The term "withers" in the Bible often refers to the process of drying up or wasting away, typically used in the context of plants, trees, or even human strength and vitality. This imagery is frequently employed in Scripture to convey spiritual truths about the consequences of sin, the fleeting nature of life, and the judgment of God.

Biblical References:

1. Psalm 1:3-4 : "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does. Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind." Here, the psalmist contrasts the righteous, who are sustained and fruitful, with the wicked, who are unstable and ultimately wither away.

2. Isaiah 40:7-8 : "The grass withers and the flowers fall when the breath of the LORD blows on them; indeed, the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." This passage emphasizes the transient nature of human life and the enduring truth of God's Word.

3. Matthew 13:6 : "But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root." In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus uses the imagery of withering plants to describe those who fall away from faith due to a lack of deep spiritual roots.

4. John 15:6 : "If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned." Jesus speaks of the necessity of abiding in Him to avoid spiritual withering and judgment.

Theological Significance:

The concept of withering serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual decline and the consequences of turning away from God. It underscores the importance of remaining rooted in faith and the Word of God to maintain spiritual vitality. The imagery of withering also highlights the sovereignty of God, who alone sustains life and brings judgment upon those who reject His ways.

Practical Application:

Believers are encouraged to cultivate a deep and abiding relationship with God, akin to a tree planted by streams of water, to avoid spiritual withering. This involves regular engagement with Scripture, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. By doing so, Christians can ensure that their spiritual lives remain vibrant and fruitful, standing firm against the trials and temptations of life.(prep.) The ridge between the shoulder bones of a horse, at the base of the neck. See Illust. of Horse.3583. xeraino -- to dry up, waste away
... xeros Definition to dry up, waste away NASB Word Usage dried (2), dries (1), ripe
(1), stiffens (1), wither (1), withered (4), withered away (3), withers (2). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3583.htm - 6k3001. yabesh -- to be dry, dried up, or withered
... wither (1), dried (18), dries (5), dry (11), make her dry (1), make your dry (1),
makes it dry (1), totally withered (1), wither (7), withered (5), withers (6 ...
/hebrew/3001.htm - 6k

5034b. nabel -- to sink or drop down, languish, fade
... crumbles away (1), fade (1), fade away (1), fades (2), fades away (1), fading (2),
lose heart (1), surely wear (1), wither (4), wither away (1), withers (4). ...
/hebrew/5034b.htm - 5k

7060. qamel -- to be decayed
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to be decayed NASB Word Usage rot away (1),
withers (1). hew down, wither. A primitive root; to wither -- hew down, wither. ...
/hebrew/7060.htm - 5k

4448c. malal -- to languish, wither, fade
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to languish, wither, fade NASB Word Usage cut
off (2), fades (1), wither (1), withers (1). 4448b, 4448c. malal. 4448d . ...
/hebrew/4448c.htm - 5k

The Love which Withers.
... Second Chapter. LOVE. XXXII. The Love Which Withers. "Therefore hath He mercy on
whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardeneth.""Romans 9:18. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxxii the love which withers.htm

What Sin Does to Men
... I. Sin withers. ... Whatever a man does against his conscience"neglect of duty, habitual
unveracity, idleness"in a word, his besetting sin withers him up. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/what sin does to men.htm

He Falsely Imagines that the Same Energies Produce the Same Works ...
... Is not his power of warming always the same; and yet while he causes one plant to
grow, he withers another, varying the results of his operation in accordance ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 27 he falsely imagines.htm

The Objects of Prayer
... The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon
it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen on prayer/chapter xi the objects of.htm

"Lo, I Come": Application
... When the Spirit of truth comes to deal with the religiousness of the flesh, he withers
it in a moment. All religion which is not spiritual is worthless. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/lo i come application.htm

Section 1
... If that crisis is not seized, nothing lies before the plant but useless, irrevocable
decay; the power to receive withers and vanishes; and nothing can renew it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/trotter/parables of the christ-life/section 1.htm

The Absolute Godhood of God is Seen in Administration
... At a word from Him who made it, a fish carried a coin to Peter, a tree withers
suddenly (Matt.21:4), the raging tempest becomes a calm. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the godhood of god/2 the absolute godhood of.htm

When God Takes Away Our Children from Us, it is a Very Affecting ...
... oh, who shall teach those that have never felt it, how it tears the very Soul; when
GOD roots up the tender Plant with an inexorable Hand, and withers the Bud ...
/.../1 when god takes away.htm

It is in this Sense, My Friends, that I Say to You...
... family, and my country, are only parts; and of which I myself am only a miserable
and vanishing fraction, a leaf of a summer, which vegetates and withers on a ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/lamartine/atheism among the people/iv it is in this.htm

Letter iii. True Religion a Work of Grace in the Heart; but it ...
... He is all alive and full of zeal when the river overflows, but when it returns to
its ordinary channel, his leaf withers; and if a long season of spiritual ...
/.../letter iii true religion a.htm

Withers (20 Occurrences)
...Withers (20 Occurrences). Matthew 13:6 but when the sun is risen, it is scorched
by the heat, and through having no root it withers up. (WEY). ...
/w/withers.htm - 11k

Flower (33 Occurrences)
... James 1:11 For the sun arises with the scorching wind, and withers the grass, and
the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. ...
/f/flower.htm - 18k

Wither (30 Occurrences)
... in the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls; (Root in WEB KJV
ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Job 8:12 While it is yet in ...
/w/wither.htm - 15k

Fades (10 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS). Isaiah 40:7 The grass withers, the flower fades, because Yahweh's breath
blows on it. Surely the people are like grass. (WEB NAS RSV). ...
/f/fades.htm - 8k

Grass (92 Occurrences)
... James 1:11 For the sun arises with the scorching wind, and withers the grass, and
the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. ...
/g/grass.htm - 43k

Falls (79 Occurrences)
... James 1:11 For the sun arises with the scorching wind, and withers the grass, and
the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. ...
/f/falls.htm - 28k

Unfruitful (8 Occurrences)
... John 15:6 If any one does not continue in me, he is like the unfruitful
branch which is at once thrown away and then withers up. ...
/u/unfruitful.htm - 9k

Languishes (11 Occurrences)
... (WEB RSV). Isaiah 33:9 The land mourns and languishes. Lebanon is confounded and
withers away. Sharon is like a desert, and Bashan and Carmel are stripped bare. ...
/l/languishes.htm - 9k

Gourd (4 Occurrences)
... noon-day sun. It grows with extraordinary rapidity, and when cut or injured
withers away also with great rapidity. (2.) Wild gourds ...
/g/gourd.htm - 12k

Growing (31 Occurrences)
... upon him. (WEB). Luke 8:6 Another part drops upon the rock, and after growing
up it withers away for want of moisture. (WEY). Luke ...
/g/growing.htm - 15k

Is there life after death? | GotQuestions.org

Does the vine and branches passage in John 15 mean that salvation can be lost? | GotQuestions.org

Is the doctrine of preservation biblical? | GotQuestions.org

Withers: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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