The term "raw" in the context of the Bible often refers to something in its natural, uncooked, or unprocessed state. This concept can be found in various passages, where it is used both literally and metaphorically to convey deeper spiritual truths.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "raw" is "na" (נָא), which appears in contexts related to food and offerings. One notable instance is in the instructions for the Passover meal. In Exodus 12:9, the Israelites are commanded regarding the Passover lamb: "Do not eat any of it raw or cooked in boiling water, but only roasted over the fire—its head and legs and inner parts." . This command underscores the importance of following God's specific instructions for worship and remembrance, highlighting the sanctity and seriousness of the Passover observance.

The prohibition against eating raw meat is also linked to the broader dietary laws given to Israel. In Leviticus 17:10-14, the consumption of blood is strictly forbidden, as blood is considered the life of the flesh. Eating raw meat, which may contain blood, would violate this command. This law emphasizes the sacredness of life and the need for purity in the community's dietary practices.

Metaphorical Use

Beyond its literal meaning, "raw" can also be understood metaphorically in the Scriptures. The rawness of something can symbolize a state of incompleteness or immaturity. For instance, in the prophetic literature, the imagery of raw or unrefined materials is sometimes used to describe the spiritual condition of Israel or individuals who have not yet been fully shaped or refined by God's hand.

In Isaiah 64:8, the prophet declares, "But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we all are the work of Your hand." . Here, the raw clay represents the people of Israel, who are in need of God's transformative work to become vessels of honor. This metaphor highlights the ongoing process of spiritual growth and sanctification that believers undergo.

New Testament Considerations

While the New Testament does not frequently use the term "raw" in the same way as the Old Testament, the concept of rawness can be seen in the discussions of spiritual maturity. The Apostle Paul, for example, addresses the Corinthians' spiritual immaturity by comparing them to infants in Christ who are not yet ready for solid food (1 Corinthians 3:1-2). This imagery suggests a rawness in their faith that requires further development and maturation.

Theological Implications

The concept of rawness in the Bible, whether literal or metaphorical, often points to the need for transformation and refinement. It serves as a reminder of the process by which God shapes and molds His people, calling them to a higher standard of holiness and obedience. The raw state is not the end but the beginning of a journey toward spiritual maturity and completeness in Christ.

In summary, the term "raw" in the biblical context encompasses both the literal aspects of dietary laws and the metaphorical dimensions of spiritual growth. It reflects the broader biblical themes of obedience, sanctification, and the transformative power of God's work in the lives of His people.1. (superl.) Not altered from its natural state; not prepared by the action of heat; as, raw sienna; specifically, not cooked; not changed by heat to a state suitable for eating; not done; as, raw meat.

2. (superl.) Hence: Unprepared for use or enjoyment; immature; unripe; unseasoned; inexperienced; unpracticed; untried; as, raw soldiers; a raw recruit.

3. (superl.) Not worked in due form; in the natural state; untouched by art; unwrought.

4. (superl.) Not distilled; as, raw water

5. (superl.) Not spun or twisted; as, raw silk or cotton

6. (superl.) Not mixed or diluted; as, raw spirits

7. (superl.) Not tried; not melted and strained; as, raw tallow

8. (superl.) Not tanned; as, raw hides

9. (superl.) Not trimmed, covered, or folded under; as, the raw edge of a piece of metal or of cloth.

10. (superl.) Not covered; bare.

11. (superl.) Bald.

12. (superl.) Deprived of skin; galled; as, a raw sore.

13. (superl.) Sore, as if by being galled.

14. (superl.) Disagreeably damp or cold; chilly; bleak; as, a raw wind.

15. (n.) A raw, sore, or galled place; a sensitive spot; as, to touch one on the raw.

3806. pathos -- that which befalls one, a passion, a suffering
... emotion, depraved passion, lust. 3806 (from 3958 , "having ") -- properly,
raw, (emotions) which are (like). Word Origin from pascho ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3806.htm - 7k4995. na -- raw
... na. 4996 . raw. Transliteration: na Phonetic Spelling: (naw) Short Definition:
raw. Word Origin from an unused word Definition raw NASB Word Usage raw (1). raw ...
/hebrew/4995.htm - 6k

2043. Harari -- "mountain dweller," descriptive of two of David's ...
... "mountain dweller," descriptive of two of David's heroes. Transliteration: Harari
or Harari Phonetic Spelling: (hah-raw-ree') Short Definition: Hararite. ...
/hebrew/2043.htm - 6k

4172. mora -- a fear, terror
... a fear, terror. Transliteration: mora or mora or morah Phonetic Spelling:
(mo-raw') Short Definition: fear. ... Or morat {mo-raw'}; or morah (Psa. ...
/hebrew/4172.htm - 6k

6288. porah -- a bough
... 6287b, 6288. porah. 6289 . a bough. Transliteration: porah Phonetic Spelling:
(peh-o-raw') Short Definition: branches. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/6288.htm - 6k

2250. chabburah -- a stripe, blow
... 2251 . a stripe, blow. Transliteration: chabburah or chabburah or chaburah
Phonetic Spelling: (khab-boo-raw') Short Definition: bruise. ...
/hebrew/2250.htm - 6k

4501. menorah -- a lampstand
... 4500, 4501. menorah or menorah. 4502 . a lampstand. Transliteration: menorah
or menorah Phonetic Spelling: (men-o-raw') Short Definition: lampstand. ...
/hebrew/4501.htm - 6k

