Topical Bible: Swept

Jump to: Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The term "swept" in the Bible often conveys the idea of cleansing, removal, or judgment. It is used both literally and metaphorically to describe the act of clearing away or purifying. This concept appears in various contexts throughout Scripture, illustrating both physical and spiritual dimensions.

1. Literal Cleansing and Order: In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus uses the imagery of a house being swept clean to describe spiritual realities. In Matthew 12:43-45 , Jesus speaks of an unclean spirit that leaves a person and later returns to find the "house" unoccupied, swept, and put in order. This passage highlights the danger of spiritual emptiness and the need for a life filled with the presence of God, rather than merely being cleansed of evil.

2. Judgment and Destruction: The concept of being swept away is also used in the context of divine judgment. In the account of the Flood, Genesis 7:23 states, "Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; people and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark." Here, the sweeping away of life serves as a powerful reminder of God's judgment against sin and His sovereign control over creation.

3. Prophetic Imagery: The prophets frequently use the imagery of sweeping to describe God's judgment upon nations and peoples. In Isaiah 14:23 , God declares concerning Babylon, "I will make her a place for owls and swamps of water, and I will sweep her away with the broom of destruction," declares the LORD of Hosts. This vivid picture underscores the totality of God's judgment and the certainty of His prophetic word.

4. Spiritual Renewal: The act of sweeping can also symbolize spiritual renewal and preparation. In the parable of the lost coin, found in Luke 15:8-10 , a woman sweeps her house diligently to find a lost coin. This parable illustrates the value of each soul to God and the thoroughness with which He seeks the lost. The sweeping here is an act of careful searching and restoration.

5. Moral and Ethical Cleansing: The concept of sweeping is also applicable to the moral and ethical cleansing required of believers. In 1 Corinthians 5:7 , Paul exhorts the church, "Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." The metaphor of removing old yeast is akin to sweeping out impurity, calling believers to live in holiness and sincerity.

In summary, the biblical use of "swept" encompasses themes of cleansing, judgment, and renewal. It serves as a powerful metaphor for God's actions in the world and His expectations for His people. Whether in the context of divine judgment or spiritual renewal, the imagery of sweeping underscores the thoroughness and intentionality of God's work in creation and in the hearts of individuals.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (imp. & p. p.) of Sweep.

2. (v.) imp. & p. p. of Sweep.

Greek

4216. potamophoretos -- carried away by a stream
... Word Origin from potamos and phoretos (carried) Definition carried away by a stream
NASB Word Usage swept away (1), swept away with the flood (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4216.htm - 6k

4563. saroo -- to sweep
... cleanse by sweeping. Word Origin from sairo (to sweep) Definition to sweep NASB
Word Usage sweep (1), swept (2). sweep. From a derivative ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4563.htm - 6k

4951. suro -- to draw, drag
... away. Word Origin a prim. word Definition to draw, drag NASB Word Usage dragged
(1), dragging (3), swept away (1). drag, draw, hale. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4951.htm - 6k

673. apochorizo -- to separate, part asunder
... apochorizo Phonetic Spelling: (ap-okh-o-rid'-zo) Short Definition: I separate from
Definition: I separate from; mid: I part; pass: I am swept aside. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/673.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

1640. garaph -- to sweep away
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to sweep away NASB Word Usage swept them away
(1). sweep away. A primitive root; to bear off violently -- sweep away. ...
/hebrew/1640.htm - 5k

2916. tit -- mud, mire, clay
... Perb. A demon. From tuw', through the idea of dirt to be swept away); mud or clay;
figuratively, calamity -- clay, dirt, mire. see HEBREW tuw'. 2915, 2916. ...
/hebrew/2916.htm - 6k

5595. saphah -- to sweep or snatch away, catch up
... or snatch away, catch up NASB Word Usage add (2), captured (1), destroy (2), heap
(1), perish (2), remove (1), snatched away (1), sweep away (2), swept away (6 ...
/hebrew/5595.htm - 6k

5674a. abar -- to pass over, through, or by, pass on
... 1), send through (1), sent (2), sent across (2), sound (2), spare (2), spread beyond
(1), standard (1), stretched across (1), survey (1), swept (3), take ...
/hebrew/5674a.htm - 7k

2229. zaram -- to pour forth in floods, flood away
... root Definition to pour forth in floods, flood away NASB Word Usage away like
(1), away like a flood (1), poured (1), swept them away like (1). ...
/hebrew/2229.htm - 6k

1980. halak -- to go, come, walk
... 1), run (1), runs off (1), set (3), set* (1), spent (1), spread (1), sprout (1),
stalks (1), steadily (2), steps (1), strut (1), surely go (2), swept (1), take ...
/hebrew/1980.htm - 8k

