Topical Bible: Earth: Cursed of God

◄ Earth: Cursed of God ►

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The concept of the earth being cursed by God is rooted in the biblical narrative, beginning with the account of the Fall in the Book of Genesis. This theme is significant in understanding the theological implications of sin and its impact on creation.

The Curse in Genesis

The first mention of the earth being cursed occurs in Genesis 3, following the disobedience of Adam and Eve. As a consequence of their sin, God pronounces a curse not only upon the serpent and humanity but also upon the ground itself. Genesis 3:17-19 states:

"To Adam He said, 'Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground, because out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.'"

This passage highlights the direct correlation between human sin and the curse upon the earth, resulting in hardship and toil for humanity.

The Curse and the Flood

The narrative of the earth's curse continues with the account of Noah and the Flood. In Genesis 6:11-13 , the corruption of the earth is described:

"Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and full of violence. And God looked upon the earth and saw that it was corrupt; for all living creatures on the earth had corrupted their ways. Then God said to Noah, 'I have decided to put an end to all living creatures, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; behold, I will destroy both them and the earth.'"

The Flood serves as a divine response to the pervasive corruption and violence, further illustrating the consequences of sin upon the earth.

The Promise of Restoration

Despite the curse, the Bible also speaks of a future restoration. After the Flood, God makes a covenant with Noah, promising never to curse the ground again in the same manner. Genesis 8:21 records God's words:

"When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, 'Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.'"

This covenant signifies a shift in God's dealings with the earth, pointing towards a future hope.

The New Creation

The theme of the cursed earth finds its ultimate resolution in the eschatological vision of a new creation. The Apostle Paul, in Romans 8:19-22 , speaks of creation's longing for liberation:

"The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time."

This passage reflects the anticipation of a restored creation, free from the curse, aligning with the prophetic vision in Revelation 21:1 :

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more."

In this new creation, the effects of the curse are fully reversed, and the earth is renewed in accordance with God's redemptive plan.

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Genesis 3:17,18
And to Adam he said, Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it: cursed is the ground for your sake; in sorrow shall you eat of it all the days of your life;
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Romans 8:19-22
For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.
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Library

If, Then, the Whole Earth Has Been Cursed in the Deeds of Adam and ...
... If, then, the whole earth has been cursed in the deeds ... it is plain that all parts
of the earth share in ... Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xxix if then the.htm

After Thus Misrepresenting Our views of the Nature of God...
... who is much older than the Greek literature, introduces God as promising ... good it
may be, still forms part of the earth, which was originally cursed for the ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xxviii after thus misrepresenting.htm

The Cleansing of the Earth.
... but Adam and his wife, neither will any see it until the manifestation of the children
of God; ie, until the ... When man sinned, this earth was cursed for his ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the cleansing of the earth.htm

A Stranger in the Earth
... we shall be cursed with restlessness and 'weighed upon with ... have learned to yield
our wills to God, and to ... A stranger upon the earth needs the statutes of the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/a stranger in the earth.htm

The Unchangeable One
... of God who made it. Now, I do beg you to think carefully over this verse; because
it is quite against the very common notion that, because the earth was cursed ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxxiii the unchangeable one.htm

Gimel.
... Whence by consequence that stranger upon earth, after praying ... "Thou hast rebuked
the proud: and cursed are they ... For the proud err from the commandments of God. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/gimel.htm

The Voice of the Blood of Christ
... could scarcely speak to him,"for she was afraid that from the lips of him who had
been cursed of God some curse might fall on her. The very earth cursed him. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the voice of the blood.htm

The Judgments of God.
... too often arrogated to themselves a right to define who was cursed by God ... as surely
as there is a God, so surely does that God judge the earth; and every ...
/.../kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon xx the judgments of.htm

The God of Nature (Preached During a Wet Harvest. )
... the Jew's view of this world, and of God's will and ... that there was any curse upon
this earth on account ... after it has said in the third chapter, 'Cursed is the ...
/.../kingsley/the water of life and other sermons/sermon xx the god of.htm

Of Sacrifices.
... To whom God said, The voice of the blood of thy brother crieth forth unto me from
the earth. Wherefore cursed is the earth, which hath opened her mouth to ...
/.../tertullian/an answer to the jews/chapter v of sacrifices.htm