The concept of being motionless, or still, is a recurring theme in the Bible, often associated with divine intervention, spiritual reflection, and the presence of God. In Scripture, moments of stillness are frequently depicted as opportunities for believers to experience God's power, guidance, and peace.

Biblical Instances of Motionlessness:

1. Divine Command for Stillness:
One of the most well-known instances of motionlessness is found in Exodus 14:13-14, where Moses tells the Israelites, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." . Here, the Israelites are instructed to remain motionless, trusting in God's deliverance as He parts the Red Sea.

2. Stillness as Trust in God:
Psalm 46:10 is another significant verse that emphasizes stillness: "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." . This verse encourages believers to cease striving and recognize God's sovereignty and power, highlighting that stillness can be an act of faith and trust in God's ultimate plan.

3. Elijah's Encounter with God:
In 1 Kings 19:11-12, Elijah experiences God's presence not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a gentle whisper. The passage illustrates that God often communicates in moments of quiet and stillness, requiring Elijah to be motionless and attentive to hear His voice.

4. Jesus Calming the Storm:
In the New Testament, Jesus demonstrates His authority over nature in Mark 4:39: "Then He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Silence! Be still!' And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm." . Here, Jesus commands the storm to become motionless, showcasing His divine power and bringing peace to His disciples.

5. Spiritual Reflection and Prayer:
The practice of being motionless is also associated with prayer and meditation. In Matthew 6:6, Jesus instructs, "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." . This suggests a setting of stillness and solitude, where believers can focus on their relationship with God.

Theological Implications:

Motionlessness in the Bible often signifies a posture of humility and receptivity before God. It is a state where human effort ceases, allowing divine action to take precedence. This theme underscores the importance of faith, patience, and reliance on God's timing and wisdom. In a world characterized by constant activity and noise, the biblical call to be motionless serves as a reminder of the peace and assurance found in God's presence.(a.) Without motion; being at rest.691. argeo -- to be idle
... 691 (from 692 , "idle") -- properly, motionless (at rest); doing nothing ("inactive").
Word Origin from argos Definition to be idle NASB Word Usage idle (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/691.htm - 6k1826a. damam -- to be or grow dumb, silent or still
... or still NASB Word Usage ceasing (1), destroyed (1), doomed (1), have...rest (1),
keeps silent (1), kept silent (3), made silent (1), motionless (1), perish (1 ...
/hebrew/1826a.htm - 6k

Second Tractate. The Origin and Order of the Beings. Following on ...
... Soul arises as the idea and act of the motionless Intellectual-Principle " which
itself sprang from its own motionless prior " but the soul's operation is ...
/.../plotinus/the six enneads/second tractate the origin and.htm

Concerning the Nature of Deity: that it is Incomprehensible.
... and so on to infinity till we at length arrive at something motionless.
For the first mover is motionless, and that is the Deity. ...
/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter iv concerning the nature of.htm

Our Death.
... in its most general form is: "A thing lives if it moves from within." A man found
in the street, leaning against a wall, perfectly motionless, is supposed to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xvi our death.htm

1 to Pray Does not Imply that Without Prayer God Would not Give us ...
... 4. When we see a crane standing motionless on the side of a tank or lake, we may
suppose from his attitude that he is musing on the glory of God or the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/singh/at the masters feet/section ii 1 to pray.htm

Fourth Tractate. Problems of the Soul (2).
... Realm, is amenable to change; it has, for example, its inward advance, and obviously
anything that attains position near to something motionless does so by a ...
/.../plotinus/the six enneads/fourth tractate problems of the.htm

The Hallowing of Work and of Rest
... The pillar of cloud, which had lain diffused and motionless over the Tabernacle,
gathers itself together into an upright shaft, and moves, a dark blot against ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the hallowing of work and.htm

Imperial Caesar
... Meanwhile the midday activity on the Roman roadway swept by the smoldering fire
and the motionless figure lying in the grass some distance back from the highway ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter vii imperial caesar.htm

Stones Crying Out
... water. I. The first picture here brought before us is that of the motionless
ark in the midst of what had been Jordan. There is ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/stones crying out.htm

The Guiding Pillar
... camp rested it 'returned to the many thousands of Israel' and lay quietly stretched
above the Tabernacle like one of the long-drawn, motionless clouds above ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the guiding pillar.htm

Felicitous Phrases
... moral, material, and social. motionless, staring, and appalled. motives, purposes,
and intentions. ... silent, cold, and motionless. simple, full, and impressive. ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section iii felicitous phrases.htm

Motionless (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Without motion; being at rest. Multi-Version Concordance
Motionless (1 Occurrence). Exodus 15:16 Terror and dread falls on them. ...
/m/motionless.htm - 6k

Knees (47 Occurrences)
... hands that hang down, and the palsied (the King James Version "feeble") knees."
The Greek word used here (paralelumena, "paralyzed," "motionless") implies the ...
/k/knees.htm - 23k

Go (17871 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To pass from one place to another; to be in motion; to be in a state not
motionless or at rest; to proceed; to advance; to make progress; -- used, in ...
/g/go.htm - 19k

Feeble (147 Occurrences)
... hands that hang down, and the palsied (the King James Version "feeble") knees."
The Greek word used here (paralelumena, "paralyzed," "motionless") implies the ...
/f/feeble.htm - 38k

Dead (580 Occurrences)
... a dead sleep. 4. (a.) Still as death; motionless; inactive; useless; as,
dead calm; a dead load or weight. 5. (a.) So constructed ...
/d/dead.htm - 80k

Motions (2 Occurrences)

/m/motions.htm - 6k

Motioning (3 Occurrences)

/m/motioning.htm - 7k

Set (6715 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) To fix firmly; to make fast, permanent, or stable; to render motionless;
to give an unchanging place, form, or condition to. ...
/s/set.htm - 20k

Still (2005 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (adv.) Motionless; at rest; quiet; as, to stand
still; to lie or sit still. 2. (adv.) Uttering no sound ...
/s/still.htm - 10k

Stand (542 Occurrences)
... (n.) To offer one's self, or to be offered, as a candidate. 15. (n.) To stagnate;
not to flow; to be motionless. 16. (n.) To measure when erect on the feet. ...
/s/stand.htm - 39k

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