The term "narrow" in the Bible often conveys the idea of restriction, exclusivity, or difficulty, particularly in the context of spiritual and moral pathways. It is most prominently featured in the teachings of Jesus Christ, where it serves as a metaphor for the path to salvation and righteousness.

Key Biblical References:

1. Matthew 7:13-14 : "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." In this passage, Jesus contrasts the narrow gate with the wide gate, emphasizing that the path to eternal life is not the popular or easy choice. The narrow gate requires commitment, sacrifice, and adherence to God's commandments, while the broad road represents the way of the world, leading to spiritual ruin.

2. Luke 13:24 : "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able." Here, Jesus underscores the urgency and effort required to enter the kingdom of God. The narrow door symbolizes the exclusive nature of salvation, which demands earnest striving and perseverance in faith.

Theological Implications:

The concept of the narrow path is central to Christian theology, highlighting the necessity of a disciplined and devoted life in Christ. It suggests that true discipleship involves more than mere belief; it requires a transformation of heart and mind, aligning one's life with the teachings of Jesus. The narrow way is marked by obedience, humility, and a willingness to forsake worldly desires for the sake of the Gospel.

Moral and Ethical Dimensions:

From a moral standpoint, the narrow path calls believers to live counter-culturally, often in opposition to societal norms that conflict with biblical principles. It challenges Christians to uphold values such as integrity, purity, and love, even when these are unpopular or difficult to maintain. The narrow way is not about legalism but about a genuine relationship with God that manifests in righteous living.

Historical and Cultural Context:

In the historical context of Jesus' time, the imagery of gates and roads would have been familiar to His audience. Cities were often surrounded by walls with gates that controlled access, and roads varied in size and condition. The narrow gate metaphor would have resonated with listeners as a vivid illustration of the selective and intentional nature of entering God's kingdom.

Practical Application:

For contemporary believers, the call to enter through the narrow gate is a reminder to evaluate one's life choices and priorities. It encourages self-examination and a commitment to spiritual growth, urging Christians to seek God's will above all else. The narrow path is a journey of faith that requires reliance on God's grace and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

In summary, the biblical concept of "narrow" serves as a powerful metaphor for the Christian life, emphasizing the need for dedication, discernment, and devotion in the pursuit of eternal life with God.1. (superl.) of little breadth; not wide or broad; having little distance from side to side; as narrow board; a narrow street; a narrow hem.

2. (superl.) of little extent; very limited; circumscribed.

3. (superl.) Having but a little margin; having barely sufficient space, time, or number, etc.; close; near; -- with special reference to some peril or misfortune; as, a narrow shot; a narrow escape; a narrow majority.

4. (superl.) Limited as to means; straitened; pinching; as, narrow circumstances.

5. (superl.) Contracted; of limited scope; illiberal; bigoted; as, a narrow mind; narrow views.

6. (superl.) Parsimonious; stingy; covetous; selfish.

7. (superl.) Scrutinizing in detail; close; accurate; exact.

8. (superl.) Formed (as a vowel) by a close position of some part of the tongue in relation to the palate; or (according to Bell) by a tense condition of the pharynx; -- distinguished from wide; as e (eve) and / (f/d), etc., from i (ill) and / (f/t), etc. See Guide to Pronunciation, / 13.

9. (n.) A narrow passage; esp., a contracted part of a stream, lake, or sea; a strait connecting two bodies of water; -- usually in the plural; as, The Narrows of New York harbor.

10. (v. t.) To lessen the breadth of; to contract; to draw into a smaller compass; to reduce the width or extent of.

11. (v. t.) To contract the reach or sphere of; to make less liberal or more selfish; to limit; to confine; to restrict; as, to narrow one's views or knowledge; to narrow a question in discussion.

12. (v. t.) To contract the size of, as a stocking, by taking two stitches into one.

13. (v. i.) To become less broad; to contract; to become narrower; as, the sea narrows into a strait.

14. (v. i.) Not to step out enough to the one hand or the other; as, a horse narrows.

15. (v. i.) To contract the size of a stocking or other knit article, by taking two stitches into one.

