The term "spue" is an archaic English word that appears in the Bible, primarily in the context of divine judgment and rejection. It is synonymous with "vomit" and is used metaphorically to describe God's reaction to certain behaviors or conditions that are abhorrent to Him. The imagery of spue conveys a strong sense of disgust and the act of forcefully expelling something that is intolerable.

Biblical References:

1. Revelation 3:16 : "So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth." In this passage, the term "vomit" is used in the Berean Standard Bible, but it is traditionally rendered as "spue" in older translations. This verse is part of the message to the church in Laodicea, which is criticized for its spiritual lukewarmness. The metaphor of spue illustrates God's intense displeasure with their lack of zeal and commitment. The Laodiceans' indifference is so distasteful to God that He threatens to reject them entirely, just as one would expel something nauseating.

2. Leviticus 18:28 : "And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it spewed out the nations before you." Here, the land is personified and described as "vomiting out" its inhabitants due to their sinful practices. This passage underscores the holiness required by God and the consequences of defiling the land with immoral acts. The use of "spue" in this context serves as a warning to the Israelites to maintain purity and obedience to God's laws, lest they face the same fate as the nations that were expelled before them.

3. Leviticus 20:22 : "You are to keep all My statutes and all My ordinances and follow them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live will not vomit you out." Similar to Leviticus 18:28, this verse reiterates the conditional nature of the Israelites' occupation of the Promised Land. The land's "vomiting" is contingent upon the people's adherence to God's commandments. The imagery of spue here emphasizes the severity of divine judgment against disobedience and the necessity of living in accordance with God's will.

Theological Significance:

The concept of spue in the Bible is a powerful metaphor for divine rejection. It highlights the seriousness with which God views spiritual complacency, impurity, and disobedience. The vivid imagery serves as a stark warning to believers about the consequences of failing to live up to the standards set by God. It calls for a wholehearted commitment to faith and righteousness, urging believers to avoid the lukewarmness and moral corruption that lead to divine expulsion.

In the broader biblical narrative, the use of spue underscores the holiness of God and His intolerance for sin. It reflects the covenant relationship between God and His people, where blessings and continued fellowship are contingent upon faithfulness and obedience. The metaphor serves as a reminder of the need for repentance and renewal in the Christian life, encouraging believers to strive for spiritual fervor and purity.(v. t. & i.) See Spew.3058. loidoreo -- to abuse, revile
... 3058 (from 3060 , "a reviler") -- properly, to say harsh things (make verbal assaults);
to ; to spue bitter (tasteless) statements, using , words to demoralize ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3058.htm - 7k

1692. emeo -- to vomit
... word Definition to vomit NASB Word Usage spit (1). to vomit. Of uncertain affinity;
to vomit -- (will) spue. (emesai) -- 1 Occurrence. 1691, 1692. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1692.htm - 6k

1829. exerama -- vomit (noun)
... vomit. From a comparative of ek and a presumed erao (to spue); vomit, ie Food disgorged
-- vomit. see GREEK ek. (exerama) -- 1 Occurrence. 1828, 1829. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1829.htm - 6k

6958. qo -- spue out, vomit out, up, up again
... qo. 6959 . spue out, vomit out, up, up again. Transliteration: qo Phonetic Spelling:
(ko) Short Definition: vomit. ... spue out, vomit out, up, up again ...
/hebrew/6958.htm - 5k

7006. qayah -- to vomit up, spew out
... to vomit up, spew out. Transliteration: qayah Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-yaw') Short
Definition: spue. spue A primitive root; to vomit -- spue. 7005, 7006. ...
/hebrew/7006.htm - 5k

Prayer-Equipment for Preachers
... No wonder the self-satisfied declaration brought forth its sentence of
punishment""Because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee ...
/.../bounds/the weapon of prayer/ix prayer-equipment for preachers.htm

The Sixt Part.
... it? doth hee not threaten for all that to spue them out of his mouth? ... Pulpit?
What man would not spue to see God thus worshipped? ...
/.../ward/a coal from the altar to kindle the holy fire of zeale/the sixt part.htm

An Earnest Warning About Lukewarmness
... wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor
hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest ...
/.../spurgeons sermons volume 20 1874/an earnest warning about lukewarmness.htm

The Author to the Reader.
... of God, and of the stupendously indifferent frame and disposition of the generality
of men, called Christians, not only provoking God to spue them out of his ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/the author to the reader.htm

Laodicea
... prophetically in Leviticus 18:25-28 of Israel; where Jehovah warns that, if they
adopted the abominations of heathen idolatry, the Land might spue them out ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bullinger/commentary on revelation/laodicea.htm

What is Our Free Will, which Stands in Between the Lust of the ...
... But now thou art lukewarm, and I will forthwith spue thee out of my mouth;" [1303]
were it not that these contentions which rise up on both sides disturb and ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xii what is our.htm

The Answer Concerning the Threefold Condition of Souls.
... But now thou art lukewarm and I will begin to spue thee out of My mouth." [1308]
And not without good reason does the Lord declare that those whom he has ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xix the answer concerning.htm

Letter Xli to Thomas of St. Omer, after He had Broken his Promise ...
... to wrath, a food of apostasy, such as must quench the Spirit, shut off grace, and
produce that lukewarmness which is wont to provoke God to spue men out of His ...
/.../some letters of saint bernard abbot of clairvaux/letter xli to thomas of.htm

Meditations for Household Piety.
... lii.5;) yea, when his iniquities are full (Genesis 15:16), he will make the land
to spue out every Canaanite (Leviticus 18:25.) Religion, then, and the service ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/meditations for household piety.htm

Consecration to God --Illustrated by Abraham's Circumcision
... So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee
out of my mouth""a very solemn declaration; but what follows? ...
/.../spurgeons sermons volume 14 1868/consecration to godillustrated by abrahams.htm

Spue (4 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Spue (4 Occurrences). Revelation 3:16 So then because
thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. ...
/s/spue.htm - 7k

Spued (1 Occurrence)
... Spued (1 Occurrence). Leviticus 18:28 That the land spue not you out also, when
ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. (KJV). ...
/s/spued.htm - 6k

Sprung (20 Occurrences)

/s/sprung.htm - 12k

Judgments (146 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 20:22 Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and
do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not ...
/j/judgments.htm - 37k

Drunken (38 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 25:27 Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts,
the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no ...
/d/drunken.htm - 18k

Whither (151 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 20:22 Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and
do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not ...
/w/whither.htm - 40k

Therein (269 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 20:22 Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and
do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not ...
/t/therein.htm - 36k

Spue: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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