The term "dries" in the context of the Bible typically refers to the process of becoming dry or the state of being without moisture. This concept is often used metaphorically in Scripture to describe spiritual desolation, judgment, or the absence of God's blessing. The imagery of dryness is prevalent throughout the Bible, symbolizing a lack of life, vitality, or divine favor.

Biblical References:

1. Spiritual Desolation:
In the prophetic literature, dryness often symbolizes spiritual barrenness or judgment. For instance, in Isaiah 44:3, God promises to pour out His Spirit on the descendants of Israel, contrasting the dryness of the land with the abundance of His blessing: "For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring, and My blessing on your descendants."

2. Judgment and Curse:
Dryness is also associated with divine judgment. In Jeremiah 17:6, the person who trusts in man rather than the Lord is likened to a shrub in the desert, living in a parched land: "He will be like a bush in the desert; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives."

3. Metaphor for Hardship:
The Psalms frequently use the imagery of dryness to express distress or longing for God. Psalm 63:1 captures this sentiment: "O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You. My body longs for You in a dry and weary land without water."

4. Restoration and Renewal:
Conversely, the promise of God’s intervention often involves the transformation of dry places into fertile and flourishing ones. In Ezekiel 37, the vision of the valley of dry bones represents the restoration of Israel. God commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, and they are brought back to life, symbolizing the renewal of the nation.

5. Moral and Spiritual Lessons:
The concept of dryness serves as a moral and spiritual lesson, urging believers to seek God’s presence and sustenance. In John 7:37-38, Jesus invites those who are spiritually thirsty to come to Him: "On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.'"

Theological Implications:

The imagery of dryness in the Bible underscores the necessity of divine grace and the life-giving presence of God. It serves as a reminder of human dependence on God for spiritual vitality and the dangers of turning away from Him. The transformation from dryness to abundance is a powerful testament to God’s redemptive power and His desire to restore and bless His people.

Practical Application:

Believers are encouraged to reflect on areas of spiritual dryness in their lives and seek renewal through prayer, Scripture, and fellowship with other believers. The metaphor of dryness challenges Christians to remain connected to the source of living water, Jesus Christ, and to trust in His provision and guidance.3583. xeraino -- to dry up, waste away
... Word Origin from xeros Definition to dry up, waste away NASB Word Usage dried (2),
dries (1), ripe (1), stiffens (1), wither (1), withered (4), withered away (3 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3583.htm - 6k3001. yabesh -- to be dry, dried up, or withered
... root Definition to be dry, dried up, or withered NASB Word Usage become dry (1),
completely wither (1), dried (18), dries (5), dry (11), make her dry (1), make ...
/hebrew/3001.htm - 6k

2717a. chareb -- to be dry or dried up
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to be dry or dried up NASB Word Usage becomes
parched (1), dried (10), dries (1), dry (3), parched (1). 2717, 2717a. ...
/hebrew/2717a.htm - 5k

The Moods of Mr. George Moore
... of pride. Pride is a weakness in the character; it dries up laughter, it dries
up wonder, it dries up chivalry and energy. The Christian ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/heretics/ix the moods of mr.htm

"If we Confess Our Sins, He is Faithful and Just to Forgive us Our ...
... to forgive us our sins", &c. The current of sin dries not up, but runs
constantly while we are in this life. It is true, it is much ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xvii if we confess.htm

Jesus at the Bier
... was afflicted.'. Then, note that the pitying Christ dries the tears before
He raises the dead. That is beautiful, I think. 'Weep ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/jesus at the bier.htm

Human Nature (Septuagesima Sunday. )
... For without grace man is like a stream when the fountain head is stopped; it stops
too"lies in foul puddles, decays, and at last dries up: to keep the stream ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xxiii human nature septuagesima.htm

Enoch, the Deathless
... As man is a social being, he must walk with someone in life. Perpetual solitude
dries up the springs of existence, and true manhood is shrivelled up. ...
/.../milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/enoch the deathless.htm

And Now we Can Turn at Last to See in Our Picture...
... examined it, trace the future plant in embryo; the two seed-leaves and the rootlet
were all visible in shades of exquisite green; but all this dries up when ...
/.../trotter/parables of the christ-life/section 5 and now we.htm

On the Sacraments in General
... and remains on it. A drop of water falling on paper dries up quickly;
but a drop of oil soaks in and spreads over it. So oil is ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 13 on the sacraments.htm

Habits
... These men keep people off the walk while it is soft because, if any one steps on
it, then his footprints harden into the walk as it dries, and will always ...
/.../chidley/fifty-two story talks to boys and girls/habits.htm

Peculiar Effects of Money.
... fist. It drains the warm blood from the heart, and dries all the sweet,
fragrant dew out of the spirit. The hand suffers much. It ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on service/peculiar effects of money.htm

Of the Hidden and Holy People of the Almighty Christ, the Living ...
... protected. They are bidden to pass on the right side of their Lord; and when
they have passed over as before, He dries up the river. ...
/.../commodianus/the instructions of commodianus/xlii of the hidden and holy.htm

Dries (10 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Dries (10 Occurrences). John 15:6 ... its flowers.
The herbage dries up, and its flowers drop off; (WEY). Job ...
/d/dries.htm - 9k

Dry (217 Occurrences)
... To make dry; to free from water, or from moisture of any kind, and by any means;
to exsiccate; as, to dry the eyes; to dry one's tears; the wind dries the earth ...
/d/dry.htm - 37k

Flowers (42 Occurrences)
... James 1:11 The sun rises with his scorching heat and dries up the herbage, so that
its flowers drop off and the beauty of its appearance perishes, and in the ...
/f/flowers.htm - 22k

Drop (32 Occurrences)
... James 1:11 The sun rises with his scorching heat and dries up the herbage, so that
its flowers drop off and the beauty of its appearance perishes, and in the ...
/d/drop.htm - 20k

Herbage (10 Occurrences)
... James 1:11 The sun rises with his scorching heat and dries up the herbage, so that
its flowers drop off and the beauty of its appearance perishes, and in the ...
/h/herbage.htm - 9k

Languishes (11 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Nahum 1:4 He rebukes the sea, and makes it dry, and dries up all the
rivers. Bashan languishes, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languishes. ...
/l/languishes.htm - 9k

Wastes (33 Occurrences)
... is moth-eaten. (See RSV NIV). Job 14:11 As the waters fail from the sea,
and the river wastes and dries up, (WEB RSV). Job 33:21 His ...
/w/wastes.htm - 16k

Fades (10 Occurrences)
... Nahum 1:4 He rebukes the sea, and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers. Bashan
languishes, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languishes. (See RSV). ...
/f/fades.htm - 8k

Ramah (38 Occurrences)
... To the Southwest is a marshy lake which dries up in summer. Traces of antiquity
are found in the cisterns, a large reservoir and many sarcophagi. ...
/r/ramah.htm - 26k

Resemble (15 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 1 Peter 1:24 "All mankind resemble the herbage, and all their beauty is like
its flowers. The herbage dries up, and its flowers drop off; (WEY). ...
/r/resemble.htm - 11k

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