4728. stenos -- narrow
... stenos. 4729 . narrow. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: stenos Phonetic
Spelling: (sten-os') Short Definition: narrow Definition: narrow, strait. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4728.htm - 6k

4729. stenochoreo -- to be made narrow, to compress
... to be made narrow, to compress. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: stenochoreo
Phonetic Spelling: (sten-okh-o-reh'-o) Short Definition: I press upon, cramp ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4729.htm - 7k

2346. thlibo -- to press, afflict
... to press, afflict. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: thlibo Phonetic Spelling:
(thlee'-bo) Short Definition: I make narrow, persecute, press hard Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2346.htm - 7k

4730. stenochoria -- narrowness of space, fig. difficulty
... difficulty. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: stenochoria Phonetic
Spelling: (sten-okh-o-ree'-ah) Short Definition: a narrow space, great distress ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4730.htm - 7k

4505. rhume -- the rush (of a moving body), hence a (crowded) ...
... street. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: rhume Phonetic Spelling:
(hroo'-may) Short Definition: a street, lane Definition: a narrow street or ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4505.htm - 6k

2347. thlipsis -- tribulation
... 2347 -- properly, (what constricts or rubs together), used of a narrow place that
"hems someone in"; , especially that causes someone to feel confined ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2347.htm - 7k

1423. duskolos -- with difficulty
... how hard it is to pass through; (figuratively) problematic, difficult (" passing
through"), like trying to push something too large through a narrow passageway ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1423.htm - 6k

2889. kosmos -- order, the world
... Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, ie Decoration; by implication,
the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2889.htm - 7k

5423. phrenapates -- self-deceiving
... from 5424 , "outlook from signt" and 538 , "deceive") -- properly, deceivers, leading
others into their -- especially exploiting those with a narrow mind (used ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5423.htm - 7k

4612. simikinthion -- (a workman's) apron
... apron. Of Latin origin; a semicinctium or half-girding, ie Narrow covering (apron) --
apron. (simikinthia) -- 1 Occurrence. 4611, 4612. simikinthion. 4613 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4612.htm - 6k

3334. yatsar -- be distressed, be narrow, be straitened in straits ...
... yatsar. 3335 . be distressed, be narrow, be straitened in straits, be vexed.
Transliteration: yatsar Phonetic Spelling: (yaw-tsar') Short Definition: distressed ...
/hebrew/3334.htm - 6k

6862a. tsar -- narrow, tight
... 6862, 6862a. tsar. 6862b . narrow, tight. Transliteration: tsar Short
Definition: limited. Word Origin from tsarar Definition narrow ...
/hebrew/6862a.htm - 5k

6862. tsar -- narrow, tight
... 6861, 6862. tsar. 6862a . narrow, tight. Transliteration: tsar Phonetic Spelling:
(tsar) Short Definition: adversary. adversary, affliction ...
/hebrew/6862.htm - 6k

6887a. tsarar -- to bind, tie up, be restricted, narrow, scant, or ...
... 6887, 6887a. tsarar. 6887b . to bind, tie up, be restricted, narrow, scant,
or cramped. Transliteration: tsarar Short Definition: distress. Word Origin a prim ...
/hebrew/6887a.htm - 6k

6887. tsarar -- to bind, tie up, be restricted, narrow, scant, or ...
... tsarar. 6887a . to bind, tie up, be restricted, narrow, scant, or cramped.
Transliteration: tsarar Phonetic Spelling: (tsaw-rar') Short Definition: adversary. ...
/hebrew/6887.htm - 5k

213. uts -- to press, be pressed, make haste
... root Definition to press, be pressed, make haste NASB Word Usage hasten (1), hasty
(2), hurried (1), hurries (1), makes haste (1), narrow (1), pressed (1), try ...
/hebrew/213.htm - 6k

331. atam -- to shut, shut up
... narrow, shut, stop. A primitive root; to close (the lips or ears); by analology
to contract (a window by bevelled jambs) -- narrow, shut, stop. 330b, 331. ...
/hebrew/331.htm - 6k

4934. mishol -- a hollow passage
... Word Origin from the same as shoal Definition a hollow passage NASB Word Usage narrow
path (1). ... From the same as sho'al; a hollow, ie A narrow passage -- path. ...
/hebrew/4934.htm - 6k

1516. gay -- a valley
... Or (shortened) gay {gah'-ee}; probably (by transmutation) from the same root as
gevah (abbreviated); a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a ...
/hebrew/1516.htm - 6k

5158. nachal -- torrent, torrent-valley, wadi
... nachalah (Ezekiel 47:19; 48:28) {nakh-al-aw'}; from nachal in its original sense;
a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in ...
/hebrew/5158.htm - 5k

The Narrow Way.
... VI. CAUTIONS. Hymn 73 The narrow way. William Cowper 8,8,8,8. The narrow way. What
thousands never knew the road! What thousands hate it when 'tis known! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 73 the narrow way.htm

