Definition and Context:
Groping, in a biblical context, often refers to a state of confusion, blindness, or lack of direction, both physically and spiritually. It is used metaphorically to describe the human condition when separated from divine guidance and wisdom. The imagery of groping is employed in Scripture to illustrate the plight of those who walk in darkness, lacking the light of God's truth.

Biblical References:

1. Deuteronomy 28:29 :
"At midday you will grope around like a blind man in the dark. You will be unsuccessful in everything you do; day after day you will be oppressed and plundered, with no one to save you."
· This verse is part of the curses pronounced upon Israel for disobedience to God's commandments. Groping here symbolizes the futility and helplessness that result from turning away from God's law.

2. Job 5:14 :
"They encounter darkness by day and grope at noon as in the night."
· In this passage, Eliphaz describes the fate of the wicked, who, despite the presence of light, are unable to find their way. This serves as a metaphor for spiritual blindness and the moral confusion that ensues from rejecting God's wisdom.

3. Isaiah 59:10 :
"Like the blind, we grope along the wall, feeling our way like those without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead."
· Isaiah uses the imagery of groping to depict the spiritual and moral decay of Israel. Despite the availability of God's guidance, the people are portrayed as blind and lost, unable to find their way due to their iniquities.

4. Acts 17:27 :
"God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us."
· In this New Testament context, Paul speaks to the Athenians about God's desire for humanity to seek and find Him. The idea of "reaching out" or "groping" for God suggests an earnest search for truth and divine presence, highlighting the accessibility of God to those who earnestly seek Him.

Theological Implications:
Groping, as depicted in the Bible, underscores the human condition apart from God. It serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual blindness and the consequences of sin. The imagery calls believers to recognize their need for divine illumination and guidance. It also emphasizes the importance of living in obedience to God's commandments to avoid the spiritual darkness that leads to groping.

Practical Application:
Believers are encouraged to seek God's wisdom and guidance through prayer, Scripture, and the Holy Spirit to avoid the pitfalls of spiritual blindness. The concept of groping serves as a reminder of the importance of remaining in the light of Christ, who declared Himself to be the "light of the world" (John 8:12). By walking in His light, Christians can navigate the complexities of life with clarity and purpose, avoiding the confusion and despair that come from spiritual darkness.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Grope.

Groping in the Dark.
... The Need Groping in the Dark. That is a bare suggestion of the need of the world
in bulk. ... They tell pathetically of the groping of man's heart after God. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks with world winners/groping in the dark.htm

Job --Groping
... PART II. SOME BIBLE TYPES OF PRAYER VII. JOB"GROPING. "Lord, teach us to
pray.""Luke 11:1. "Oh that I knew where I might find Him! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/whyte/lord teach us to pray/vii jobgroping.htm

The Great Proclamation
... We build our houses, we fancy that we are satisfied; and then there comes the stinging
thought that it is not all complete yet, and we go groping, groping in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the great proclamation.htm

What God Will do for Us
... gifts that are meant by His presence"that is to say, His sympathy, His help, His
love"are more fully given to a man who in the darkness is groping for his ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/what god will do for.htm

Christ all and in All.
... I am so thankful the Lord has not left us in darkness as to the right way. There
is no living man who has been groping in the darkness but may know the way. ...
/.../moody/the way to god and how to find it/chapter viii christ all and.htm

The Faith of Moses.
... 1. The initial stage in forming the servant of God is always the same,"a vague,
restless, eager groping in the dark, a putting forth feelers for the light of ...
/.../the expositors bible the epistle to the hebrews/chapter xii the faith of.htm

He is Lovely in his Offices
... receiving them. We are, by nature, blind and ignorant, at best but groping
in the dim light of nature after God, Acts 17:27. Jesus ...
/.../flavel/christ altogether lovely/he is lovely in his 2.htm

The Doctrine of Man
... This is not the picture, as evolution would have us believe, of an infantile savage
slowly groping his way towards articulate speech by imitation of the sounds ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrine of man.htm

Summary.
... XII. THE FAITH OF MOSES: xi.23-28. 1. Faith groping for the work of life. 2. Faith
chooses the work of life. 3. Faith a discipline for the work of life. ...
/.../edwards/the expositors bible the epistle to the hebrews/summary.htm

Marvel Not
... is no more exuberant moment in a man's life than when this wonder works until it
passes into truth, when reason flashes a sudden light into a groping mind, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/drummond/the ideal life/marvel not.htm

Groping (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Grope. Multi-Version
Concordance Groping (1 Occurrence). Genesis 19:11 They struck ...
/g/groping.htm - 6k

Gropeth (1 Occurrence)

/g/gropeth.htm - 6k

Gropling (1 Occurrence)

/g/gropling.htm - 6k

Who was Bar-Jesus in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What did Jesus mean when He said, “the eye is the lamp of the body” (Matthew 6:22)? | GotQuestions.org

What is spiritual darkness? | GotQuestions.org

Groping: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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