5486. suph -- to come to an end, cease
... come to an end, cease NASB Word Usage come to an end (2), completely remove (1),
fade (1), remove (2), surely snatch (1), surely snatch away (1), swept away (1 ...
/hebrew/5486.htm - 6k

5478. suchah -- offal
... torn. From the same as Cuwach; something swept away, ie Filth -- torn. see HEBREW
Cuwach. 5477, 5478. suchah. 5479 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5478.htm - 6k

5501. cchiy -- offscouring
... offscouring. offscouring From cachah; refuse (as swept off) -- offscouring. see
HEBREW cachah. 5500, 5501. cchiy. 5501a . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5501.htm - 5k

Library

Darkly the Tempest Swept,
... MEDITATIONS Darkly the tempest swept,. tr., John Brownlie 6.4.6.4.6.6.6.4. I. Darkly
the tempest swept,. Over the sea; Fiercely the billows leapt,. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the apostolic church/darkly the tempest swept.htm

Darkly the Tempest Swept
... HYMNS OF THE EARLY CHURCH Darkly the tempest swept. 6,4,6,4,6,6,6,4. Darkly the
tempest swept. Over the sea; Fiercely the billows leapt,. Bounding and free; ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the early church/darkly the tempest swept.htm

Chapter twenty-eight
... Then suddenly he pulled himself up one step and swept over the spot he had
just cleaned. ... He swept in the corner for two or three minutes. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter twenty-eight.htm

Luke xi. 25
... 25. LUKE xi.25. When he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. ... The house which
was empty, swept and garnished, was especially one empty of the love of God. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnold/the christian life/lecture xv luke xi 25.htm

Whom the Lady Miriam Sent
... went wild in the wind; how the group of lissome maidens on the sand below wound
in and out, in a mazy dance; how the multitude was swept into transports of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xlvi whom the lady.htm

The Angel of Death
... bent upon his horse's neck. Gust after gust of icy air swept down on his
head, as if winnowed by frozen wings. Then with a backward ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xli the angel of.htm

"The Great Awakening. "
... from time to time had been roused to greater interest in religion before the spiritual
cyclone of the great revival, or "Great Awakening," swept through the ...
/.../chapter ix the great awakening.htm

The Fulfilment
... Old Wall in time to behold Jews in armor and Romans in blazing brass rush together
in a great cloud of dust as the Old Wall went in and Titus swept down upon ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter xxiii the fulfilment.htm

Manasseh
... Manasseh hastened to join hands with Babylon, and make his nation the vassal of
a great heathen empire. Hezekiah had swept the land clean of idols. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/manasseh.htm

The Woman of Samaria
... them. The king of Assyria came. He swept away all the heathen people of
Damascus, and killed their king. But he did not stop there. ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxvi the woman of.htm

Thesaurus

Swept (43 Occurrences)
... 2. (v.) imp. & pp of Sweep. Multi-Version Concordance Swept (43 Occurrences). ... (WEY
RSV). Luke 11:25 When he returns, he finds it swept and put in order. ...
/s/swept.htm - 18k

Garnished (4 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out;
and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. (KJV ASV WBS). ...
/g/garnished.htm - 7k

Finds (71 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:44 Then he says,'I will return into my house from which I came out,'
and when he has come back, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. ...
/f/finds.htm - 24k

Findeth (66 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV WBS). Matthew 12:44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence
I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. ...
/f/findeth.htm - 26k

Adorned (20 Occurrences)
... Adorned (20 Occurrences). Matthew 12:44 Then he says, I will return to my house
whence I came out; and having come, he finds it unoccupied, swept, and adorned. ...
/a/adorned.htm - 12k

Locust (25 Occurrences)
... Such an awful visitation swept over Egypt (Exodus 10:1-19), consuming before it
every green thing, and stripping the trees, till the land was bared of all ...
/l/locust.htm - 34k

Zephaniah (11 Occurrences)
... But the only foes of Judah during the latter part of the 7th century meeting all
the conditions are the Scythians, who swept over Western Asia about 625 BC At ...
/z/zephaniah.htm - 32k

Swerve (9 Occurrences)

/s/swerve.htm - 9k

Clean (298 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:44 Then he says, 'I will return to my house that I left;' and he comes
and finds it unoccupied, swept clean, and in good order. (WEY BBE NIV). ...
/c/clean.htm - 44k

Sea (4178 Occurrences)
... All the sediment which formerly filled this has been swept into the head of the
sea, while the Jarmuk, the Jabbok, and a score of smaller tributaries ...
/s/sea.htm - 87k

Resources

What does it mean that deep calls to deep (Psalm 42:7)? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that he who endures to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13)? | GotQuestions.org

Who is the king of the South in Daniel 11? | GotQuestions.org

Swept: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Swept (43 Occurrences)

