The term "quench" in the Bible is often used metaphorically to describe the extinguishing or suppression of something, particularly in a spiritual or moral context. It is derived from the Greek word "sbennymi," which means to extinguish, put out, or suppress. The concept of quenching is frequently associated with the Holy Spirit, faith, and the divine fire of God.

Quenching the Spirit

One of the most notable uses of the term "quench" in the New Testament is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:19, where the Apostle Paul exhorts believers, "Do not quench the Spirit." This admonition suggests that believers have the capacity to suppress or hinder the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. The Holy Spirit is often symbolized by fire, representing God's presence, power, and purification. Quenching the Spirit, therefore, implies resisting or stifling His influence, guidance, and gifts, which are essential for spiritual growth and effective ministry.

Quenching Faith

In Ephesians 6:16, Paul instructs believers to take up "the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Here, the imagery of quenching is used in a defensive context, where faith acts as a shield to extinguish or quench the fiery darts of Satan. This passage underscores the protective power of faith against spiritual attacks and temptations, highlighting the importance of maintaining a strong and active faith to resist the devil's schemes.

Quenching Divine Fire

The concept of quenching is also related to the divine fire of God, which is often depicted as a purifying and consuming force. In the Old Testament, fire frequently symbolizes God's holiness and judgment. For instance, in Isaiah 66:24, the unquenchable fire is a metaphor for God's eternal judgment on the wicked: "And they will go out and look on the dead bodies of those who have rebelled against Me; for their worm will never die, their fire will never be quenched, and they will be a horror to all mankind."

Quenching Love

In the Song of Solomon 8:7, the power and intensity of love are described with the imagery of unquenchable fire: "Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away." This poetic expression emphasizes the enduring and invincible nature of true love, which cannot be extinguished by external forces or overwhelming circumstances.

Quenching in the Context of Judgment

The imagery of quenching is also used in the context of divine judgment and the consequences of sin. In Mark 9:48, Jesus speaks of hell as a place "where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched." This vivid description serves as a solemn warning of the eternal nature of God's judgment for those who reject His salvation.

In summary, the biblical concept of quenching encompasses the suppression of the Holy Spirit's work, the extinguishing of faith's protective power, the enduring nature of divine love, and the inextinguishable fire of God's judgment. Believers are called to be vigilant in nurturing the Spirit's influence, maintaining strong faith, and recognizing the eternal implications of God's love and justice.1. (v. t.) To extinguish; to overwhelm; to make an end of; -- said of flame and fire, of things burning, and figuratively of sensations and emotions; as, to quench flame; to quench a candle; to quench thirst, love, hate, etc.

2. (v. t.) To cool suddenly, as heated steel, in tempering.

3. (v. i.) To become extinguished; to go out; to become calm or cool.

QUENCH

kwench, kwensh: Where the word is used of fire or of thirst it has the usual meaning: "to allay," "to extinguish," "to suppress," "to cool." In the Old Testament it is frequently applied to the affections and passions (see 2 Kings 22:17 Songs 8:7 Isaiah 42:3 Jeremiah 4:4; Jeremiah 21:12). Quenching the coal or the light of Israel may mean slaying a dear one or a brilliant leader. In the New Testament it is also used figuratively, as in Ephesians 6:16 the shield of faith quenches the fiery darts of the evil one. In Mark 9:48, sbennumi, and its derivative are applied with reference to Gehenna (translated "hell"). The same word is also used of resisting the gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.

G. H. Gerberding

4570. sbennumi -- to quench
... to quench. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sbennumi Phonetic Spelling:
(sben'-noo-mee) Short Definition: I extinguish, suppress Definition: (a) I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4570.htm - 6k

3133. maraino -- to quench, waste away
... to quench, waste away. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: maraino Phonetic Spelling:
(mar-ah'-ee-no) Short Definition: I die, wither Definition: pass: I die ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3133.htm - 6k

3518. kabah -- to be quenched or extinguished, to go out
... root Definition to be quenched or extinguished, to go out NASB Word Usage extinguish
(5), go (3), goes (1), gone (1), put (1), quench (4), quenched (8 ...
/hebrew/3518.htm - 6k

7665. shabar -- to break, break in pieces
... 1), crush (2), crushed (2), demolished (1), destroy (2), fractured (1), hurt (2),
injured (1), pieces (1), placed (1), point of birth (1), quench (1), shatter ...
/hebrew/7665.htm - 6k

