Topical Encyclopedia The concept of "scatter" in the Bible is rich with meaning and is used in various contexts, both literal and metaphorical. The term often signifies dispersion, division, or the act of spreading out, and it appears throughout the Scriptures in different scenarios, reflecting God's sovereignty, judgment, and mercy.Old Testament Usage 1. Divine Judgment and Dispersion: One of the primary uses of "scatter" in the Old Testament is in the context of divine judgment. God often scatters nations or peoples as a consequence of their disobedience. For instance, in Genesis 11:8, following the construction of the Tower of Babel, "So the LORD scattered them from there over the face of all the earth, and they stopped building the city." This scattering was a direct result of human pride and rebellion against God's command to fill the earth. 2. Israel's Exile: The scattering of Israel is a recurring theme, particularly in the prophetic books. Due to their idolatry and failure to uphold the covenant, God allowed the Israelites to be scattered among the nations. In Deuteronomy 28:64, it is prophesied, "Then the LORD will scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other." This scattering served as both punishment and a call to repentance. 3. Restoration and Gathering: Despite the scattering, God promises to gather His people back. This theme of restoration is seen in Ezekiel 11:17, "Therefore declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you from the countries to which you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.’" The scattering is not the end, but a precursor to divine restoration. New Testament Usage 1. The Church and Persecution: In the New Testament, scattering takes on a new dimension with the early church. Persecution led to the scattering of believers, which paradoxically resulted in the spread of the Gospel. Acts 8:1 notes, "On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria." This scattering fulfilled Jesus' command to be His witnesses "to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). 2. Spiritual Implications: Jesus uses the concept of scattering in a spiritual sense. In Matthew 12:30, He states, "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters." Here, scattering is contrasted with gathering, emphasizing the division between those who follow Christ and those who do not. Theological Significance Theologically, scattering serves as a tool of divine discipline and a means of fulfilling God's purposes. It underscores God's control over human history and His ability to use even dispersion for His glory and the ultimate good of His people. The scattering of Israel and the early church illustrates both judgment and the spread of God's message to the nations. Symbolism and Imagery In biblical imagery, scattering often symbolizes chaos and disunity, contrasting with the peace and unity found in God's presence. The scattering of seed, however, can also symbolize growth and the potential for new life, as seen in the parables of Jesus (e.g., the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13). Conclusion The biblical theme of scattering is multifaceted, encompassing judgment, mercy, and the advancement of God's kingdom. It serves as a reminder of God's justice and His redemptive plan for humanity, ultimately pointing to the hope of gathering and restoration in His eternal kingdom. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (v. t.) To strew about; to sprinkle around; to throw down loosely; to deposit or place here and there, esp. in an open or sparse order.2. (v. t.) To cause to separate in different directions; to reduce from a close or compact to a loose or broken order; to dissipate; to disperse. 3. (v. t.) Hence, to frustrate, disappoint, and overthrow; as, to scatter hopes, plans, or the like. 4. (v. i.) To be dispersed or dissipated; to disperse or separate; as, clouds scatter after a storm. Greek 4650. skorpizo -- to scatter ... to scatter. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: skorpizo Phonetic Spelling: (skor-pid'-zo) Short Definition: I disperse Definition: I disperse, scatter abroad ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4650.htm - 6k 3039. likmao -- to winnow, to scatter 1287. diaskorpizo -- generally to separate, spec. to winnow, fig. ... 4687. speiro -- to sow (seed) 1289. diaspeiro -- to sow throughout, ie fig. disperse (in foreign ... 4496. rhipto -- to throw, cast, spec. to throw off, toss 1262. dialuo -- to break up 1290. diaspora -- a dispersion (Isr. in Gentile countries) 2693. katastronnumi -- to overthrow Strong's Hebrew 921. bedar -- to scatter... 920, 921. bedar. 922 . to scatter. Transliteration: bedar Phonetic Spelling: (bed-ar') Short Definition: scatter. Word Origin (Aramaic ... /hebrew/921.htm - 6k 2219. zarah -- to scatter, fan, winnow 6340. pazar -- to scatter 967. bazar -- to scatter 2236. zaraq -- be here and there, scatter, sprinkle, strew 2232. zara -- to sow, scatter seed 2236b. zaraq -- to toss or throw, scatter abundantly 2236a. zaraph -- be here and there, scatter, sprinkle, strew 5310. naphats -- to shatter 6567. parash -- to make distinct, declare Library To Scatter Flowers Petilianus Said: "But You Scatter Thorns and Tares... we Plow the Fields, and Scatter On Dissipation The Kingdom of God: Its Tasks The vision Say with what Salutations? Four Sowings and one Ripening On Psalm Lix. 11. Concerning the Jews. Testimonies. 1. Of the Benefit of Good Works and Mercy. Thesaurus Scatter (65 Occurrences)... 3. (vt) Hence, to frustrate, disappoint, and overthrow; as, to scatter hopes, plans, or the like. ... Multi-Version Concordance Scatter (65 Occurrences). ... /s/scatter.htm - 28k Disperse (13 Occurrences) Sow (61 Occurrences) Unsheathe (4 Occurrences) Sprinkle (37 Occurrences) Winds (35 Occurrences) Whirlwind (33 Occurrences) Countries (86 Occurrences) Whence (84 Occurrences) Falleth (119 Occurrences) Resources What can we learn from the tribe of Simeon? | GotQuestions.orgWhat can we learn from the tribe of Levi / the Levites? | GotQuestions.org What is the dispensation of Human Government? | GotQuestions.org Scatter: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Scatter (65 Occurrences)Matthew 12:30 Matthew 21:44 Matthew 25:24 Matthew 25:26 Mark 4:26 Luke 11:23 Luke 20:18 Genesis 11:8 Genesis 11:9 Genesis 49:7 Exodus 9:8 Leviticus 26:33 Numbers 16:37 Deuteronomy 4:27 Deuteronomy 28:64 Deuteronomy 32:26 1 Samuel 13:8 1 Kings 14:15 Nehemiah 1:8 Job 37:11 Job 40:11 Psalms 53:5 Psalms 59:11 Psalms 68:30 Psalms 89:10 Psalms 106:27 Psalms 144:6 Proverbs 15:7 Isaiah 24:1 Isaiah 28:25 Isaiah 28:28 Isaiah 30:22 Isaiah 33:3 Isaiah 41:16 Jeremiah 3:13 Jeremiah 9:16 Jeremiah 13:24 Jeremiah 15:7 Jeremiah 18:17 Jeremiah 23:1 Jeremiah 24:9 Jeremiah 30:11 Jeremiah 46:28 Jeremiah 49:32 Jeremiah 49:36 Ezekiel 5:2 Ezekiel 5:10 Ezekiel 5:12 Ezekiel 6:5 Ezekiel 10:2 Ezekiel 12:14 Ezekiel 12:15 Ezekiel 20:23 Ezekiel 22:15 Ezekiel 29:12 Ezekiel 30:23 Ezekiel 30:26 Ezekiel 36:19 Daniel 4:14 Daniel 12:7 Habakkuk 3:6 Habakkuk 3:14 Zechariah 1:21 Zechariah 7:14 Zechariah 10:9 |
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