Ravaging, in the biblical context, refers to the act of violently destroying, plundering, or laying waste to a land, people, or possessions. This term is often associated with warfare, divine judgment, and the consequences of sin. Throughout the Scriptures, instances of ravaging serve as both historical accounts and moral lessons, illustrating the severity of disobedience to God and the destructive nature of sin.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, ravaging is frequently depicted in the narratives of Israel's history, particularly during times of conquest and judgment. The Israelites themselves were commanded by God to ravage certain cities as an act of divine judgment. For example, in the conquest of Canaan, God instructed the Israelites to destroy the city of Jericho completely: "They devoted the city to the LORD and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep, and donkeys" (Joshua 6:21).

Conversely, Israel experienced ravaging at the hands of foreign nations as a consequence of their disobedience to God. The Assyrian and Babylonian invasions are prime examples. The prophet Isaiah warned of the impending Assyrian invasion, describing it as a time when the land would be ravaged: "Woe to you, O destroyer never destroyed, O traitor never betrayed! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed; when you have finished betraying, you will be betrayed" (Isaiah 33:1).

Prophetic Warnings and Divine Judgment

The prophets often used the imagery of ravaging to convey the seriousness of God's impending judgment. The book of Joel, for instance, describes a locust plague as a form of divine ravaging: "What the devouring locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust has left, the young locust has eaten; and what the young locust has left, the destroying locust has eaten" (Joel 1:4). This devastation served as a call to repentance for the people of Israel.

New Testament Perspective

While the New Testament does not focus as heavily on physical ravaging, it does address the spiritual implications of destruction and the consequences of sin. Jesus warned of the spiritual ravaging that occurs when one is not vigilant against the forces of evil: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness" (John 10:10).

The apostle Paul also speaks to the spiritual dimension of ravaging, urging believers to be aware of the destructive power of sin and false teachings: "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:13). Here, the ravaging is not physical but spiritual, as false teachings can lead believers astray and destroy their faith.

Moral and Theological Implications

Ravaging in the Bible serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of sin and the reality of divine judgment. It underscores the importance of obedience to God and the need for repentance. The biblical accounts of ravaging also highlight God's sovereignty and justice, as He uses such events to fulfill His purposes and bring about His divine plan.

In summary, the concept of ravaging in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing both physical destruction and spiritual devastation. It serves as a powerful illustration of the consequences of turning away from God and the importance of remaining faithful to His commandments.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Ravage.3075. lumainomai -- to outrage, to corrupt
... defile. Word Origin from lume (outrage) Definition to outrage, to corrupt
NASB Word Usage ravaging (1). to ravage, destroy. Middle ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3075.htm - 6k

The Adventure of the Three Sons of Saint George.
... they met a herald loudly proclaiming, on his brazen horn, the greatest rewards to
whoever would slay the Monster Pongo, who was ravaging the country. ...
/.../the seven champions of christendom/chapter fourteen the adventure of.htm

Of the Removal of the Remains of John and of the Faith of ...
... So when Rho??las, [939] Prince of the Scythian Nomads, had crossed the Danube with
a vast host and was ravaging and plundering Thrace, and was threatening to ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter xxxvi of the removal of.htm

Early Christianity in Other Parts of These Islands. --Ninian in ...
... Patrick more than once speaks of them[37] as the apostate Picts. It did not prevent
their ravaging Christian Britain, denuded of the Roman troops. ...
/.../lecture iii early christianity in.htm

Thus, Look at Every Free People, from the Mountains of Helvetia to ...
... and adventurers, led by kings, heroes, ambitious men, from battle-field to
battle-field, making conquests and not keeping them, ravaging, dazzling, charming ...
/.../lamartine/atheism among the people/xvii thus look at every.htm

The Syrian Persecution.
... He then laid siege to Gaza and to Sidon, and won great victories, ravaging and
consuming the adjoining lands with his armies; and afterwards made peace with ...
/.../yonge/the chosen people/lesson xvii the syrian persecution.htm

To Stefano Maconi
... vain and transitory things, with many and varied reflections and impure thoughts;
and likewise all the sensations of the body are ill-regulated and ravaging. ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to stefano maconi.htm

Now as to the Union and Concord and Peace of the Animals of ...
... their rapacity, like wild beasts in manners and disposition, both men and women;
so much so that some of them were like wolves and lions, ravaging the weaker ...
/.../irenaeus/the demonstration of the apostolic preaching/chapter 61 now as to.htm

The Parthians Bring Antigonus Back into Judea, and Cast Hyrcanus ...
... 2. Now as these men were ravaging Carmel, many of the Jews ran together to Antigonus,
and showed themselves ready to make an incursion into the country; so he ...
/.../chapter 13 the parthians bring.htm

How King Edwin's Next Successors Lost Both the Faith of their ...
... Then, when he had occupied the provinces of the Northumbrians for a whole year,
not ruling them like a victorious king, but ravaging them like a furious tyrant ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap i how king edwins.htm

Gregory of Nazianzus is Transferred to the See of Constantinople. ...
... [694] And Gratian immediately set out for Gaul, because the Alemanni were ravaging
those provinces: but Theodosius, after erecting a trophy, hastened towards ...
/.../chapter vi gregory of nazianzus is.htm

Ravaging (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Ravage. Multi-Version Concordance
Ravaging (2 Occurrences). Acts 8:3 But Saul ravaged ...
/r/ravaging.htm - 7k

Galatia (6 Occurrences)
... BC, when a large body of migrating Gauls (Galatai in Greek) crossed over from Europe
at the invitation of Nikomedes, king of Bithynia; after ravaging a great ...
/g/galatia.htm - 23k

Ravageth (1 Occurrence)

/r/ravageth.htm - 6k

Rave (1 Occurrence)

/r/rave.htm - 7k

Rome (12 Occurrences)
... Roman State: The traditional chronology for the earliest period of Roman history
is altogether unreliable, partly because the Gauls, in ravaging the city in ...
/r/rome.htm - 43k

Joash (49 Occurrences)
... an answer. Within a year of Zechariah's death, the armies of Hazael, the
Syrian king, were ravaging and laying waste Judah. The ...
/j/joash.htm - 41k

Jehoash (28 Occurrences)
... an answer. Within a year of Zechariah's death, the armies of Hazael, the
Syrian king, were ravaging and laying waste Judah. The ...
/j/jehoash.htm - 32k

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