8257. shaqa -- to sink, sink down
... make deep, let down, drown, quench, sink. (abbreviated Am. 8:8); a primitive
root; to subside; by implication, to be overflowed, cease ...
/hebrew/8257.htm - 6k

Many Waters Cannot Quench Love, Neither Can the Floods Drown It ...
... 7. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it; if a man would
give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned. ...
/.../guyon/song of songs of solomon/7 many waters cannot quench.htm

The Promises.
... The man that thirsteth with spiritual thirst, fears nothing more than that there
is not enough to quench his thirst: all the promises and sayings of God's ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xvii the promises.htm

1 Thessalonians v. 19-22
... "Quench not the Spirit. ... On this account Paul says, "Quench not the Spirit," that
is, the gift of grace, for it is his custom so to call the gift of the Spirit. ...
/.../homily xi 1 thessalonians v.htm

Christian Graces.
... "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all
the fiery darts of the wicked:" to quench them, though they come from him as ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xviii christian graces.htm

The Love of Christ.
... All the selfishness of His disciples could not quench that Love. Nothing could quench
His Love for His own. Nothing will ever quench it. Peter denied Him. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gaebelein/the lord of glory/the love of christ.htm

When the Banks were Completed and the Battering Rams Brought, and ...
... sunk together with their bodies, and they were under such astonishment, that not
one of them made any haste, either to defend himself or to quench the fire ...
/.../chapter 4 when the banks.htm

Unrestrained Communion
... Many waters cannot quench love,. Neither can the floods drown it: ... Suffering and pain,
bereavement and loss may test its constancy, but they will not quench it. ...
/.../taylor/union and communion/section vi unrestrained communion.htm

Letter iii. --For 331. Easter-Day xvi Pharmuthi; iii Id. April ...
... Therefore the blessed Paul, when desirous that the grace of the Spirit given to
us should not grow cold, exhorts, saying, Quench not the Spirit [3997] .' For ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/letter iii for 331 easter-day xvi.htm

Christ the Arrester of Incipient Evil and the Nourisher of ...
... CHRIST THE ARRESTER OF INCIPIENT EVIL AND THE NOURISHER OF INCIPIENT GOOD. 'A bruised
reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench.... ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/christ the arrester of incipient.htm

Ephesians vi. 14-17
... and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; withal taking
up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery ...
/.../homily xxiv ephesians vi 14-17.htm

Quench (14 Occurrences)
... extinguish; to overwhelm; to make an end of; -- said of flame and fire, of things
burning, and figuratively of sensations and emotions; as, to quench flame; to ...
/q/quench.htm - 12k

Extinguish (6 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To quench; to put out, as a light or fire; to stifle; to cause to die out;
to put an end to; to destroy; as, to extinguish a flame, or life, or love ...
/e/extinguish.htm - 8k

Flax (11 Occurrences)
... and American). "A dimly burning wick will he not quench" (Isaiah 42:3);
"They are quenched as a wick" (Isaiah 43:17). The thought ...
/f/flax.htm - 13k

Wick (10 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:20 A crushed reed He will not utterly break, nor will He quench the
still smouldering wick, until He has led on Justice to victory. ...
/w/wick.htm - 9k

Smoking (9 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:20 He won't break a bruised reed. He won't quench a smoking flax,
until he leads justice to victory. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT). ...
/s/smoking.htm - 9k

Smoldering (4 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:20 a bruised reed he shall not break, and smoking flax he shall not quench,
till he may put forth judgment to victory, (See NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/smoldering.htm - 7k

Quenched (22 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Quench. Multi-Version Concordance
Quenched (22 Occurrences). Mark 9:43 And if thy hand offend ...
/q/quenched.htm - 14k

Bruised (36 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:20 He won't break a bruised reed. He won't quench a smoking flax, until
he leads justice to victory. ... He won't quench a dimly burning wick. ...
/b/bruised.htm - 18k

Break (257 Occurrences)
... brak: shabhar = "break" (down, off, in pieces, up), "destroy," "quench" (Isaiah
14:25 Jeremiah 19:10, 11 Ezekiel 4:16 Amos 1:5); paraq = "to break off" or ...
/b/break.htm - 46k

Reed (41 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:20 He won't break a bruised reed. He won't quench a smoking flax, until
he leads justice to victory. ... He won't quench a dimly burning wick. ...
/r/reed.htm - 29k

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Quench: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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