The term "drieth" is an archaic English word that appears in some translations of the Bible, including the King James Version, and is synonymous with "dries" in modern English. It is used to describe the process of something becoming dry or losing moisture. In the context of the Bible, "drieth" is often used metaphorically to convey spiritual truths or to describe natural phenomena.

Biblical Usage

1. Natural Phenomena: The word "drieth" is used in the Bible to describe the drying up of natural bodies of water or vegetation. For example, in Isaiah 19:5 , it is written, "The waters of the river will dry up, and the riverbed will be parched and empty." This passage speaks of God's judgment upon Egypt, where the drying of the Nile River symbolizes the nation's impending desolation and economic ruin.

2. Spiritual Metaphor: In a spiritual sense, "drieth" can be used to illustrate the condition of a soul that is separated from God. Psalm 32:4 states, "For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was drained as in the summer heat. Selah." Here, the psalmist describes a spiritual dryness and exhaustion that results from unconfessed sin and the absence of God's refreshing presence.

3. Divine Judgment: The drying up of resources or land is sometimes depicted as a form of divine judgment. In Jeremiah 50:38 , the prophet declares, "A drought is upon her waters, and they will dry up. For it is a land of idols, and they go mad over their idols." This pronouncement against Babylon signifies the futility of idolatry and the inevitable judgment that follows.

4. Symbol of Renewal: Conversely, the drying process can also precede renewal and restoration. In Ezekiel 37, the vision of the valley of dry bones represents the spiritual revival of Israel. Although the bones are initially dry and lifeless, God breathes life into them, symbolizing the restoration of His people.

Theological Implications

The concept of "drieth" in the Bible often serves as a reminder of human dependence on God for both physical sustenance and spiritual vitality. Just as the land and water can dry up without the life-giving presence of rain, so too can the human soul become parched without the refreshing presence of the Holy Spirit. This imagery calls believers to seek God's presence continually and to remain rooted in His Word, which is described as living water (John 4:10).

Practical Application

For Christians, the idea of spiritual dryness can serve as a call to self-examination and repentance. When believers experience a sense of spiritual drought, it may be an indication to return to God in prayer, confession, and the study of Scripture. The promise of renewal and restoration is available to those who earnestly seek the Lord, as He is faithful to refresh and restore the weary soul.

In summary, the term "drieth" in the Bible carries rich symbolic meaning, illustrating both the consequences of separation from God and the hope of renewal through His grace.

Nahum's Doom of Nineveh
... He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan
languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/xi nahums doom of nineveh.htm

That a Man Should not Presume to Work in this Work Before the Time ...
... For in this work, a soul drieth up in it all the root and the ground of sin that
will always live in it after confession, be it never so busy. ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the eight and.htm

Whether Sorrow is More Harmful to the Body than the Other Passions ...
... On the contrary, It is written (Prov.17:22): "A joyful mind maketh age flourishing:
a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones": and (Prov.25:20): "As a moth doth ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether sorrow is more harmful.htm

Whether Contrition Can Take Away the Debt of Punishment Entirely?
... outward parts of the body, so does interior sorrow show itself in the exterior members:
wherefore it is written (Prov.17:22): "A sorrowful spirit drieth up the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether contrition can take away.htm

The Testament of Benjamin Concerning a Pure Mind.
... For as the sun is not defiled by shining over dung and mire, but rather drieth up
both and driveth away the ill smell: so also the pure mind, constrained among ...
/.../xii the testament of benjamin concerning.htm

An Exhortation to Peace and Unity
... subsist, if either the spirit be wounded or the joints broken or dislocated; the
body cannot bear a wounded or broken spirit; 'A broken spirit drieth the bones ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exhortation to peace and.htm

"Thou Shall Keep Him in Perfect Peace, Whose Mind is Stayed on ...
... This indeed will be a painful consumption, "A broken spirit drieth up the bones,"
it will eat up the marrow of the spirit and body, Proverbs 17:22. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xii thou shall keep.htm

"And we all do Fade as a Leaf, and Our Iniquities, Like the Wind ...
... Sin drieth up all the sap and sweetness of the creature comforts,"it maketh the
leaves of the tree wither, drives the sap away to the root, hindereth the ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xvii and we all.htm

Psalm XCII.
... When the sun hath gone forth, doth the palm-tree wither? Doth the cedar die? But
when the sun hath been glowing for some hours, the grass drieth up. ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xcii.htm

Deliverance from Assyria
... He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan
languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 30 deliverance from assyria.htm

Drieth (6 Occurrences)
...Drieth (6 Occurrences). 1 Kings 17:7 And it cometh to pass, at the end of days,
that the brook drieth up, for there hath been no rain in the land, (YLT). ...
/d/drieth.htm - 8k

Drift (1 Occurrence)

/d/drift.htm - 9k

Dries (10 Occurrences)

/d/dries.htm - 9k

Languisheth (10 Occurrences)
... Nahum 1:4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers:
Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. ...
/l/languisheth.htm - 9k

Languishing (6 Occurrences)
... Nahum 1:4 He is pushing against a sea, and drieth it up, Yea, all the floods He
hath made dry, Languishing 'are' Bashan and Carmel, Yea, the flower of Lebanon ...
/l/languishing.htm - 8k

Wasteth (10 Occurrences)
... where is he? (KJV WBS). Job 14:11 As' the waters fail from the sea, And
the river wasteth and drieth up; (ASV DBY). Job 14:18 And ...
/w/wasteth.htm - 8k

Thrives (2 Occurrences)
... Hosea 13:15 Though he among brethren produceth fruit, Come in doth an east wind,
a wind of Jehovah, From a wilderness it is coming up, And it drieth up his ...
/t/thrives.htm - 6k

Rebuketh (5 Occurrences)
... Nahum 1:4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers:
Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. ...
/r/rebuketh.htm - 7k

Recede (3 Occurrences)
... mountains were seen. (Root in WEB NIV). Job 14:11 The waters recede from the
lake, and the river wasteth and drieth up: (DBY). Micah 7:11 ...
/r/recede.htm - 7k

Drained (38 Occurrences)
... hard like cheese? (BBE). Job 14:11 As the waters fail from the sea, And
the river wasteth and drieth up; (See JPS). Job 16:13 His ...
/d/drained.htm - 18k

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus