In biblical terminology, the word "gross" is often used to describe something that is thick, dense, or coarse. It can refer to physical objects, spiritual conditions, or moral states. The term is not frequently used in the Bible, but its implications are significant in understanding certain passages and themes.

Physical and Material Contexts

In a physical sense, "gross" can describe something that is substantial or weighty. For example, in the context of the tabernacle or temple, materials that are described as "gross" might be those that are heavy or dense, indicating their value and durability. The use of such materials would underscore the importance and sacredness of the structure.

Spiritual and Moral Contexts

More prominently, "gross" is used metaphorically to describe spiritual insensitivity or moral corruption. In Isaiah 6:10, the prophet speaks of the people's hearts becoming "calloused" or "gross," indicating a state of spiritual dullness and resistance to God's message: "Make the heart 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 danger of becoming spiritually insensitive, where one's heart is so hardened that it becomes impervious to divine truth and guidance.

Similarly, in Matthew 13:15, Jesus refers to this prophecy from Isaiah when explaining why He speaks in parables: "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, "gross" is synonymous with a spiritual condition that prevents individuals from receiving and responding to the Gospel.

Moral Implications

The concept of "gross" also extends to moral corruption and sinfulness. In the biblical worldview, sin is often depicted as a weight or burden, something that is heavy and oppressive. The "grossness" of sin can be understood as its ability to cloud judgment, harden hearts, and separate individuals from God. This is evident in passages that speak of the consequences of sin and the need for repentance and redemption.

Theological Significance

From a theological perspective, the use of "gross" in the Bible serves as a warning against spiritual complacency and moral decay. It calls believers to remain vigilant in their faith, to keep their hearts open to God's word, and to avoid the hardening that comes from persistent sin. The imagery of a "gross" heart or spirit underscores the importance of maintaining a tender and responsive relationship with God, one that is open to His correction and guidance.

In summary, while the term "gross" may not appear frequently in the biblical text, its implications are profound, serving as a metaphor for spiritual and moral conditions that hinder one's relationship with God. Through the lens of Scripture, believers are encouraged to seek purity of heart and to remain sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.1. (superl.) Great; large; bulky; fat; of huge size; excessively large.

2. (superl.) Coarse; rough; not fine or delicate.

3. (superl.) Not easily aroused or excited; not sensitive in perception or feeling; dull; witless.

4. (superl.) Expressing, Or originating in, animal or sensual appetites; hence, coarse, vulgar, low, obscene, or impure.

5. (superl.) Thick; dense; not attenuated; as, a gross medium.

6. (superl.) Great; palpable; serious; vagrant; shameful; as, a gross mistake; gross injustice; gross negligence.

7. (superl.) Whole; entire; total; without deduction; as, the gross sum, or gross amount, the gross weight; -- opposed to net.

8. (n.) The main body; the chief part, bulk, or mass.

9. (sing. & pl.) The number of twelve dozen; twelve times twelve; as, a gross of bottles; ten gross of pens.

GROSS

gros (`araphel): Used twice with "darkness" in Isaiah 60:2 Jeremiah 13:16. In the New Testament the verb pachuno, "to make fat," is applied twice to "making gross" the heart (Matthew 13:15 Acts 28:27).

See GREASE.

1608. ekporneuo -- mid. to give oneself up to fornication
... Word Origin from ek and porneuo Definition mid. to give oneself up to fornication
NASB Word Usage gross immorality (1), indulged in gross immorality (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1608.htm - 6k

3975. pachuno -- to thicken, to fatten, fig. to make dull
... become dull. From a derivative of pegnumi (meaning thick); to thicken, ie (by
implication) to fatten (figuratively, stupefy or render callous) -- wax gross. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3975.htm - 6k

4152. pneumatikos -- spiritual
... From pneuma; non-carnal, ie (humanly) ethereal (as opposed to gross), or (daemoniacally)
a spirit (concretely), or (divinely) supernatural, regenerate ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4152.htm - 7k

2954. taphash -- to be gross
... to be gross. Transliteration: taphash Phonetic Spelling: (taw-fash') Short Definition:
covered. ... root Definition to be gross NASB Word Usage covered (1). be fat. ...
/hebrew/2954.htm - 5k

5666. abah -- to be thick, fat, or gross
... 5665, 5666. abah. 5667 . to be thick, fat, or gross. Transliteration: abah
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-baw') Short Definition: thicker. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5666.htm - 5k

6205. araphel -- cloud, heavy cloud
... gross, thick dark cloud,. Probably from araph; gloom (as of a lowering sky) --
(gross, thick) dark (cloud, -ness). see HEBREW araph. 6204, 6205. ...
/hebrew/6205.htm - 6k

8082. shamen -- fat, robust
... fat, lusty, plenteous From shaman; greasy, ie Gross; figuratively, rich -- fat,
lusty, plenteous. see HEBREW shaman. 8081, 8082. shamen. 8082a . ...
/hebrew/8082.htm - 5k

8080. shamen -- to grow fat
... become make, wax fat. A primitive root; to shine, ie (by analogy) be (causatively,
make) oily or gross -- become (make, wax) fat. 8079, 8080. shamen. 8081 ...
/hebrew/8080.htm - 6k

The Christian Gross.
... THE CHRISTIAN GROSS. THE CHRISTIAN GROSS. 8,6,8,6. "Then said Jesus unto
his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny ...
/.../borthwick/hymns from the land of luther/the christian gross.htm

I have Elsewhere Shown the Gross Darkness and Ignorance which ...
... Address 49: I have elsewhere shown the gross darkness and ignorance which
govern that which is called? I have elsewhere shown ...
/.../address 49 0 0 i have elsewhere.htm

The Second Commandment: Gross Sin Forbidden.
... Apostles. The Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations.
Chapter II. "The Second Commandment: Gross Sin Forbidden. 1 ...
/.../the teaching of the twelve apostles/chapter ii name second commandment .htm

Does God Forbid in this Commandment, Only Adultery, and Such Like ...
... Lord's Day 41 Question 109 Does God forbid in this commandment, only adultery,
and such like gross sins? Does God forbid in this ...
/.../various/the heidelberg catechism /question 109 does god forbid.htm

Apion Book 2 Footnotes
... of those Ptolemus, which has been universally supposed to have happened under Ptolemy
Philopater, the fourth of them, is no better than a gross error of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/against apion/apion book 2 footnotes.htm

Of Evil Angels
... 2. We can only observe, in a gross and general manner, rising one above another,
first, inorganical earth, then minerals and vegetables in their several orders ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 72 of evil angels.htm

Preface.
... can not, punish. Considering the divine attributes, the first is too gross
to be digested by our strongest wishes. And since omnipotence ...
//christianbookshelf.org/young/youngs night thoughts/preface.htm

Your Apology Says that There are Three Opinions as to the Origin ...
... the opinion of Origen is true that our souls existed before our bodies and committed
some sin because of which they have been tied to these gross bodies; or ...
/.../30 your apology says that.htm

Thou Shalt not Take the Name of the Lord, Thy God, in Vain.
... Behold, all this is decking one's self out with God's name, or making a pretty show,
or claiming to be right, whether it occur in gross, worldly business or in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/the large catechism/thou shalt not take the.htm

The Indwelling Spirit Fully and Forever Satisfying.
... the First Epistle to the Corinthians that the believers in Corinth were very imperfect
believers; they were full of imperfection and there was gross sin among ...
/.../the person and work of the holy spirit/chapter x the indwelling spirit.htm

Gross (12 Occurrences)
... 5. (superl.) Thick; dense; not attenuated; as, a gross medium. 6. (superl.)
Great; palpable; serious; vagrant; shameful; as, a gross...
/g/gross.htm - 11k

Outrage (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Injurious violence or wanton wrong done to persons or things; a gross violation
of right or decency; excessive abuse; wanton mischief; gross injury. ...
/o/outrage.htm - 8k

Grossness (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The state or quality of being gross; thickness;
corpulence; coarseness; shamefulness. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/g/grossness.htm - 6k

Waxed (57 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of
hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see ...
/w/waxed.htm - 23k

Fine (184 Occurrences)
... artful; skillful; dexterous. 4. (superl.) Not coarse, gross, or heavy. 5.
(superl.) Not gross; subtle; thin; tenous. 6. (superl.) Not ...
/f/fine.htm - 47k

Converted (11 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of
hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see ...
/c/converted.htm - 10k

Coarse (6 Occurrences)
... Large in bulk, or composed of large parts or particles; of inferior quality or
appearance; not fine in material or close in texture; gross; thick; rough ...
/c/coarse.htm - 8k

Haply (26 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of
hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with ...
/h/haply.htm - 17k

Guilty (131 Occurrences)
... and may have to mourn over many whose hearts still cling to their old sins, and
who have not repented of the impurity, fornication, and gross sensuality, of ...
/g/guilty.htm - 39k

Jehoram (27 Occurrences)
... His daughter Jehosheba was married to the high priest Jehoiada. He sank into gross
idolatry, and brought upon himself and his kingdom the anger of Jehovah. ...
/j/jehoram.htm - 30k

Should we tithe off our gross or net income? | GotQuestions.org

What is the strange flesh in Jude 1:7? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about rape? | GotQuestions.org

Gross: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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