In biblical terms, "subsides" refers to the act of something diminishing, decreasing, or becoming less intense. This concept can be applied to various contexts within the Scriptures, including the calming of natural elements, the reduction of divine wrath, or the easing of human emotions. The idea of subsiding is often associated with God's intervention, demonstrating His power and control over creation and human affairs.

Biblical Instances of Subsiding

1. The Flood Waters: One of the most prominent examples of subsiding in the Bible is found in the account of Noah's Flood. After the deluge that covered the earth, the waters began to recede. Genesis 8:1-3 states, "But 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." This passage highlights God's sovereignty in controlling the natural world and His faithfulness in preserving Noah and his family.

2. Divine Wrath: The subsiding of God's anger is another significant theme. In the Old Testament, God's wrath often flares against the Israelites due to their disobedience, but it subsides when they repent or when an intercessor pleads on their behalf. For instance, in Numbers 16:46-48 , after a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, a plague breaks out among the people. Moses instructs Aaron to make atonement, and the plague subsides: "So Moses said to Aaron, 'Take your censer, place fire from the altar in it, add incense, and take it quickly to the congregation to make atonement for them, because wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has begun.' Aaron did as Moses directed and ran into the midst of the assembly, and the plague had already begun among the people. But he offered the incense and made atonement for the people. He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague was halted."

3. Human Emotions: The subsiding of human emotions, such as anger or fear, is also depicted in the Bible. Proverbs 15:18 states, "A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms a dispute." This proverb underscores the wisdom in allowing emotions to subside, promoting peace and reconciliation.

Theological Implications

The concept of subsiding in the Bible often illustrates the transition from chaos to order, from judgment to mercy, and from turmoil to peace. It serves as a reminder of God's ultimate authority and His ability to bring about change in both the natural and spiritual realms. The subsiding of waters, wrath, or emotions signifies a return to divine order and harmony, reflecting God's redemptive purposes throughout Scripture.

Practical Applications

For believers, the biblical theme of subsiding encourages trust in God's timing and His ability to calm the storms of life. It calls for patience and faith, knowing that God can bring resolution and peace in His perfect way. Additionally, it serves as a model for personal conduct, urging individuals to allow their own emotions to subside, fostering environments of peace and understanding in their relationships.7725. shub -- to turn back, return
... 1), returning (2), returns (9), reverse (1), revived (1), revoke (10), revoked
(1), sent back (1), set (1), spent (1), still (3), subsides (2), surely return ( ...
/hebrew/7725.htm - 9k

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

Note by the Translators
... common sense often lay open the very heart of a spiritual problem, and his quiet
humour raises an occasional ripple of amusement, which again subsides into a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/singh/at the masters feet/note by the translators.htm

The Method of Prayer
... digest it, to extract the essence and substance thereof, and proceed no farther
while any savour or relish remains in the passage: when this subsides, take up ...
/.../guyon/a short and easy method of prayer/chapter ii the method of.htm

The First Degree of Prayer
... If they feel an inclination to peace and silence, let them discontinue the words
of the prayer so long as this sensation holds; and when it subsides, go on ...
/.../guyon/a short and easy method of prayer/chapter iii the first degree.htm

Egypt.
... Then as soon as the water subsides, the hot sun upon the mud that it has left brings
up most beautiful grass, and fine crops of corn with seven or nine ears to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson iii egypt.htm

Divine Love Endures no Rival
... Whatever else is loved, the Lord is not. The love of thee flows just as much. As
that of ebbing self subsides; Our hearts, their scantiness is such,. ...
/.../divine love endures no rival.htm

"The Dust of the Actual"
... The goat subsides, the baby is now in its mother's arms; so we go on where we left
off, and I watch the bright young girl, and notice that she listens as one ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter vii the dust of.htm

The Glorious Habitation
... You will see in this Psalm a wondrous depth of spirituality; you will mark how the
poet subsides into the man of God; and how, lost in himself, he sings his ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the glorious habitation.htm

What Children of Light Should Be
... Union with Him makes light, just as the bit of carbon will glow as long as it is
in contact with the electric force, and subsides again into darkness when that ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/what children of light should.htm

Whether the Species of Anger are Suitably Assigned?
... iv, 9) that "excandescentia [irascibility] is what the Greeks call {thymosis}, and
is a kind of anger that arises and subsides intermittently"; while according ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the species of anger.htm

The Survival of the Fittest.
... When the flood subsides, however, a covenant is concluded and is sealed by the rainbow
in accordance with which man's commission to rule over all other living ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/kent/the making of a nation/study iv the survival of.htm

Subsides (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Subsides (3 Occurrences). Genesis 27:44 Stay with him
a few days, until your brother's fury turns away; (See NAS NIV). ...
/s/subsides.htm - 7k

Subsist (10 Occurrences)

/s/subsist.htm - 9k

Subsided (9 Occurrences)

/s/subsided.htm - 8k

Subside (5 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi) 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 ...
/s/subside.htm - 8k

Settlement (4 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) That which settles, or is settled, established, or fixed. 8. (n.)
Matter that subsides; settlings; sediment; lees; dregs. ...
/s/settlement.htm - 9k

Press (57 Occurrences)
... Within about a week this violent fermentation subsides, and the wine is transferred
to other jars or strong wine-skins (Mark 2:22 and parallel's), in which it ...
/p/press.htm - 46k

Wine (282 Occurrences)
... Within about a week this violent fermentation subsides, and the wine is transferred
to other jars or strong wine-skins (Mark 2:22 and parallel's), in which it ...
/w/wine.htm - 68k

Plagues (28 Occurrences)
... It culminates in a sudden and overwhelming virulence, takes the strongest
and best, and then subsides with startling suddenness. ...
/p/plagues.htm - 44k

Moses (9295 Occurrences)
... as some think, its peculiarity is that it takes the strongest and the best and
culminates in one great stunning blow and then immediately subsides (see PLAGUE ...
/m/moses.htm - 53k

Egypt (596 Occurrences)
... It culminates in a sudden and overwhelming virulence, takes the strongest
and best, and then subsides with startling suddenness. ...
/e/egypt.htm - 101k

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