Matthew 8:24
Behold, a violent storm came up on the sea, so much that the boat was covered with the waves, but he was asleep.
(See NIV)

Matthew 12:44
Then he says,'I will return into my house from which I came out,' and when he has come back, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 24:39
nor did they realise any danger till the Deluge came and swept them all away; so will it be at the Coming of the Son of Man.
(WEY RSV)

Luke 11:25
When he returns, he finds it swept and put in order.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 27:14
But before long, a stormy wind beat down from shore, which is called Euroclydon.
(See NIV)

Revelation 12:4
His tail drew one third of the stars of the sky, and threw them to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 12:15
The serpent spewed water out of his mouth after the woman like a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream.
(See NAS)

Genesis 19:15
And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters that are here, lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
(See JPS NAS NIV)

Genesis 19:17
And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the Plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
(See JPS NAS NIV)

Exodus 14:21
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and Yahweh caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
(See NAS)

Exodus 14:27
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it. Yahweh overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
(See NIV)

Numbers 16:26
And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.
(See JPS NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 5:21
The river Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. My soul, march on with strength.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 12:25
But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
(See JPS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 26:10
And David said, As Jehovah liveth, Jehovah will smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle and perish.
(See JPS)

1 Samuel 27:1
And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me any more in all the borders of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.
(See JPS)

1 Chronicles 21:12
either three years of famine; or three months to be consumed before thy foes, while the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of Jehovah, even pestilence in the land, and the angel of Jehovah destroying throughout all the borders of Israel. Now therefore consider what answer I shall return to him that sent me.
(See JPS NAS NIV)

Job 1:17
While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, "The Chaldeans made three bands, and swept down on the camels, and have taken them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you."
(WEB NIV)

Job 1:19
and behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young men, and they are dead. I alone have escaped to tell you."
(See NIV)

Job 5:13
He takes the wise in their own craftiness; the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.
(See NIV)

Job 15:30
He shall not depart out of darkness. The flame shall dry up his branches. By the breath of God's mouth shall he go away.
(See RSV)

Job 21:18
How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?
(See NIV)

Job 37:21
Now men don't see the light which is bright in the skies, but the wind passes, and clears them.
(See NIV)

Psalms 42:7
Deep calls to deep at the noise of your waterfalls. All your waves and your billows have swept over me.
(WEB NIV)

Psalms 58:9
Before your pots can feel the thorns, He will sweep it away with a whirlwind, the raw and the burning alike.
(See NIV)

Psalms 73:19
How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 88:16
Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off.
(See RSV NIV)

Psalms 90:5
You sweep them away as they sleep. In the morning they sprout like new grass.
(See NAS)

Psalms 124:4
We would have been covered by the waters; the streams would have gone over our soul;
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 124:5
Yes, the waters of pride would have gone over our soul.
(See NAS NIV)

Proverbs 10:25
When the storm-wind is past, the sinner is seen no longer, but the upright man is safe for ever.
(See NIV)

Proverbs 13:23
Much food is in the tillage of the poor; But there is that is destroyed by reason of injustice.
(See JPS NAS RSV)

Isaiah 44:22
I have put your evil doings out of my mind like a thick cloud, and your sins like a mist: come back to me; for I have taken up your cause.
(See RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 12:4
How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of the whole country wither? for the wickedness of those who dwell therein, the animals are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our latter end.
(See RSV)

Jeremiah 18:21
Therefore give up their children to the famine, and deliver them over to the power of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of children and be widows; and let their men be swept off by death, their young men be smitten by the sword in battle.
(DBY)

Jeremiah 46:15
Why are your strong ones swept away? they didn't stand, because Yahweh did drive them.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Daniel 2:35
Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them: and the stone that struck the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
(See NIV)

Daniel 11:22
And the overwhelming forces shall be overwhelmed from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
(See JPS RSV NIV)

Daniel 11:26
Yea, they that eat of his dainties shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow; and many shall fall down slain.
(See JPS RSV NIV)

Jonah 2:3
For you threw me into the depths, in the heart of the seas. The flood was all around me. All your waves and your billows passed over me.
(See NIV)

Micah 7:2
The godly man has perished out of the earth, and there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; every man hunts his brother with a net.
(See NIV)

Habakkuk 3:10
The mountains saw you, and were afraid. The storm of waters passed by. The deep roared and lifted up its hands on high.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Zechariah 5:3
Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole land: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off on the one side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off on the other side according to it.
(See JPS)

Subtopics

Swept

Related Terms

Swerved (4 Occurrences)

Swerving (2 Occurrences)

Swept (43 Occurrences)

Keep (4573 Occurrences)

Nobly (5 Occurrences)

Warp (9 Occurrences)

Forgo (1 Occurrence)

Restraint (34 Occurrences)

Excessively (6 Occurrences)