The term "shrink" in a biblical context often refers to the act of drawing back, retreating, or hesitating, particularly in matters of faith and obedience to God. While the specific word "shrink" may not frequently appear in many English translations of the Bible, the concept is present in various passages that discuss the idea of holding back or withdrawing, especially in the face of trials or divine commands.

Biblical References:

1. Hebrews 10:38-39 : "But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls." This passage emphasizes the importance of steadfast faith and the consequences of retreating from one's commitment to God. The author of Hebrews encourages believers to persevere and not to shrink back, highlighting the distinction between those who maintain their faith and those who do not.

2. Acts 20:27 : "For I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole will of God." Here, the Apostle Paul speaks to the Ephesian elders, affirming his dedication to fully proclaiming God's message without hesitation. Paul's example serves as an encouragement for believers to boldly share the gospel and God's truth, without shrinking back due to fear or opposition.

3. Galatians 2:12 : "For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, fearing those in the circumcision group." This account of Peter's behavior illustrates a moment of shrinking back due to social pressure and fear of judgment. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of compromising one's convictions and the importance of standing firm in the truth of the gospel.

Theological Implications:

The concept of shrinking back is often associated with a lack of faith or trust in God's promises. In the biblical narrative, those who shrink back are contrasted with those who exhibit unwavering faith and courage. The call to not shrink back is a call to trust in God's sovereignty and to remain faithful, even in the face of adversity or uncertainty.

Practical Application:

Believers are encouraged to examine their own lives for areas where they may be tempted to shrink back from their faith commitments. This could include moments of fear, doubt, or societal pressure that challenge one's adherence to biblical principles. The exhortation is to remain steadfast, drawing strength from the Holy Spirit and the community of faith, to live boldly and faithfully in accordance with God's will.

Historical Context:

In the early Christian church, believers often faced persecution and social ostracism, which could tempt them to shrink back from their public witness and commitment to Christ. The New Testament writers frequently addressed these challenges, urging the early Christians to remain resolute in their faith.

Conclusion:

While the Bible acknowledges the human tendency to shrink back, it consistently calls believers to a higher standard of faithfulness and courage. Through the examples of biblical figures and the teachings of the apostles, Christians are encouraged to trust in God's promises and to stand firm in their faith, regardless of the circumstances they face.1. (v. i.) To wrinkle, bend, or curl; to shrivel; hence, to contract into a less extent or compass; to gather together; to become compacted.

2. (v. i.) To withdraw or retire, as from danger; to decline action from fear; to recoil, as in fear, horror, or distress.

3. (v. i.) To express fear, horror, or pain by contracting the body, or part of it; to shudder; to quake.

4. (v. t.) To cause to contract or shrink; as, to shrink finnel by immersing it in boiling water.

5. (v. t.) To draw back; to withdraw.

6. (n.) The act shrinking; shrinkage; contraction; also, recoil; withdrawal.

3635. okneo -- to shrink (from doing), to hesitate (to do)
... to shrink (from doing), to hesitate (to do). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
okneo Phonetic Spelling: (ok-neh'-o) Short Definition: I delay, hesitate, am ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3635.htm - 6k

5288. hupostello -- to draw in, let down, draw back
... 5288 (from 5259 , "under" and 4724 , "draw in") -- properly, draw under, pulling
back to (go backwards); withdraw (shrink from); shun; "back off," especially ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5288.htm - 7k

1168. deiliao -- to be cowardly
... to be cowardly. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: deiliao Phonetic Spelling:
(di-lee-ah'-o) Short Definition: I shrink, am fearful Definition: I shrink, am ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1168.htm - 6k

5289. hupostole -- a letting down, a shrinking back
... drawing back. Cognate: 5289 -- properly, "draw down (under)," ie shrink
(draw) back in ; movement (spiritually). See 5288 (). Word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5289.htm - 6k

153. aischuno -- to dishonor, make ashamed
... Word Origin from aischos (shame, disgrace) Definition to dishonor, make ashamed
NASB Word Usage ashamed (2), put to shame (2), shame (1), shrink (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/153.htm - 6k

2119a. zachal -- to shrink back, crawl away
... 2119, 2119a. zachal. 2119b . to shrink back, crawl away. Transliteration:
zachal Short Definition: things. Word Origin a prim. root ...
/hebrew/2119a.htm - 5k

2119. zachal -- to shrink back, crawl away
... zachal. 2119a . to shrink back, crawl away. Transliteration: zachal Phonetic Spelling:
(zaw-khal') Short Definition: afraid. be afraid, serpent, worm ...
/hebrew/2119.htm - 5k

5074. nadad -- to retreat, flee, depart, stray, wander, flutter
... Word Usage chased (1), chased away (1), could (1), flapped (1), fled (6), flee
(5), fleeing (1), fugitive (2), fugitives (1), shake (1), shrink (1), strayed (1 ...
/hebrew/5074.htm - 6k