Living Broad Lives in Narrow Alleys.
... Each One of Us Living Broad Lives in Narrow Alleys. We ... us. Then most men
live narrow lives so far as the daily round is concerned. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks with world winners/living broad lives in narrow.htm

Narrow Escapes. Is Thrown from a Horse. Has Pneumonia. Nearly ...
... PART I."AUTOBIOGRAPHY. CHAPTER X. Narrow Escapes. Is Thrown from a Horse. Has Pneumonia. ...
Reflections. Narrow Escapes. Is Thrown from a Horse. Has Pneumonia. ...
/.../chapter x narrow escapes is.htm

Wide and Narrow Sense of the Word "Spirit. "
... Book IV. Chapter 37 [XXIII.]"Wide and Narrow Sense of the Word "Spirit.".
But now, with a view to our easier elucidation, I beg ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 37 xxiii wide and narrow.htm

Jonah the Narrow-Minded Patriot
... THE OLD TESTAMENT JONAH THE NARROW-MINDED PATRIOT. This message from Jehovah
came to Jonah, the son of Amittai: "Arise, go to that ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/jonah the narrow-minded patriot.htm

Paul's Narrow Escape from Death
... THE NEW TESTAMENT PAUL'S NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH. The seven days during
which the men had promised to make special offerings were ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/pauls narrow escape from death.htm

Of the Way of the Lord, How it is Narrow, and How Jesus is the Way ...
... 11. Of the Way of the Lord, How It is Narrow, and How Jesus is the Way. ... [4876] Jeremiah
4:16. [4877] tethlimmene, the word translated "narrow" in Matthew 7:14. ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/11 of the way of.htm

For as a Fountain Within a Narrow Compass, is More Plentiful...
... Book XII Chapter XXVII For as a fountain within a narrow compass, is more
plentiful? For as a fountain within a narrow compass ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter xxvii for as a.htm

Of the Way of Error and of Truth: that it is Single, Narrow, and ...
... the divine institutes Book VI. Of True Worship. Chap. VII."Of the Way of Error and
of Truth: that It is Single, Narrow, and Steep, and Has God for Its Guide. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap vii of the way of.htm

But we Need no Longer Show in this Narrow Way the Drawback of this ...
... II."Ascetic and Moral. Chapter IV. But we need no longer show in this narrow
way the drawback of this life? But we need no longer ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/chapter iv but we need.htm

Narrow (21 Occurrences)
... 1. (superl.) of little breadth; not wide or broad; having little distance from
side to side; as narrow board; a narrow street; a narrow hem. ...
/n/narrow.htm - 14k

Narrow-minded (1 Occurrence)
Narrow-minded. Narrowly, Narrow-minded. Narrowness . Noah Webster's Dictionary ...
Multi-Version Concordance Narrow-minded (1 Occurrence). ...
/n/narrow-minded.htm - 6k

Strait (14 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A narrow passageway connecting two larger bodies
of water. 2. (superl.) Narrow; not broad. ... 9. (n.) A narrow pass or passage. ...
/s/strait.htm - 13k

Gallery (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A long and narrow corridor, or place for walking; a connecting passageway,
as between one room and another; also, a long hole or passage excavated by a ...
/g/gallery.htm - 11k

Wide (206 Occurrences)
... Having considerable distance or extent between the sides; spacious across; much
extended in a direction at right angles to that of length; not narrow; broad; as ...
/w/wide.htm - 37k

Defile (63 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) Any narrow passage or gorge in which troops can march only in a file, or
with a narrow front; a long, narrow pass between hills, rocks, etc. ...
/d/defile.htm - 38k

Michmash (10 Occurrences)
... southward passes to the West of the village, goes down into the valley by a steep
and difficult track, and crosses the gorge by the pass, a narrow defile, with ...
/m/michmash.htm - 14k

Contracted (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp. & pp) of Contract. 2. (a.) Drawn together; shrunken;
wrinkled; narrow; as, a contracted brow; a contracted noun. ...
/c/contracted.htm - 7k

Close (186 Occurrences)
... 14. (n.) A narrow passage leading from a street to a court, and the houses within.
15. ... 17. (vt) Narrow; confined; as, a close alley; close quarters. 18. ...
/c/close.htm - 39k

Straiten (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To make strait; to make narrow; hence, to contract;
to confine. 2. (vt) To make tense, or tight; to tighten. ...
/s/straiten.htm - 10k

Just how narrow is the narrow gate? | GotQuestions.org

Why did God make salvation such a narrow path? | GotQuestions.org

Will more people go to heaven or to hell? | GotQuestions.org

Narrow: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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