In the Bible, the term "hisses" is often used metaphorically to describe a sound of derision, scorn, or judgment. It is a vivid expression that conveys the idea of contempt or the act of calling attention to something with a negative connotation. The use of "hisses" in Scripture is primarily found in the prophetic books, where it serves as a symbol of divine judgment or the reaction of nations to the downfall of others.

Biblical References:

1. Jeremiah 18:16 : "Their land will become desolate, an object of lasting scorn; all who pass by will be appalled and will shake their heads." In this context, the hissing is a reaction to the desolation and judgment that has come upon the land due to the people's disobedience to God. It signifies the shame and disgrace that accompany divine retribution.

2. Jeremiah 19:8 : "I will make this city a desolation and an object of scorn. Everyone who passes by will be appalled and will hiss because of all its wounds." Here, the hissing is a response to the severe judgment that God pronounces upon Jerusalem. The city becomes a spectacle of ruin, eliciting hisses from onlookers who witness its devastation.

3. 1 Kings 9:8 : "And this house will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and will hiss, saying, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this house?’" This passage refers to the potential consequences of Israel's unfaithfulness. The hissing represents the astonishment and derision of those who observe the consequences of turning away from God.

4. Lamentations 2:15 : "All who pass by clap their hands at you; they scoff and shake their heads at the Daughter of Jerusalem: ‘Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth?’" Although the word "hiss" is not directly used in this verse, the imagery of scorn and derision is similar. The onlookers express their contempt for Jerusalem's fall from grace.

Theological Significance:

The use of "hisses" in the Bible underscores the seriousness of divine judgment and the consequences of sin. It serves as a warning to the people of God to remain faithful and obedient to His commandments. The imagery of hissing highlights the public nature of judgment and the shame that accompanies turning away from God's ways.

In a broader theological context, the concept of hissing as a form of derision can be seen as a reflection of the world's response to the downfall of those who once held a privileged position in God's plan. It serves as a reminder of the importance of humility and the need to seek God's mercy and forgiveness.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, hissing was a common expression of scorn or disapproval. It was often used in public settings to shame or ridicule individuals or groups. The biblical authors employed this cultural understanding to convey the depth of disgrace associated with divine judgment.

The prophetic use of hissing in the Bible also reflects the historical realities faced by Israel and Judah. As nations that experienced periods of conquest and exile, the imagery of hissing would have resonated with the original audience, who understood the shame of being a spectacle to surrounding nations.

Overall, the biblical use of "hisses" serves as a powerful metaphor for the consequences of disobedience and the public nature of divine judgment, reminding believers of the importance of faithfulness to God.

Psalm XLII.
... the serpents of iniquity; then wilt thou long yet more for "the Fountain of Truth."
Perhaps avarice whispers in thine ear some dark counsel, hisses against the ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xlii.htm

Jesus Before Caiphas.
... CHAPTER VIII. Jesus before Caiphas. Jesus was led across the court, and
the mob received him with groans and hisses. As he passed ...
/.../chapter viii jesus before caiphas.htm

Mr. Beecher in England
... to face a howling mob. When he arose to speak, the tumult and hisses made
it impossible for him to be heard. Calmly he stood and ...
/.../griswold/sixty years with plymouth church/mr beecher in england.htm

The Evil one Perceived his Great Humiliation, and Boasted Himself ...
... and a mighty lord, in cunning within man: [and the snake that is without makes it
fear.] His lusts within him is coiled continually; his jealousy hisses like a ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn xl the evil one.htm

He Meets the Objection Taken from These Words: no one Gave Birth ...
... So then that new serpent, in order to destroy the faith of the holy nativity, hisses
out against the Church of God and says: "No one ever gives birth to one ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter ii he meets the.htm

Letter Lxxxviii. To Theophilus.
... The old serpent [2621] hisses no longer, but, writhing and disembowelled,
lurks in dark caverns unable to bear the shining of the sun. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lxxxviii to theophilus.htm

Brokenness
... attempt to strike at them. The snake rears itself up and hisses and tries
to strike back"a true picture of self. But a worm offers ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hession/the calvary road/chapter i brokenness.htm

A Parable in a Miracle
... are too often"as I, for my part, sometimes half despairingly feel when I stand in
the pulpit"like a firebrand dropped into a pond, which hisses for a ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/a parable in a miracle.htm

Forgiven and Unforgiving
... Little rattlesnakes are snakes; they have rattles and poison fangs as really as
the most monstrous of the brood that coils and hisses in some cave. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/forgiven and unforgiving.htm

"Eternal Sin"
... Heaven does not reject the vilest whom the world hisses at, the most desperate and
bloodstained whose life the world exacts in vengeance for his outrages. ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 3 28-30 eternal sin.htm

Hisses (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Hisses (5 Occurrences). Job 27:23 Men shall clap their
hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place. (See RSV NIV). ...
/h/hisses.htm - 8k

Hissed (6 Occurrences)

/h/hissed.htm - 8k

Whistling (4 Occurrences)
... Lamentations 2:16 All your haters are opening their mouths wide against you; making
hisses and whistling through their teeth, they say, We have made a meal of ...
/w/whistling.htm - 8k

Annas (4 Occurrences)
... curse in the Talmud, "Woe to the family of Annas! Woe to the serpent-like
hisses" (Pes 57a). As to the part he played in the trial ...
/a/annas.htm - 13k

Waving (23 Occurrences)
... place for beasts to take their rest in! everyone who goes by her will make
hisses, waving his hand. (BBE). Zechariah 2:9 For lo, I am ...
/w/waving.htm - 13k

Hissing (9 Occurrences)
... & vb. n.) of Hiss. 2. (n.) The act of emitting a hiss or hisses. 3. (n.) The occasion
of contempt; the object of scorn and derision. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/h/hissing.htm - 9k

Hisseth (1 Occurrence)

/h/hisseth.htm - 6k

Derision (24 Occurrences)
... works of the family of Ahab, and you have been guided by their designs: so that
I might make you a cause of wonder and your people a cause of hisses; and the ...
/d/derision.htm - 14k

Mouths (86 Occurrences)
... Lamentations 2:16 All your haters are opening their mouths wide against you; making
hisses and whistling through their teeth, they say, We have made a meal of ...
/m/mouths.htm - 32k

Guided (86 Occurrences)
... works of the family of Ahab, and you have been guided by their designs: so that
I might make you a cause of wonder and your people a cause of hisses; and the ...
/g/guided.htm - 31k

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