Straitness, in biblical terms, often refers to a condition of distress, difficulty, or limitation. It is a state where one experiences a lack of freedom or abundance, often due to external pressures or divine judgment. The concept of straitness is frequently associated with the consequences of disobedience to God's commandments and serves as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness and reliance on God.

Biblical References:

1. Deuteronomy 28:53-57: In this passage, straitness is depicted as a consequence of Israel's disobedience to God's laws. The text describes a siege where the people will experience extreme distress and scarcity, leading to dire actions. The Berean Standard Bible states: "Then you will eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and distress with which your enemies will afflict you."

2. 2 Kings 6:24-29: This narrative recounts a severe famine in Samaria during a siege by the Arameans. The straitness of the situation is highlighted by the desperate actions of the people. The BSB describes the dire circumstances: "As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, 'Help me, my lord the king!' He answered, 'If the LORD does not help you, where can I get help for you? From the threshing floor or the winepress?'"

3. Lamentations 1:3: The prophet Jeremiah laments the straitness experienced by Judah following the Babylonian conquest. The BSB reads: "Judah has gone into exile under affliction and harsh slavery; she dwells among the nations but finds no rest. All her pursuers have overtaken her in the midst of her distress."

Theological Implications:

Straitness serves as a powerful metaphor for the spiritual and physical consequences of turning away from God. It underscores the biblical principle that obedience to God brings blessing, while disobedience results in hardship and limitation. The recurring theme of straitness in the Bible is a call to repentance and a return to covenant faithfulness.

Moral and Spiritual Lessons:

1. Dependence on God: Straitness reminds believers of their need to depend on God for provision and deliverance. In times of distress, turning to God is portrayed as the path to relief and restoration.

2. Consequences of Sin: The concept illustrates the serious consequences of sin and rebellion against God. It serves as a warning to maintain a life aligned with God's will to avoid the spiritual and physical straitness that results from disobedience.

3. Hope and Restoration: Despite the severity of straitness, the Bible also offers hope for restoration. God's mercy and willingness to forgive are evident when His people repent and seek His face, leading to a reversal of their straitened circumstances.

In summary, straitness in the Bible is a multifaceted concept that conveys the reality of human suffering due to sin, the necessity of reliance on God, and the hope of redemption through repentance and faithfulness.(n.) The quality or condition of being strait; especially, a pinched condition or situation caused by poverty; as, the Straitness their circumstances.4164. mutsaq -- constraint, distress
... anguish, straitness. Or muwtsaq {moo-tsawk'}; from yatsaq; narrowness; figuratively,
distress -- anguish, is straitened, straitness. see HEBREW yatsaq. ...
/hebrew/4164.htm - 6k

4689. matsoq -- straits, stress
... anguish, distress. From tsuwq; a narrow place, ie (abstractly and figuratively)
confinement or disability -- anguish, distress, straitness. see HEBREW tsuwq. ...
/hebrew/4689.htm - 6k

The Oration of Moses at the Rehearsal of the Blessing and the ...
... fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters which the LORD
thy God hath given thee; in the siege and in the straitness, wherewith thine ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/i the oration of moses.htm

"Come unto Me, all Ye that Labour, and are Wearied," &C.
... The straitness and narrowness of our spirits takes in truth by parcels, disjointed
from the whole, looks upon one side of it, and sees not the other. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon vi come unto me.htm

Psalm LXXXIII.
... "Tyre" in Hebrew is called Sor; which whether it be interpreted straitness or
tribulation, must be taken in the case of these enemies of God's people in that ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxxiii.htm

The Strait Gate;
... Here we have a most searching and faithful display of the straitness or exact
dimensions of that all-important gate, which will not suffer many professors to ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the strait gate.htm

Psalm CXLII.
... Lastly, brethren, as I think, he meant this; "Bring my soul out of prison," bring
it out of straitness. ... Therefore prayeth he to be brought out of straitness. ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxlii.htm

Fragment vi.
... Fragment VI. Neither is there straitness with God, nor anything that is not
absolutely perfect."From manuscript of the writings of Justin. ...
/.../justin/fragments from the lost writings of justin/fragment vi.htm

Commandment Tenth. Of Grief, and not Grieving the Spirit of God ...
... from you. For the Spirit of God which has been granted to us to dwell in
this body does not endure grief nor straitness. Wherefore ...
/.../pastor/the pastor books first second third/commandment tenth of grief and.htm

Conversion.
... The straitness, the narrowness, must not be understood of the gate simply, but because
of that cumber that some men carry with them that pretend to be going to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xi conversion.htm

Chapter i
... [521] For he says that the subject-matter of the Divine Science is vast and yet
minute, and that the Gospel combines in itself both width and straitness. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolt/dionysius the areopagite/chapter i.htm

Of the Praise of Solitary Life and of the First Lovers Thereof ...
... and seeking only the love of Christ, after a little while they shall seem to themselves
to live more in delight, than in weeping, or straitness of labour. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter xiv of the praise.htm

Straitness (6 Occurrences)
... (n.) The quality or condition of being strait; especially, a pinched condition or
situation caused by poverty; as, the Straitness their circumstances. ...
/s/straitness.htm - 8k

Wherewith (182 Occurrences)
... of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy
God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine ...
/w/wherewith.htm - 38k

Straits (9 Occurrences)

/s/straits.htm - 9k

Straitly (12 Occurrences)

/s/straitly.htm - 11k

Jaws (12 Occurrences)
... Job 36:16 Even so would he have allured thee out of the jaws of distress into a
broad place, where there is no straitness; and the supply of thy table would be ...
/j/jaws.htm - 10k

Adversity (54 Occurrences)
... distress and evil conveyed by four Hebrew words: tsela`, "a halting" or "fall";
tsarah, "straits" "distress," "affliction"; tsar, "straitness," "affliction"; ra ...
/a/adversity.htm - 22k

Afterbirth (1 Occurrence)
... her feet, and her children whom she shall bear; for she shall secretly eat them
for want of everything in the siege and in the straitness wherewith thine enemy ...
/a/afterbirth.htm - 7k

Anguish (75 Occurrences)
... expressed in Old Testament, by four derivatives of tsuq, "straitened," "pressed,"
and tsar, and two derivatives signifying "straitness," "narrowness," hence ...
/a/anguish.htm - 29k

Straiten (4 Occurrences)
... eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat
every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness, wherewith their ...
/s/straiten.htm - 10k

Strait (14 Occurrences)
... Job 36:16 Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place,
where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table ...
/s/strait.htm - 13k

Straitness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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