Definition and Overview:
Worthlessness, in a biblical context, refers to the state or quality of lacking value, purpose, or moral integrity. It is often associated with behaviors, attitudes, or individuals that are deemed futile, corrupt, or devoid of righteousness according to scriptural standards. The Bible frequently contrasts worthlessness with the virtues of wisdom, righteousness, and godliness.

Old Testament References:
The concept of worthlessness is prevalent in the Old Testament, where it is often linked to idolatry, wickedness, and rebellion against God. The Hebrew term "Belial" is sometimes used to describe worthless individuals or actions. In Deuteronomy 13:13 , the text warns against "worthless men" who lead others to worship false gods: "Some worthless men have gone out from among you and have enticed the inhabitants of their cities, saying, ‘Let us go and worship other gods’—gods you have not known."

In 1 Samuel 2:12 , the sons of Eli are described as "worthless men" because they "did not know the LORD." Their actions, which included desecrating the sacrifices, exemplify the moral and spiritual bankruptcy associated with worthlessness.

Wisdom Literature:
The Book of Proverbs frequently addresses the theme of worthlessness, often in the context of laziness, deceit, and folly. Proverbs 6:12-15 describes a "worthless person" as one who "walks with a perverse mouth, winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, and points with his fingers." Such a person sows discord and is destined for sudden calamity.

Prophetic Literature:
The prophets also speak against worthlessness, particularly in the context of idolatry and social injustice. Jeremiah 2:5 records God's lament over Israel's pursuit of worthlessness: "What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves." This passage highlights the transformative effect of idolatry, leading individuals and nations into a state of worthlessness.

New Testament References:
In the New Testament, worthlessness is often associated with spiritual fruitlessness and moral decay. Jesus warns against unproductive lives in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), where the servant who fails to use his master's resources is called "worthless" and cast into outer darkness.

The Apostle Paul, in his epistles, contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit. In Romans 1:28-32 , he describes those who reject God as being filled with "every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity," leading to a worthless mind.

Theological Implications:
Worthlessness, from a biblical perspective, is not merely a lack of utility but a profound spiritual deficiency. It reflects a life disconnected from God's purposes and standards. The Bible calls believers to reject worthlessness by embracing wisdom, righteousness, and a life devoted to God's glory. In Ephesians 5:11 , Paul exhorts Christians to "have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them."

Practical Application:
Believers are encouraged to examine their lives for areas of worthlessness and to seek transformation through the renewing of their minds (Romans 12:2). This involves cultivating a life of purpose, integrity, and service, in alignment with God's will. The pursuit of godliness and the rejection of worthlessness are central to the Christian walk, as believers strive to reflect the character of Christ in all aspects of life.955. Beliar -- "lord of the forest," Beliar, a name of Satan
... Belial. Of Hebrew origin (bliya'al); worthlessness; Belial, as an epithet of Satan --
Belial. see HEBREW bliya'al. (beliar) -- 1 Occurrence. 954, 955. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/955.htm - 6k1100. beliyyaal -- worthlessness
... 1099, 1100. beliyyaal. 1101 . worthlessness. Transliteration: beliyyaal
Phonetic Spelling: (bel-e-yah'-al) Short Definition: worthless. ...
/hebrew/1100.htm - 6k

457. elil -- insufficiency, worthlessness
... 456, 457. elil. 458 . insufficiency, worthlessness. Transliteration:
elil Phonetic Spelling: (el-eel') Short Definition: idols. ...
/hebrew/457.htm - 6k

2149. zulluth -- worthlessness
... 2148b, 2149. zulluth. 2150 . worthlessness. Transliteration: zulluth
Phonetic Spelling: (zool-looth') Short Definition: vileness. ...
/hebrew/2149.htm - 6k

Its Evidence
... Here the Apostle shows by an opposite illustration the utter worthlessness of fair
talking which is unaccompanied by practical deeds: notice the "say unto them ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the doctrine of justification/9 its evidence.htm

