In biblical terms, the concept of "erase" is often associated with the removal or blotting out of sins, names, or records. This idea is deeply rooted in the spiritual and moral teachings of the Bible, where the erasure of sin signifies divine forgiveness and redemption.

Erasure of Sin

The Bible frequently uses the metaphor of erasing or blotting out to describe God's forgiveness of sins. In Isaiah 43:25 , God declares, "I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more." This passage highlights the divine initiative in erasing sin, emphasizing that it is done for God's sake and reflects His mercy and grace.

Similarly, in Psalm 51:1-2 , David pleads with God, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." Here, the psalmist seeks the erasure of his sins as an act of divine compassion and cleansing.

Erasure from the Book of Life

The concept of erasure also appears in the context of the Book of Life, a heavenly record of those who belong to God. In Revelation 3:5 , Jesus promises, "He who overcomes will be clothed in white garments, and I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and His angels." This assurance underscores the permanence of salvation for those who remain faithful, contrasting with the potential erasure of those who do not.

Erasure as Judgment

Conversely, erasure can also signify divine judgment. In Exodus 32:32-33 , after the Israelites' sin with the golden calf, Moses intercedes, saying, "But now, if You would only forgive their sin. But if not, please blot me out of the book You have written." The LORD responds, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot out of My book." This exchange illustrates the seriousness of sin and the potential for divine erasure as a form of judgment.

Symbolic and Literal Erasure

The act of erasing or blotting out is both symbolic and literal in biblical texts. Symbolically, it represents the removal of guilt and the restoration of a right relationship with God. Literally, it reflects ancient practices of record-keeping, where names or entries could be physically removed or altered.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the concept of erasure in the Bible underscores the themes of divine justice and mercy. It highlights God's willingness to forgive and restore, as well as the consequences of persistent sin and rebellion. The assurance of not being erased from the Book of Life offers hope and encouragement to believers, affirming the security of their salvation through faith in Christ.

In summary, the biblical notion of "erase" encompasses both the hope of forgiveness and the warning of judgment, reflecting the dual aspects of God's character as both just and merciful.1. (v. t.) To rub or scrape out, as letters or characters written, engraved, or painted; to efface; to expunge; to cross out; as, to erase a word or a name.

2. (v. t.) Fig.: To obliterate; to expunge; to blot out; -- used of ideas in the mind or memory.

1813. exaleipho -- to wipe out, erase, obliterate
... to wipe out, erase, obliterate. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: exaleipho
Phonetic Spelling: (ex-al-i'-fo) Short Definition: I wipe away, obliterate ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1813.htm - 7k4229. machah -- to wipe, wipe out
... A primitive root; properly, to stroke or rub; by implication, to erase; also to
smooth (as if with oil), ie Grease or make fat; also to touch, ie Reach to ...
/hebrew/4229.htm - 5k

Book viii. On the Various Meanings of Words and Names
... [Eccl.34:28]. To clean is to erase vices; in the gospel: Jesus touched him, saying,
I will you to be clean, and immediately, the leper was cleansed. [Matt.8:3]. ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/book viii on the various.htm

Peter and John Examined by the Council.
... and in the demonstration of the Spirit, had made an impression, which not all the
arts of sophistry, nor all the terrors of persecution, could afterwards erase ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture v peter and john.htm

The Memories of Home. [A]
... upon the mother's heart! No flight of years; no distance from the grave
in which he slumbers, can erase the image. It will be ever ...
/.../philips/the christian home/chapter xxvii the memories of.htm

Entole Ib'.
... he metanoia auton kathara genetai tas loipas hemeras tes zoes auton.3. ten diakonian
tauten, hen soi didomi, ektelei epimelos, kai polu erase; heueseis gar ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lake/the apostolic fathers/entole ib.htm

Footnotes
... All I can do is to erase every word which might have occasioned him the least annoyance;
and indeed, as seldom as possible to introduce his respected name. ...
/.../burgon/the last twelve verses of the gospel according to s mark /footnotes.htm

Recent Confessional Declarations.
... missions, to restate such doctrines as the divine predestination, to properly emphasize
the duties of human brotherhood, and also to erase polemic statements ...
/.../i recent confessional declarations.htm

O Despotou Philanthropias!
... Here, prostrate, at the Cross I lie,. But I adore and praise; For me, for me, Thy
blood was spilt,. Mine is the sin, and mine the guilt". O God, my guilt erase. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the apostolic church/o despotou philanthropias.htm

'Forgive us Our Debts'
... did before forgiveness. Both are eager to show love, not in order to erase
the past, but because the past is erased. When a father ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/forgive us our debts.htm

'A Time to Plant'
... holiness, and strength. For one thing, you have got no past, or next to
none written all over, which it is hard to erase. You have ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/a time to plant.htm

Remarks on the Preceding Questions, and on those Opposed to Them
... If they acknowledge it, but say, Yet God is not induced by them;' I will then command
them to erase the same word out of their interrogatory, and in a better ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 1/remarks on the preceding questions.htm

Erase (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (vt) To rub or scrape out, as letters or characters written, engraved, or painted;
to efface; to expunge; to cross out; as, to erase a word or a name. ...
/e/erase.htm - 7k

Erastus (3 Occurrences)

/e/erastus.htm - 9k

Rase (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (vt) To rub along the surface of; to graze. 2. (vt) To rub or scratch out; to
erase. 3. (vt) To level with the ground; to overthrow; to destroy; to raze. ...
/r/rase.htm - 7k

Raze (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To destroy; to demolish; to erase; to efface; to
obliterate; as, to raze a building. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/r/raze.htm - 6k

E'ranites (1 Occurrence)
E'ranites. Eranites, E'ranites. Erase . Multi-Version Concordance E'ranites
(1 Occurrence). ... (See RSV). Eranites, E'ranites. Erase . Reference Bible.
/e/e'ranites.htm - 6k

Dash (30 Occurrences)
... a review or sermon. 6. (vt) To erase by a stroke; to strike out; knock
out; -- with out; as, to dash out a word. 7. (vi) To rust ...
/d/dash.htm - 19k

Abolish (6 Occurrences)
... down," "made void," "My righteousness shall not be abolished" (Isaiah 51:6), ie
as shown in God's faithfulness to His promises; machah, "to erase," "blot out ...
/a/abolish.htm - 10k

Cross (157 Occurrences)
... 26. (vt) To cancel by marking crosses on or over, or drawing a line across; to erase; --
usually with out, off, or over; as, to cross out a name. 27. ...
/c/cross.htm - 50k

Nightmonster
... We do not hesitate on the basis of the evidence to erase "Alukah" (Proverbs 30:15,
the Revised Version (British and American) "horse-leech," by some translated ...
/n/nightmonster.htm - 17k

Night-monster
... We do not hesitate on the basis of the evidence to erase "Alukah" (Proverbs 30:15,
the Revised Version (British and American) "horse-leech," by some translated ...
/n/night-monster.htm - 17k

Is it possible for a person's name to be erased from the Book of Life? | GotQuestions.org

If Jesus paid the price for our sin, why do we still suffer the consequences of our sin? | GotQuestions.org

Can a Christian lose salvation? | GotQuestions.org

Erase: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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