in you, with all who have come together in you, will go down into the heart of the seas in the day of your downfall.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 32:10
Yes, I will make many peoples amazed at you, and their kings shall be horribly afraid for you, when I shall brandish my sword before them; and they shall tremble at every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of your fall.
(See RSV NIV)

Daniel 11:12
And the army will be taken away, and his heart will be uplifted: he will be the cause of the downfall of tens of thousands, but he will not be strong.
(BBE)

Daniel 11:14
In those times, a number will take up arms against the king of the south: and the children of the violent among your people will be lifting themselves up to make the vision come true; but it will be their downfall.
(BBE)

Daniel 11:19
Then his face will be turned to the strong places of his land: but his way will be stopped, causing his downfall, and he will not be seen again.
(BBE)

Daniel 11:26
And his fears will overcome him and be the cause of his downfall, and his army will come to complete destruction, and a great number will be put to the sword.
(BBE)

Daniel 11:33
And those who are wise among the people will be the teachers of the mass of the people: but they will come to their downfall by the sword and by the flame, being made prisoners and undergoing loss for a long time.
(BBE)

Daniel 11:34
Now at the time of their downfall they will have a little help, but numbers will be joined to them in the town, and in their separate heritages.
(BBE)

Hosea 14:1
Israel, return to Yahweh your God; for you have fallen because of your sin.
(See NIV)

Obadiah 1:13
Do not go into the doors of my people on the day of their downfall; do not be looking on their trouble with pleasure on the day of their downfall, or put your hands on their goods on the day of their downfall.
(BBE)

Micah 7:10
Then mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her; who said unto me: Where is the LORD thy God? Mine eyes shall gaze upon her; now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.'
(See NIV)

Zephaniah 1:3
I will take away man and beast; I will take away the birds of the heaven and the fishes of the sea; causing the downfall of the evil-doers, and cutting man off from the face of the earth, says the Lord.
(BBE)

Zephaniah 1:11
Because of the downfall of all the people of Canaan: all those who were weighted down with silver have been cut off.
(BBE)

Subtopics

Downfall

Related Terms

Downfall (46 Occurrences)

Downpour (4 Occurrences)

Spirit (706 Occurrences)

Downcast
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