The term "ruinous" in the context of the Bible often refers to destruction, decay, or devastation, both in a physical and spiritual sense. It is used to describe the consequences of sin, disobedience, and the judgment of God upon nations, cities, or individuals who turn away from His commandments.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, the concept of ruin is frequently associated with the judgment of God upon Israel and other nations. The prophets often warned of impending ruin as a consequence of the people's unfaithfulness. For instance, in Isaiah 17:1, the prophet declares, "An oracle concerning Damascus: 'Behold, Damascus will cease to be a city and will become a heap of ruins.'" This prophecy highlights the ruinous fate awaiting Damascus due to its idolatry and opposition to God.

Similarly, in Jeremiah 25:9, God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "I will summon all the families of the north, declares the LORD, and I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy them and make them an object of horror and scorn, an everlasting ruin." Here, the ruin is a direct result of the people's persistent rebellion against God.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, the theme of ruin is often linked to spiritual decay and the ultimate judgment that awaits those who reject the gospel. Jesus Himself warns of the ruin that comes from building one's life on anything other than His teachings. In Matthew 7:26-27, He states, "But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse."

The Apostle Paul also speaks of spiritual ruin in his epistles. In 1 Timothy 6:9, he warns, "Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction." Here, Paul emphasizes the ruinous nature of greed and the pursuit of wealth at the expense of one's spiritual well-being.

Spiritual Implications

The concept of ruin serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. It underscores the importance of obedience, faithfulness, and reliance on God's Word. The Bible consistently portrays ruin as the inevitable outcome of sin and rebellion, urging believers to seek righteousness and align their lives with God's will.

Redemption from Ruin

Despite the dire warnings of ruin, the Bible also offers hope and redemption. God's desire is not for His people to remain in a state of ruin but to be restored. In Isaiah 61:4, the prophet speaks of a future restoration: "They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations." This promise of restoration points to God's mercy and His power to redeem and rebuild what has been destroyed.

Ultimately, the message of the Bible is one of hope and restoration, even in the face of ruin. Through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, individuals and nations can find redemption and be restored to a right relationship with God.1. (a.) Causing, or tending to cause, ruin; destructive; baneful; pernicious; as, a ruinous project.

2. (a.) Characterized by ruin; ruined; dilapidated; as, an edifice, bridge, or wall in a ruinous state.

3. (a.) Composed of, or consisting in, ruins.

255. alusiteles -- unprofitable
... alusiteles Phonetic Spelling: (al-oo-sit-el-ace') Short Definition: profitless,
unprofitable Definition: profitless, unprofitable, ruinous, detrimental. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/255.htm - 7k4654. mappalah -- a ruin
... ruinous Or mappelah {map-pay-law'}; from naphal; something fallen, ie A ruin --
ruin(-ous). see HEBREW naphal. 4653, 4654. mappalah. 4654a . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/4654.htm - 5k

5327c. natsah -- to fall in ruins
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to fall in ruins NASB Word Usage destroyed
(1), laid waste (2), ruinous (2), ruins (1). 5327b, 5327c. natsah. 5328 . ...
/hebrew/5327c.htm - 5k

5327. natsah -- perhaps to fly
... natsah. 5327a . perhaps to fly. Transliteration: natsah Phonetic Spelling:
(naw-tsaw') Short Definition: waste. be laid waste, ruinous, strive together ...
/hebrew/5327.htm - 5k

Opposition to Messiah Ruinous
... Sermon XXXV Opposition to Messiah Ruinous. Opposition to Messiah Ruinous
Psalm 2:9. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou ...
/.../newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xxxv opposition to messiah.htm

Chapter xiv.
... one, "and love the other," ie God; "or he will submit to the one, and despise the
other." For whoever serves mammon submits to a hard and ruinous master: for ...
/.../augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter xiv 2.htm

"But if the Spirit of Him that Raised up Jesus from the Dead Dwell ...
... might be spread over all, if it were not needful because they are old and ragged
and would not suit well, and our earthly tabernacle is ruinous, and would not ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxx but if the.htm

Home-Discipline.
... That parental tenderness which withholds the proper restraints of discipline from
an erring child, is most cruel and ruinous. ... It is ruinous to the parent. ...
/.../philips/the christian home/chapter xix home-discipline.htm

"If So be that the Spirit of God Dwell in You. Now if any Man have ...
... O! if it were visible unto us, the state or the ruinous soul, we would raise a more
bitter lamentation over it than the Jews did over Jerusalem, or the kings ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxiv if so be.htm

Illness and Patience of the Saint. The Story of a Priest whom She ...
... I procured further information about the matter from members of his household; I
learned more of his ruinous state, and saw that the poor man's fault was not ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/chapter v illness and patience.htm

Jews.
... whom they have resided, and have made a show of much wealth, this has tempted their
avaricious adversaries to impose upon them enormous taxes and ruinous fines ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/jews.htm

V. ...
... explain it right, nothing but this: there shall come high schools, doctors, priests
and monks, and all classes of men, who shall bring in ruinous sects and ...
/.../the epistles of st peter and st jude preached and explained/chapter ii v 2.htm

The Demoniac Boy
... Trust reposed in a friend avails or misleads according to his love and his resources;
trust in a traitor is ruinous, and ruinous in proportion to its energy. ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 9 14-29 the demoniac boy.htm

Be Ye Doers of the Word, not Hearers Only, Deceiving Your Own ...
... It is false and ruinous. A great deal is said that makes an impression that real
Christians are the wickedest beings of the face of the earth. ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/be ye doers of the.htm

Ruinous (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Causing, or tending to cause, ruin; destructive;
baneful; pernicious; as, a ruinous project. ...Ruinous (4 Occurrences). ...
/r/ruinous.htm - 7k

Fashioned (22 Occurrences)
... ancient times? now have I brought it to pass, that it should be thine to lay
waste fortified cities into ruinous heaps. (See JPS). Job ...
/f/fashioned.htm - 13k

Ruins (84 Occurrences)
... ago I made it, in ancient times I fashioned it; now have I brought it to pass, yea,
it is done; that fortified cities should be laid waste into ruinous heaps. ...
/r/ruins.htm - 31k

Ruin (135 Occurrences)
... "Ruinous" is the translation of mappalah (Isaiah 17:1) and of natsah (2 Kings
19:25 Isaiah 37:26). WL Walker. Multi-Version Concordance Ruin (135 Occurrences). ...
/r/ruin.htm - 37k

Ago (61 Occurrences)
... Now have I brought it to pass, that it should be yours to lay waste fortified cities
into ruinous heaps. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). ...
/a/ago.htm - 24k

Shouldst (61 Occurrences)
... formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldst be to lay waste
fortified cities in ruinous heaps. (WBS). 1 Chronicles ...
/s/shouldst.htm - 25k

Fenced (61 Occurrences)
... formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste
fenced cities into ruinous heaps. (KJV YLT). 2 Chronicles ...
/f/fenced.htm - 27k

Shouldest (79 Occurrences)
... formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste
fenced cities into ruinous heaps. (KJV DBY). 1 Chronicles ...
/s/shouldest.htm - 30k

Formed (91 Occurrences)
... Now have I brought it to pass, that it should be yours to lay waste fortified
cities into ruinous heaps. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT). ...
/f/formed.htm - 34k

Afar (98 Occurrences)
... that I formed it? Now I have brought it in, And it becometh a desolation,
Ruinous heaps 'are' fenced cities, (YLT). 2 Kings 20:14 ...
/a/afar.htm - 36k

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