The term "hanging-down" is not directly found as a phrase in the Bible, but it can be understood in the context of humility, submission, and sorrow, which are themes prevalent throughout the Scriptures. The imagery of something "hanging down" often conveys a sense of dejection or humility, both of which are significant in biblical teachings.

Humility and Submission

In the Bible, humility is a virtue that is highly esteemed. The act of lowering oneself or being in a position of submission is often symbolized by the physical posture of bowing or having one's head "hanging down." This is seen as an outward expression of an inward attitude of humility before God. James 4:10 states, "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you." This verse emphasizes the importance of humility as a precursor to being lifted up by God.

Sorrow and Mourning

The concept of "hanging down" can also be associated with sorrow and mourning. In times of grief, individuals may physically lower their heads or bodies as a sign of their emotional state. This is reflected in the lamentations and expressions of sorrow found throughout the Psalms. Psalm 38:6 says, "I am bent and brought low; all day long I go about mourning." Here, the psalmist describes a posture of being bent or hanging down as a result of deep sorrow and repentance.

Contrition and Repentance

The Bible frequently calls for a contrite heart, one that is repentant and acknowledges its need for God's mercy. Isaiah 57:15 declares, "For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.'" The imagery of being lowly or having a spirit that is "hanging down" is indicative of a heart that is open to repentance and transformation by God.

Symbolism in Worship

In worship, the act of bowing or having one's head hang down can symbolize reverence and adoration for God. This physical expression is a way for believers to demonstrate their submission and honor to the Almighty. The Bible recounts numerous instances where individuals bow down in worship, acknowledging God's sovereignty and majesty. In Nehemiah 8:6 , it is recorded, "Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted up their hands and responded, 'Amen, Amen!' Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground."

Conclusion

While the specific phrase "hanging-down" may not be explicitly mentioned in the Bible, the concept is woven throughout the Scriptures in themes of humility, sorrow, contrition, and worship. These themes are central to the Christian faith, encouraging believers to adopt a posture of humility and reverence before God.

Marcellus, as Might Well be Expected, was Exceedingly Gratified by ...
... But about midnight sleep enviously and inopportunely crept upon us, and with necks
drooping and unstrung, and heads hanging down, it made our faces strike ...
/.../2 marcellus as might well.htm

Elijah and the Widow's Son.
... With his thick staff in his hand and his woolly mantle on his shoulders, his head
shaded by a shawl hanging down each side of his face, he crossed the plains ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/elijah and the widows son.htm

Of the Parts of Man: the Eyes and Ears.
... n, from hearing,"the ears (aures) were named as though audes by the change of a
letter,"God would not form of soft skins, which, hanging down and flaccid ...
/.../lactantius/on the workmanship of god/chap viii of the parts of.htm

Concerning the Garments of the Priests, and of the High Priest.
... vestment has no loose or hollow parts any where in it, but only a narrow aperture
about the neck; and it is tied with certain strings hanging down from the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 concerning the garments.htm

The Divine Pleader.
... Not the fervid ejaculations of those feelingly alive to their spiritual exigencies,
but listless, unctionless, the hands hanging down, the knees feeble and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/xv the divine pleader.htm

A Secret Life of Prayer.
... a car. There was a thick, dirty wire hanging down from the cross arm high
up of the wire pole. He happened to stop there. And absorbed ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on service/a secret life of prayer.htm

"All was Closed, and I Saw no More. " "For the Folly of Feeling a ...
... with syde lockes hangyng on the thouwonges." S. de Cressy gives this as: "his hair
was red as rust not scoured; afore with side locks hanging down in flakes.". ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter lxvi all was closed.htm

Devout Customs and Usages
... embroidery and fringed. The Priest wears it around his neck, the ends
hanging down over the front of the surplice. Deacons wear ...
/.../regester/the worship of the church/devout customs and usages.htm

Down the Islands
... the top with shining foliage, like that of a Portugal laurel; all around it upright
Cerei reared their gray candelabra, and below them, hanging down the rock ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter ii down the islands.htm

Of Abbot Ch??remon and his Excuse About the Teaching which we ...
... but with his back bowed with age and constant prayer, so that, as if he were once
more in his childhood he crawled with his hands hanging down and resting on ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter iv of abbot chaeremon.htm

Hanging-down (1 Occurrence)
Hanging-down. Hanging, Hanging-down. Hangings . Multi-Version
Concordance Hanging-down (1 Occurrence). Hebrews 12:12 ...
/h/hanging-down.htm - 6k

Thrum (2 Occurrences)
... American) reads "He will cut me off from the loom," margin "thrum." "Thrum" is a
technical term of weavers, denoting the threads of the warp hangingdown in a ...
/t/thrum.htm - 8k

Hanging (82 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 12:12 For this cause let the hands which are hangingdown be lifted
up, and let the feeble knees be made strong, (BBE YLT). ...
/h/hanging.htm - 35k

Hangings (23 Occurrences)

/h/hangings.htm - 17k

Lop (2 Occurrences)
... 6. (vt) To let hang down; as, to lop the head. 7. (a.) Hangingdown; as, lop ears; --
used also in compound adjectives; as, lop-eared; lopsided. ...
/l/lop.htm - 7k

Loosened (6 Occurrences)
... (WEB). Hebrews 12:12 Wherefore, the hanging-down hands and the loosened knees
set ye up; (YLT). Job 39:5 "Who has set the wild donkey free? ...
/l/loosened.htm - 8k

Folded (19 Occurrences)
... Exodus 26:12 And the folded part which is over of the curtains of the tent, the
half-curtain which is folded back, will be hangingdown over the back of the ...
/f/folded.htm - 12k

Turban (13 Occurrences)
... of the male sex, consisting of a cap, and a sash, scarf, or shawl, usually of cotton
or linen, wound about the cap, and sometimes hangingdown the neck. ...
/t/turban.htm - 11k

Dress (38 Occurrences)
... of a piece of woollen cloth like a Scotch plaid, either wrapped round the body or
thrown over the shoulders like a shawl, with the ends hangingdown in front ...
/d/dress.htm - 53k

Dependent (35 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Hangingdown; as, a dependent bough or
leaf. 2. (a.) Relying on, or subject to, something else ...
/d/dependent.htm - 17k

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