Topical Encyclopedia The term "swallowed" in the Bible often conveys the idea of being consumed or overwhelmed, both in a literal and metaphorical sense. It appears in various contexts, illustrating God's power, judgment, and the consequences of sin.1. Divine Judgment and Deliverance: One of the most dramatic instances of being "swallowed" occurs in the account of Korah's rebellion against Moses and Aaron. In Numbers 16:32 , it is recorded, "And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, all Korah’s men and all their possessions." This event serves as a powerful demonstration of God's judgment against rebellion and disobedience. The earth swallowing the rebels signifies the finality and severity of divine retribution. 2. Jonah and the Great Fish: The prophet Jonah's experience is another significant biblical narrative involving being swallowed. Jonah 1:17 states, "Now the LORD had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish." This event highlights themes of repentance and divine mercy. Jonah's time inside the fish represents a period of reflection and transformation, leading to his eventual obedience to God's command. 3. Metaphorical Usage: The concept of being swallowed is also used metaphorically in Scripture to describe overwhelming situations or emotions. In Psalm 124:3 , the psalmist reflects on God's deliverance, saying, "then they would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger." Here, the imagery of being swallowed alive conveys the intensity of the threat faced by the psalmist and the miraculous nature of God's protection. 4. Prophetic Imagery: The prophets often use the imagery of swallowing to depict the destruction of nations or the consuming nature of sin. In Jeremiah 51:34 , Babylon is described as a devourer: "Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured me; he has crushed me; he has set me aside like an empty vessel. He has swallowed me like a monster; he filled his belly with my delicacies and vomited me out." This vivid language underscores the totality of Babylon's conquest and the subsequent judgment that awaits it. 5. New Testament References: In the New Testament, the concept of being swallowed is used to describe the ultimate victory over death. In 1 Corinthians 15:54 , Paul writes, "When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.'" This passage emphasizes the triumph of Christ over death, offering hope and assurance of eternal life to believers. The theme of being swallowed in the Bible serves as a multifaceted symbol of God's power, the consequences of sin, and the hope of redemption. Whether through literal events or metaphorical expressions, it underscores the reality of divine justice and mercy. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (imp. & p. p.) of Swallow.Greek 2666. katapino -- to drink down ... Word Origin from kata and pino Definition to drink down NASB Word Usage devour (1), drank (1), drowned (1), overwhelmed (1), swallow (1), swallowed (2). ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2666.htm - 7k Strong's Hebrew 1105. bela -- a swallowing, devouring, a thing swallowed... 1104, 1105. bela. 1106 . a swallowing, devouring, a thing swallowed. Transliteration: bela Phonetic Spelling: (beh'-lah) Short Definition: devour. ... /hebrew/1105.htm - 6k 1104. bala -- to swallow down, swallow up, engulf Library Failure Swallowed by victory. Death Swallowed up of Life Meaning of this Phrase in Relation to ... Death Swallowed up in victory Being Swallowed up Therefore in the Miserable Gulf of Idle Talk ... And Again Paul Says: "That Mortality Might be Swallowed up of Life ... But Sight Shall Displace Faith; and Hope Shall be Swallowed up in ... But Unbelievers Cry, "How Can the Flesh, which Has Been Putrified ... Death Changes, Without Destroying, Our Mortal Bodies Remains of ... The Sting of Death, What? Psalm CXXIV. Thesaurus Swallowed (43 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Swallow. Multi-Version Concordance Swallowed (43 Occurrences). 1 Corinthians 15:54 But when ... /s/swallowed.htm - 20k Dathan (8 Occurrences) Abiram (9 Occurrences) Swallow (38 Occurrences) Strongholds (44 Occurrences) Korah (51 Occurrences) Thin (39 Occurrences) Moaning (9 Occurrences) Multiplieth (13 Occurrences) Mortality (3 Occurrences) Resources Was Jonah truly swallowed by a whale? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Korah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org What is the difference between miracles and magic? | GotQuestions.org Swallowed: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Swallowed (43 Occurrences)1 Corinthians 15:54 2 Corinthians 2:7 2 Corinthians 5:4 Hebrews 11:29 Revelation 12:16 Genesis 41:7 Genesis 41:24 Exodus 7:12 Exodus 15:12 Numbers 4:20 Numbers 16:30 Numbers 16:32 Numbers 26:10 Deuteronomy 11:6 2 Samuel 17:16 Job 5:5 Job 6:3 Job 20:15 Job 37:20 Psalms 35:25 Psalms 56:1 Psalms 56:2 Psalms 106:17 Psalms 107:27 Psalms 124:3 Proverbs 20:25 Ecclesiastes 10:12 Isaiah 3:12 Isaiah 9:16 Isaiah 25:7 Isaiah 25:8 Isaiah 28:7 Isaiah 49:19 Jeremiah 2:24 Jeremiah 14:6 Jeremiah 51:34 Jeremiah 51:44 Lamentations 2:2 Lamentations 2:5 Lamentations 2:16 Ezekiel 36:3 Hosea 8:8 Obadiah 1:16 Subtopics Related Terms |