6798. tsanam -- to dry up, harden
... root Definition to dry up, harden NASB Word Usage withered (1). withered. A primitive
root; to blast or shrink -- withered. 6797, 6798. tsanam. 6799 . ...
/hebrew/6798.htm - 5k

7087. qapha' -- to thicken, condense, congeal
... A primitive root; to shrink, ie Thicken (as unracked wine, curdled milk, clouded
sky, frozen water) -- congeal, curdle, dark, settle. 7086, 7087. ...
/hebrew/7087.htm - 5k

1481. guwr -- to sojourn
... A primitive root; properly, to turn aside from the road (for a lodging or any other
purpose), ie Sojourn (as a guest); also to shrink, fear (as in a strange ...
/hebrew/1481.htm - 5k

6244. ashesh -- to waste away
... root Definition to waste away NASB Word Usage wasted away (3). be consumed. A primitive
root; probably to shrink, ie Fail -- be consumed. 6243, 6244. ...
/hebrew/6244.htm - 5k

Celsus Then Proceeds to Say that "We Shrink from Raising Altars...
... Chapter XVII. Celsus then proceeds to say that "we shrink from raising
altars? Celsus then proceeds to say that "we shrink from ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xvii celsus then proceeds.htm

God's Curse on Sin.
... a conception which inspires awe. We shrink from it; we hardly dare to
say Amen! to its dread utterances. We should like, it may ...
//christianbookshelf.org/percival/sermons at rugby/xiv gods curse on sin.htm

Argument. --That Christ is God, is Proved by the Authority of the ...
... Why, then, should we hesitate to say what Scripture does not shrink from declaring? ...
If the Son, why do they shrink from calling Him Christ and God? ...
/.../chapter xii argument that christ is.htm

The Image of the Earthly and the Heavenly
... And so they shrink from death. They must shrink from death, unless they will
believe with their whole hearts the good news of Easter day. ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon x the image of.htm

The Lord's Prayer
... Therefore, they shrink from God, and turn from Him to idols, to the Virgin Mary,
or Saints, or any other beings who can deliver them (as they fancy) out of the ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xxxviii the lords prayer.htm

A Treatise against the Heretic Novatian by an Anonymous Bishop.
... although he is placed in such great guilt of dissension and schism, and is separated
from the Church, with sacrilegious temerity does not shrink from hurling ...
/.../a treatise against the heretic.htm

Humility
... Peter. For a man may shrink from religion, from the thought of God, from
coming to the Holy Communion, for two most opposite reasons. ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon xviii humility.htm

Another Season,
... If you are tempted to shrink or waver under them, let what follows help you to repel
and to surmount the instigation: ... Did he hesitate and shrink back? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/xi another season.htm

An Advance in the Exhortation.
... But My righteous one shall live by faith: And if he shrink back, My soul
hath no pleasure in him. But we are not of them that shrink ...
/.../the expositors bible the epistle to the hebrews/chapter ix an advance in.htm

The Name of God
... They shrink from it as something very abstruse, only fit for great scholars
and divines, and almost given up now-a-days even by them. ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon vii the name of god.htm

Shrink (10 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To cause to contract or shrink; as, to shrink finnel by immersing it in
boiling water. 5. (vt) To draw back; to withdraw. ...Shrink (10 Occurrences). ...
/s/shrink.htm - 10k

Abhor (23 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To shrink back with shuddering from; to regard with horror or detestation;
to feel excessive repugnance toward; to detest to extremity; to loathe. ...
/a/abhor.htm - 14k

Revolt (18 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) To turn away; to abandon or reject something;
specifically, to turn away, or shrink, with abhorrence. ...
/r/revolt.htm - 13k

Declaring (48 Occurrences)
... Acts 20:20 how I didn't shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable,
teaching you publicly and from house to house, (WEB WEY ASV NAS RSV). ...
/d/declaring.htm - 20k

Shrivel (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To draw, or be drawn, into wrinkles; to shrink, and form corrugations; as,
a leaf shrivels in the hot sun; the skin shrivels with age; -- often with up ...
/s/shrivel.htm - 7k

Shrines (40 Occurrences)

/s/shrines.htm - 19k

Bringeth (313 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Numbers 5:22 and this water that bringeth the curse shall enter into thy
bowels, to make the belly to swell, and the thigh to shrink. ...
/b/bringeth.htm - 37k

Quail (5 Occurrences)
... to become cast down; to sink under trial or apprehension of danger; to lose the
spirit and power of resistance; to lose heart; to give way; to shrink; to cower ...
/q/quail.htm - 13k

Victory (71 Occurrences)
... over him because of the blood of the Lamb and of the testimony which they have borne,
and because they held their lives cheap and did not shrink even from death ...
/v/victory.htm - 27k

Knees (47 Occurrences)
... It is, eg, a very frequent symptom of the disease known in the Orient as beriberi,
when the muscles of the lower leg shrink to such a degree as to render ...
/k/knees.htm - 23k

What is the whole counsel of God? | GotQuestions.org

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Shrink: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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