7350. rachoq -- distant, far, a distance
... 7349, 7350. rachoq or rachoq. 7351 . distant, far, a distance. Transliteration:
rachoq or rachoq Phonetic Spelling: (raw-khoke') Short Definition: far. ...
/hebrew/7350.htm - 6k

7433. Ramoth Gilad -- a city East of the Jordan
... a city East of the Jordan. Transliteration: Ramoth Gilad or Ramoth Gilad Phonetic
Spelling: (raw-moth') Short Definition: Ramoth-gilead. ...
/hebrew/7433.htm - 6k

6900. qeburah -- a grave, burial
... 6899, 6900. qeburah or qeburah. 6901 . a grave, burial. Transliteration: qeburah
or qeburah Phonetic Spelling: (keb-oo-raw') Short Definition: grave. ...
/hebrew/6900.htm - 6k

4694. metsurah -- siegeworks, rampart
... metsurah or metsurah. 4695 . siegeworks, rampart. Transliteration: metsurah or
metsurah Phonetic Spelling: (mets-oo-raw') Short Definition: fortified. ...
/hebrew/4694.htm - 6k

Faustus Avows his Disbelief in the Old Testament and his Disregard ...
... So you are wrong in eating anything that can not be swallowed raw and unhurt, so
that the wound inflicted might not be from you, but from your follower in ...
/.../faustus avows his disbelief in.htm

Healed by Divine Power
... Finally, Mother, who had been listening to the conversation, said to him, "Can you
eat a raw egg if I get it for you?" His health had been so poor that at ...
/.../cole/trials and triumphs of faith/chapter ix healed by divine.htm

For if Whatever is done by Men, and Especially in Religion...
... stomachs, and is variety of flavours sought for to get rid of their aversion, so
that there is set before them meat at one time roasted, at another raw, and at ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/25 for if whatever is.htm

The Answer on the Many Kinds of Food Provided in Holy Scripture.
... by fire, produces some things which are found to be unsuitable for man's use or
even harmful unless they have lost all the roughness of their raw condition by ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter iii the answer on.htm

Chapter xxxiii
... The word tsawwa'raw should, apparently, have the ending ro rather than raw, being
a word that may be regarded as a singular (ro) or as a plural. ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxiii.htm

National Wealth
... For it is he that giveth the power to get wealth. He gives it in two ways: First,
God gives the raw material; secondly, he gives the wit to use it. ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon xvi national wealth.htm

Personal Notes: Relics Nearby that the Three Kings had Given to ...
... It contains a little piece of dark red carpet and two little pieces of thin woven
stuff, like cr?�pe, of the color of raw silk; also a piece of some stuff like ...
/.../the life of the blessed virgin mary/xv personal notes relics nearby.htm

The Hidden Treasure.
... a few years ago, some men, while engaged in digging fuel from a moss, found at a
great depth large quantities of tallow carefully sewed up in raw ox-hides, and ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/v the hidden treasure.htm

Spiritual Meaning of the Passover.
... 5035] "They shall eat the flesh this night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread
on bitter herbs shall they eat," and "Eat not of it raw, nor sodden with water ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/13 spiritual meaning of the.htm

The Procession of Sorrow
... His wounds unstaunched and raw, fresh bleeding from beneath the lash, would make
this scarlet robe adhere to him, and when it was dragged off; his gashes would ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 9 1863/the procession of sorrow.htm

Raw (10 Occurrences)
... 1. (superl.) Not altered from its natural state; not prepared by the action of heat;
as, raw sienna; specifically, not cooked; not changed by heat to a state ...
/r/raw.htm - 10k

Food (2953 Occurrences)
... wheat as food was to pluck the (Leviticus 23:14 2 Kings 4:42), remove the husks
by rubbing in the hands (Deuteronomy 23:25 Matthew 12:1), and eat the grains raw...
/f/food.htm - 36k

Examine (48 Occurrences)
... Behold, if there is a white rising in the skin, and it has turned the hair
white, and there is raw flesh in the rising, (WEB NIV). ...
/e/examine.htm - 23k

Green (72 Occurrences)
... 5. (superl.) Not roasted; half raw. 6. (superl.) Immature in age or experience;
young; raw; not trained; awkward; as, green in years or judgment. ...
/g/green.htm - 31k

Infectious (19 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 13:15 The priest shall examine the raw flesh, and pronounce him
unclean: the raw flesh is unclean. It is leprosy. (See NIV). ...
/i/infectious.htm - 12k

Roast (8 Occurrences)
... Exodus 12:9 Don't eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted
with fire; with its head, its legs and its inner parts. ...
/r/roast.htm - 10k

Mealtime (1 Occurrence)
... was to pluck the fresh ears (Leviticus 23:14 2 Kings 4:42), remove the husk by rubbing
(compare Deuteronomy 23:25 and Matthew 12:1), and eat the grain raw. ...
/m/mealtime.htm - 24k

Meal-time (1 Occurrence)
... was to pluck the fresh ears (Leviticus 23:14 2 Kings 4:42), remove the husk by rubbing
(compare Deuteronomy 23:25 and Matthew 12:1), and eat the grain raw. ...
/m/meal-time.htm - 24k

Boiled (15 Occurrences)
... (WEB ASV WBS). Exodus 12:9 Don't eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but
roasted with fire; with its head, its legs and its inner parts. ...
/b/boiled.htm - 11k

Sodden (5 Occurrences)
... Exodus 12:9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire;
his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. (KJV JPS). ...
/s/sodden.htm - 8k

What does the Bible say about eating/drinking blood? | GotQuestions.org

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