The Holy Spirit as a Teacher.
... In our day we need not only to recognize the utter insufficiency and worthlessness
before God of our own righteousness, which is the lesson of the opening ...
/.../torrey/the person and work of the holy spirit/chapter xvi the holy spirit.htm

Paracelsus {13}
... first an honest and high-minded, as he was certainly a most gifted, man; that he
went forth into the world, with an intense sense of the worthlessness of the ...
/.../kingsley/historical lectures and essays/paracelsus 13.htm

The Right Hand and the Left.
... were of the positive order, and we did every duty perfectly, the moment we began
to pride ourselves upon the fact, we should drop into a hell of worthlessness. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/hope of the gospel/the right hand and the.htm

A Word in the Prayer.
... be respected and honored. He did not pray for riches for them; He knew
too well the worthlessness of money in itself. He did not ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rees/the heart-cry of jesus/chapter i a word in.htm

The King --Continued.
... Or, varying the image, he is sinking in black waters, which are designated by a
difficult phrase (literally, "streams of Belial," or worthlessness), which is ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/x the kingcontinued.htm

Introduction
... Hence they attached an idea of inherent corruption and worthlessness to all his
works"amongst the rest, to the flesh or body of man; affirming that it could ...
/.../tertullian/on the resurrection of the flesh/introduction.htm

The Essay which Brings up the Rear in this Very Guilty Volume is ...
... In the meantime, since it is my intention not only to demonstrate the worthlessness
of the structure which Mr. Jowett has with so much perverse industry here ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/vii the essay which brings.htm

Some General Uses.
... been impediments and objections before, shall evanish, and be rolled out of the
way now: Such as, the objections taken from their own worthlessness, their long ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter xx some general uses.htm

James i. 9-11
... By this conviction of the worthlessness of his earthly riches, he is prepared to
appropriate as his own the true riches, the only true dignity. ...
/.../neander/the epistle of james practically explained/james i 11-sep.htm

Worthlessness (14 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Worthlessness (14 Occurrences). Deuteronomy
13:13 Men, sons of worthlessness, have gone out of thy midst ...
/w/worthlessness.htm - 11k

Melech (7 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 21:10 and cause two men -- sons of worthlessness -- to sit over-against
him, and they testify of him, saying, Thou hast blessed God and Melech; and ...
/m/melech.htm - 9k

Worthless (103 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 13:13 Men, sons of worthlessness, have gone out of thy midst, and they
force away the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other ...
/w/worthless.htm - 35k

Fellow (166 Occurrences)
... man"; in several places of the Old Testament "fellow" represents zeh, "this," and
in these instances there seems to be something of worthlessness or contempt ...
/f/fellow.htm - 42k

Belial (23 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Worthlessness, frequently used in the Old Testament
as a proper name. It is first used in Deuteronomy 13:13. ...
/b/belial.htm - 16k

Over-against (156 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 21:10 and cause two men -- sons of worthlessness -- to sit over-against
him, and they testify of him, saying, Thou hast blessed God and Melech; and ...
/o/over-against.htm - 38k

Testify (110 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 21:13 and two men -- sons of worthlessness -- come in, and sit over-against
him, and the men of worthlessness testify of him, even Naboth, before the ...
/t/testify.htm - 36k

Nehushtan (1 Occurrence)
... with a mysterious sanctity; and in order to deliver the people from their infatuation,
and impress them with the idea of its worthlessness, Hezekiah called it ...
/n/nehushtan.htm - 11k

Nehemiah (9 Occurrences)
... Very soon after this the old corrupt state of things returned, showing the
worthlessness to a large extent of the professions that had been made at the feast ...
/n/nehemiah.htm - 24k

Naught (40 Occurrences)
... not, no'-ti, nes: In the sense of bad, worthless, worthlessness, the words in the
King James Version represent the Hebrew ra`, changed in the Revised Version ...
/n/naught.htm - 19k

Who was Belial? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about humility? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to be unequally yoked? | GotQuestions.org

Worthlessness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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