The term "subside" generally refers to the act of becoming less intense, violent, or severe. In a biblical context, it often describes the calming of natural elements or the reduction of divine judgment. The concept of subsiding is significant in illustrating God's control over creation and His ability to bring peace and restoration.

Biblical Instances:

1. The Flood Waters Subside: One of the most prominent examples of subsiding in the Bible is found in the account of Noah's Ark. After the great flood, the waters began to recede, marking the end of God's judgment and the beginning of a new covenant with humanity. Genesis 8:1-3 states, "Then God remembered Noah and all the animals and livestock that were with him in the ark, and He sent a wind over the earth, and the waters began to subside. The springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens were closed, and the rain from the sky was restrained. The waters receded steadily from the earth, and after 150 days the waters had gone down."

2. Calming of the Storm: In the New Testament, Jesus demonstrates His divine authority over nature when He calms a storm on the Sea of Galilee. This act of subsiding not only reveals His power but also His care for His disciples. Mark 4:39 records, "Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. 'Silence!' He commanded. 'Be still!' And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm."

3. Divine Wrath and Mercy: The concept of subsiding can also be applied metaphorically to God's wrath. Throughout the Old Testament, God's anger is often depicted as a storm or flood that subsides when His people repent and turn back to Him. For instance, in the book of Jonah, the city of Nineveh repents, and God's wrath subsides, sparing the city from destruction (Jonah 3:10).

Theological Significance:

The subsiding of natural elements or divine wrath in the Bible underscores the themes of God's sovereignty, mercy, and the restoration of order. It serves as a reminder of God's ultimate control over creation and His willingness to relent from judgment when there is genuine repentance. The calming of the storm by Jesus further affirms His identity as the Son of God, who has authority over all creation.

Practical Application:

Believers are encouraged to trust in God's ability to bring peace and calm to the storms of life. Just as the floodwaters receded and the storm was stilled, Christians can find assurance in God's power to subdue chaos and bring about restoration. This trust is rooted in the understanding that God is both just and merciful, willing to forgive and restore those who seek Him earnestly.1. (v. i.) To tend downward; to become lower; to descend; as, the waves subsided.

2. (v. i.) To sink or fall to the bottom; to settle, as lees.

3. (v. i.) To fall into a state of quiet; to cease to rage; to be calmed; to settle down; to become tranquil; to abate; as, the sea subsides; the tumults of war will subside; the fever has subsided.

8257. shaqa -- to sink, sink down
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to sink, sink down NASB Word Usage died (1),
press down (1), settle (1), sink down (1), subside (1), subsides (1). ...
/hebrew/8257.htm - 6k

5127. nus -- to flee, escape
... A primitive root; to flit, ie Vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase,
impel, deliver) -- X abate, away, be displayed, (make to) flee (away, -ing ...
/hebrew/5127.htm - 6k

8367. shathaq -- to be quiet
... be calm, cease, be quiet. A primitive root; to subside -- be calm, cease,
be quiet. 8366, 8367. shathaq. 8368 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8367.htm - 5k

Evidences of Regeneration.
... sensibility. The will, will of course return to the indulgence again, when
the feelings of fear, disgust, or loathing subside. This ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xxix evidences of regeneration.htm

The Moral Reactions of Prayer
... But lest communion subside into mere meditation it must concentrate in prayer.
We must keep acquiring by such effort the grace so freely given. ...
/.../forsyth/the soul of prayer/chapter iii the moral reactions.htm

Saurin -- Paul Before Felix and Drusilla
... Lord of nature, He commanded the winds and seas. He bade the storm and tempest
subside. He restored health to the sick, and life to the dead. ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/saurin paul before felix.htm

On the Educational Value of the Natural History Sciences.
... But after a time the effects of this disturbance will subside"equilibrium will
be restored, and the water will return to its passive state. ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/v on the educational value.htm

The Kinds and Degrees of Error
... "Whence earthquakes, whose force swells the sea to flood,. so that they burst their
bounds and then subside again," [29]. and other such things as this. ...
/.../augustine/handbook on faith hope and love/chapter v the kinds and.htm

The Perfect Sacrifice
... That blessing be denied; Resigned and unreluctant, see. My every wish subside.
Thy will in all things I approve,. Exalted or cast down; ...
/.../the perfect sacrifice.htm

The vicissitudes Experienced in the Christian Life
... fires. Has hell a pain I would not gladly bear,. So thy severe displeasure
might subside? Hopeless of ease, I seem already there,. ...
/.../the vicissitudes experienced in the.htm

Through the Red Sea
... The turmoil of Israel began to subside, growing fainter, ceasing among the ranks
nearest the sea, failing toward the rear, dying away like a sigh up and down ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xlv through the red.htm

The Notion of Inability.
... So when any class of feelings exist, we all know that by diverting the attention
from the object that excites them, they subside of course, and give place to a ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xxxiii the notion of.htm

Awake! Awake!
... breaking forth from its fountains, it rushes across the fields, bearing plenty on
its bosom; it covers them awhile, and anon it doth subside and leaves upon ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/awake awake.htm

Subside (5 Occurrences)
... state of quiet; to cease to rage; to be calmed; to settle down; to become tranquil;
to abate; as, the sea subsides; the tumults of war will subside; the fever ...
/s/subside.htm - 8k

Assuage (1 Occurrence)
... desire. 2. (vi) To abate or subside. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ASSUAGE.
a-swaj' (the King James Version Asswage):Lit,. "sweeten ...
/a/assuage.htm - 7k

Subsided (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Subside. Multi-Version Concordance
Subsided (9 Occurrences). Luke 8:24 They came to him, and ...
/s/subsided.htm - 8k

Sink (16 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To fall by, or as by, the force of gravity; to descend lower and lower;
to decline gradually; to subside; as, a stone sinks in water; waves rise and ...
/s/sink.htm - 12k

Lull (1 Occurrence)
... soothe; to quiet. 2. (vi) To become gradually calm; to subside; to cease
or abate for a time; as, the storm lulls. 3. (n.) The power ...
/l/lull.htm - 7k

Remembereth (19 Occurrences)
... Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle which 'are' with him in the ark,
and God causeth a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subside, (YLT). ...
/r/remembereth.htm - 11k

Causeth (209 Occurrences)
... Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle which 'are' with him in the ark,
and God causeth a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subside, (YLT). ...
/c/causeth.htm - 38k

Allay
... of adversity. 3. (vt) To diminish in strength; to abate; to subside. 4.
(n.) Alleviation; abatement; check. 5. (n.) Alloy. 6. (vt ...
/a/allay.htm - 7k

Settle (63 Occurrences)
... 22. (vi) To sink gradually to a lower level; to subside, as the foundation of a
house, etc. 23. (vi) To become calm; to cease from agitation. 24. ...
/s/settle.htm - 30k

Subsequently (1 Occurrence)

/s/subsequently.htm - 6k

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Subside: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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