The term "driveth" is an archaic form of the verb "drive," commonly found in older English translations of the Bible, such as the King James Version. In the Berean Standard Bible , the term is often rendered in more contemporary language, but the concept remains significant in understanding various biblical narratives and teachings.

Old Testament Usage

1. Genesis 3:24 · "So He drove out the man and stationed cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden, with a whirling sword of flame to guard the way to the tree of life." Here, "driveth" signifies God's action of expelling Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden as a consequence of their disobedience. This act underscores the theme of divine judgment and the loss of intimate fellowship with God due to sin.

2. Exodus 23:28-30 · "I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites out of your way. I will not drive them out before you in a single year, lest the land become desolate and the wild animals multiply against you. Little by little I will drive them out ahead of you, until you become fruitful and possess the land." In this passage, God promises to "drive out" the inhabitants of Canaan before the Israelites. The gradual process of driving out the nations illustrates God's providence and strategic planning in fulfilling His promises to His people.

3. Job 18:18 · "He is driven from light into darkness and is chased from the inhabited world." This verse uses "driveth" metaphorically to describe the fate of the wicked, emphasizing the consequences of living in opposition to God's ways. The imagery of being driven from light to darkness highlights the spiritual and existential separation from God.

New Testament Usage

While the specific term "driveth" is less common in the New Testament, the concept of driving or being driven is present in various contexts:

1. Mark 1:12 · "At once the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness." This verse describes the Holy Spirit driving Jesus into the wilderness following His baptism. The use of "driveth" here indicates a compelling force, emphasizing the divine initiative in Jesus' preparation for His public ministry and His confrontation with temptation.

2. John 2:15 · "So He made a whip out of cords and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables." Jesus' action of driving out the merchants from the temple underscores His authority and zeal for the sanctity of God's house. It serves as a powerful demonstration of righteous indignation against the corruption and commercialization of worship.

Theological Implications

The concept of "driveth" in the Bible often conveys themes of divine authority, judgment, and purification. Whether it is God driving out nations before Israel, expelling humanity from Eden, or Jesus cleansing the temple, the act of driving signifies a forceful removal or separation intended to restore order, holiness, or fulfill divine purposes. It reflects God's sovereignty and His active role in guiding, disciplining, and protecting His people.

In a broader spiritual sense, the idea of being "driven" can also relate to the inner workings of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, compelling them towards righteousness and away from sin. This aligns with the biblical call to live a life led by the Spirit, in contrast to being driven by the desires of the flesh.

Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness.
... c 1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, ^b 12 And straightway
the Spirit driveth him forth ^c and ^a 1 Then [Just after his baptism ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xix jesus tempted in the.htm

How Shall the Soul Make Use of Christ, as the Life, which is under ...
... 3. Having gained this ground, he worketh then upon their corruption with very great
advantage; and thus driveth them from evil to worse, and not only to ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter xxiv how shall the.htm

Samech.
... will search." In order, therefore, that he may diligently and perfectly learn that
law, he bids the wicked depart from him, and even forcibly driveth them away ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/samech.htm

How Christ is to be Made Use Of, in Reference to the Killing and ...
... Nay, with its lustings, it driveth constantly to that which is evil, raiseth evil
motions and inclinations in the soul, ere the believer be aware; sideth with ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter vi how christ is.htm

The Chaff Driven Away
... "The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.""Psalm
1:4. ... They are here said to be like chaff which the wind driveth away. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the chaff driven away.htm

Hail, the Galilean
... saying: "Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.". And immediately
the spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he ...
/.../mark/jesus of nazareth a biography/chapter i hail the galilean.htm

Things which are Characteristic of Mark.
... a dove descending upon Him" (v.10). "And immediately the Spirit driveth
Him into the wilderness" (v.12). "And when He had gone a ...
/.../pink/why four gospels/ii things which are characteristic.htm

The Testament of Asher Concerning Two Faces of vice and virtue.
... But if his mind turn aside in evil, all his doings are in maliciousness, and he
driveth away the good, and taketh unto him the evil, and is ruled by Beliar ...
/.../the testaments of the twelve patriarchs/x the testament of asher concerning.htm

Later English Reformers
... laws than the pope's." Tyndale replied: "I defy the pope and all his laws; and if
God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth the plow to ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 14 later english reformers.htm

Later English Reformers.
... laws than the pope's." Tyndale replied, "I defy the pope and all his laws; and if
God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth the plow to ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /14 later english reformers.htm

Driveth (8 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Driveth (8 Occurrences). Mark 1:12 And immediately
the spirit driveth him into the wilderness. (KJV ASV WBS). ...
/d/driveth.htm - 8k

Inches (1 Occurrence)
... southwest wind. The east wind is a hot wind and the "north wind driveth
away rain" (Proverbs 25:23, the King James Version). "Fair ...
/i/inches.htm - 12k

Rainfall
... southwest wind. The east wind is a hot wind and the "north wind driveth
away rain" (Proverbs 25:23, the King James Version). "Fair ...
/r/rainfall.htm - 12k

Enemy (134 Occurrences)
... of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him" (Isaiah 59:19) we have "For he
will come as a rushing stream, which the breath of Yahweh driveth" (with the ...
/e/enemy.htm - 41k

Drivest (2 Occurrences)

/d/drivest.htm - 6k

Madman (8 Occurrences)
... saying, 'He came unto them, and he hath not returned, and the driving 'is' like
the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi, for with madness he driveth.' (See NIV). ...
/m/madman.htm - 8k

Changing (31 Occurrences)
... his soul. (BBE). Psalms 34:1 By David, in his changing his behaviour before
Abimelech, and he driveth him away, and he goeth. I do ...
/c/changing.htm - 15k

Straightway (96 Occurrences)
... Mark 1:12 And straightway the Spirit driveth him forth into the wilderness. (ASV).
Mark 1:18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. ...
/s/straightway.htm - 35k

Ungodly (41 Occurrences)
... the scornful. (KJV WBS). Psalms 1:4 The ungodly are not so: but are like
the chaff which the wind driveth away. (KJV WBS). Psalms ...
/u/ungodly.htm - 18k

Madness (13 Occurrences)
... declareth, saying, 'He came unto them, and he hath not returned, and the driving
'is' like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi, for with madness he driveth.' (YLT ...
/m/madness.htm - 17k

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