Topical Encyclopedia In the context of the Bible, the term "dull" often refers to a lack of spiritual perception or understanding. It is used to describe individuals or groups who are slow to grasp spiritual truths or who are resistant to the teachings of God. This concept is frequently addressed in both the Old and New Testaments, highlighting the importance of spiritual awareness and receptivity to God's word.Old Testament References In the Old Testament, the concept of dullness is often associated with the Israelites' repeated failure to understand and obey God's commands. For example, in Isaiah 6:9-10, the prophet Isaiah is instructed to deliver a message to the people: "Go and tell this people: ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed." This passage highlights the spiritual dullness of the people, which prevents them from fully comprehending God's message and experiencing His healing. New Testament References In the New Testament, Jesus often encounters spiritual dullness among His disciples and the religious leaders of His time. In Matthew 13:15, Jesus quotes the passage from Isaiah, applying it to the people of His day: "For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them." Here, Jesus emphasizes the importance of spiritual perception and the consequences of dullness in understanding His teachings. The author of Hebrews also addresses the issue of spiritual dullness among believers. In Hebrews 5:11-12, the writer expresses concern about the readers' lack of progress in their spiritual understanding: "We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing. Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food!" This admonition serves as a call for believers to mature in their faith and deepen their understanding of God's word. Spiritual Implications The Bible's references to dullness serve as a warning against spiritual complacency and a call to cultivate a receptive heart. Dullness is often linked to a hardened heart, which can result from persistent sin, unbelief, or neglect of spiritual disciplines. The Scriptures encourage believers to seek wisdom and understanding, as seen in Proverbs 4:7: "Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it costs all you have, get understanding." In summary, the concept of dullness in the Bible underscores the need for spiritual vigilance and the pursuit of a deeper relationship with God. It challenges believers to remain open to the Holy Spirit's guidance and to actively engage with the teachings of Scripture. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (superl.) Slow of understanding; wanting readiness of apprehension; stupid; doltish; blockish.2. (superl.) Slow in action; sluggish; unready; awkward. 3. (superl.) Insensible; unfeeling. 4. (superl.) Not keen in edge or point; lacking sharpness; blunt. 5. (superl.) Not bright or clear to the eye; wanting in liveliness of color or luster; not vivid; obscure; dim; as, a dull fire or lamp; a dull red or yellow; a dull mirror. 6. (superl.) Heavy; gross; cloggy; insensible; spiritless; lifeless; inert. 7. (superl.) Furnishing little delight, spirit, or variety; uninteresting; tedious; cheerless; gloomy; melancholy; depressing; as, a dull story or sermon; a dull occupation or period; hence, cloudy; overcast; as, a dull day. 8. (v. t.) To deprive of sharpness of edge or point. 9. (v. t.) To make dull, stupid, or sluggish; to stupefy, as the senses, the feelings, the perceptions, and the like. 10. (v. t.) To render dim or obscure; to sully; to tarnish. 11. (v. t.) To deprive of liveliness or activity; to render heavy; to make inert; to depress; to weary; to sadden. 12. (v. i.) To become dull or stupid. Greek 3975. pachuno -- to thicken, to fatten, fig. to make dull ... to make dull. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: pachuno Phonetic Spelling: (pakh-oo'-no) Short Definition: I fatten Definition: I fatten, thicken; pass. ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3975.htm - 6k 3474. moros -- dull, stupid, foolish 2974. kophos -- blunt, dull 3576. nothros -- sluggish, slothful 4456. poroo -- to petrify, ie to harden 3472. moria -- foolishness 3640. oligopistos -- little faith 1021. bradus -- slow 3473. morologia -- foolish talking 917. bareos -- heavily Strong's Hebrew 2447. chaklili -- dull... 2446, 2447. chaklili. 2448 . dull. Transliteration: chaklili Phonetic Spelling: (khak-leel') Short Definition: dull. Word Origin ... /hebrew/2447.htm - 6k 6949a. qahah -- to be blunt or dull 3544. keheh -- dim, dull, faint 6949. qahah -- to be blunt or dull 3513. kabad -- to be heavy, weighty, or burdensome 3543. kahah -- to be or grow dim or faint 6484. patsar -- to push, press Library How the Wise and the Dull are to be Admonished. tis Only Our Dull Hearts that Tire So Soon What Augustin Requests from his Readers. The Errors of Readers ... Spiritual Blindness. Stones Rolled Away The Praetorian and the Apostle On Attractiveness. An Appeal to the Outsider; Or, the Claims of Christianity The Maniac Objections to the Foregoing Proof. Whether, in the Generation of ... Thesaurus Dull (16 Occurrences)... 5. (superl.) Not bright or clear to the eye; wanting in liveliness of color or luster; not vivid; obscure; dim; as, a dull fire or lamp; a dull red or yellow ... /d/dull.htm - 12k Dull-witted (1 Occurrence) Minds (137 Occurrences) Flat (33 Occurrences) Gross (12 Occurrences) Blunt (2 Occurrences) Grown (77 Occurrences) Waxed (57 Occurrences) Fat (150 Occurrences) Tarnish (1 Occurrence) Resources Is it wrong for a woman to get an epidural and/or other pain relievers during childbirth? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did Jesus teach in parables? | GotQuestions.org What are the causes and solutions for a hardened heart? | GotQuestions.org Dull: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Dull (16 Occurrences)Matthew 13:15 Mark 6:52 Mark 8:17 Acts 28:27 Romans 2:20 2 Corinthians 3:14 Hebrews 5:11 Genesis 49:12 Leviticus 13:39 Job 18:3 Psalms 92:6 Ecclesiastes 10:10 Isaiah 6:10 Isaiah 59:1 Jeremiah 6:10 Lamentations 4:1 Subtopics Related Terms |
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