Wretchedness, as a concept in the Bible, often refers to a state of deep distress, misery, or moral degradation. It is a condition that reflects the fallen nature of humanity and the consequences of sin. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings that illustrate the wretched state of mankind apart from God's grace and redemption.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, wretchedness is frequently associated with the consequences of sin and disobedience to God's commandments. The Israelites, when they turned away from God, often found themselves in a state of wretchedness, suffering under oppression and experiencing the loss of God's favor. For instance, in the Book of Judges, the cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance highlights the wretched condition of the people when they forsake the Lord.

The Psalms also express the wretchedness of the human condition, often in the form of lament. David, in his penitential psalms, acknowledges his own wretchedness due to sin. Psalm 51 is a poignant example where David cries out for mercy, recognizing his sinful state: "Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions" (Psalm 51:1).

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul provides a profound insight into the wretchedness of humanity in Romans 7. He describes the internal struggle with sin, acknowledging the wretched state of man who desires to do good but is hindered by the sinful nature. Paul exclaims, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24). This passage highlights the tension between the desire for righteousness and the reality of human frailty.

The wretchedness of humanity is further illustrated in the parables of Jesus. The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) depicts a young man who finds himself in a wretched state after squandering his inheritance. His return to the father symbolizes repentance and the restoration that comes through God's grace.

Spiritual Implications

Wretchedness, in a spiritual sense, underscores the need for redemption and the transformative power of God's grace. The recognition of one's wretched state is often the first step toward repentance and salvation. Jesus' ministry was centered on bringing hope to the wretched and downtrodden, offering forgiveness and new life to those who acknowledge their need for Him.

The Beatitudes, found in Matthew 5, reflect the blessedness of those who recognize their spiritual poverty and wretchedness. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). This acknowledgment of spiritual need is a prerequisite for receiving the blessings of the kingdom.

Eschatological Perspective

In the eschatological context, the Book of Revelation addresses the wretchedness of the Laodicean church, which is described as "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:17). This serves as a warning to believers to remain vigilant and dependent on Christ, lest they fall into spiritual complacency and wretchedness.

Throughout Scripture, wretchedness is portrayed as a condition that can only be remedied by divine intervention. The Bible consistently points to the hope and redemption found in Jesus Christ, who delivers humanity from its wretched state and restores it to a right relationship with God.1. (n.) Utter misery or unhappiness.

2. (n.) A wretched object; anything despicable.

5004. talaiporia -- hard work, hardship, distress
... misery. From talaiporos; wretchedness, ie Calamity -- misery. see GREEK talaiporos.
(talaiporia) -- 1 Occurrence. (talaiporiais) -- 1 Occurrence. 5003, 5004. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5004.htm - 6k7463a. raah -- evil, misery, distress, injury
... situation (1), sorrow (1), trouble (9), troubles (1), very* (1), wicked (3), wicked
deeds (1), wickedly (1), wickedness (39), woe (1), wretchedness (1), wrong ...
/hebrew/7463a.htm - 6k

7451. ra' -- bad, evil
... mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, + not please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow,
trouble, vex, wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong. ...
/hebrew/7451.htm - 6k

He Deplores his Wretchedness, that Having Been Born Thirty-Two ...
... Book VIII. Chapter VII."He Deplores His Wretchedness, that Having Been Born
Thirty-Two Years, He Had Not Yet Found Out the Truth. 16. ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter vii he deplores his wretchedness.htm

A Short Proof against their Error that Say, that There is no ...
... CHAPTER A short proof against their error that say, that there is no perfecter cause
to be meeked under, than is the knowledge of a man's own wretchedness. ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the fifteenth chapter.htm

Letter civ. (AD 409. )
... of literature, that death terminates the experience of all evils, but that a life
of indigence only confers upon us an eternity of wretchedness." From which ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter civ a d 409.htm

That by virtue of this Work a Sinner Truly Turned and Called to ...
... thee," it was not for her great sorrow, nor for the remembering of her sins, nor
yet for her meekness that she had in the beholding of her wretchedness only. ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the sixteenth chapter.htm

A Good Declaring of Certain Doubts that May Fall in this Word ...
... For he will sometime, me think, make me weep full heartily for pity of the Passion
of Christ, sometime for my wretchedness, and for many other reasons, that me ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the eighth chapter.htm

It is Said Then in the Psalms, "I Laid Me Down and Slept, and Rose ...
... then in the Psalms, "I laid me down and slept, and rose up again, because the Lord
sustained me." Again, in another place, "Because of the wretchedness of the ...
/.../30 it is said then.htm

The Fundamentals of the Christian Religion
... It is equally important to men to know both these points; and it is equally dangerous
for man to know God without knowing his own wretchedness, and to know his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pascal/pensees/section viii the fundamentals of.htm

That Perfect Love Binds to God Without Loosing and Makes Man ...
... Beware that thy heart be not sundered from Him though thou be set in adversity or
wretchedness; for so shalt thou be worthy to have Him with joy, and to love ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter xi that perfect love.htm

Of Divers Friendships of Good and Ill, and if they Can be Loosed ...
... that they languish for their love, and nearly faint with great desire and strife
of thought; and so they lead them, light and unstable, to wretchedness in this ...
/.../rolle/the fire of love/chapter ix of divers friendships.htm

Book ii.
... things. And therefore if the knowledge of things is wretchedness, wretchedness
is everlasting. R. Now I see all which you desire. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/two books of soliloquies/book ii.htm

Wretchedness (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) Utter misery or unhappiness. 2. (n.) A wretched object; anything despicable.
Multi-Version Concordance Wretchedness (1 Occurrence). ...
/w/wretchedness.htm - 6k

Wretched (14 Occurrences)

/w/wretched.htm - 10k

Groan (32 Occurrences)
... It is also used in Job's description of the sufferings and wretchedness of the poor
(Job 24:12) as well as in his complaint concerning his own suffering when ...
/g/groan.htm - 21k

Wretches (1 Occurrence)

/w/wretches.htm - 6k

Dealest (5 Occurrences)
... Numbers 11:15 And if thou dealest thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand,
if I have found favor in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness. ...
/d/dealest.htm - 8k

Misery (38 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Great unhappiness; extreme pain of body or mind;
wretchedness; distress; woe. 2. (n.) Cause of misery; calamity; misfortune. ...
/m/misery.htm - 16k

Pitiable (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Arousing pity or compassion; miserable; lamentable;
piteous; as, pitiable persons; a pitiable condition; pitiable wretchedness. ...
/p/pitiable.htm - 7k

Poor (276 Occurrences)
... also `anaw, "poor," "oppressed," from `anah, "to bend" or "bow down (Exodus 22:25,
etc.); `aneh, Aramaic (Daniel 4:27), chelekhah, "wretchedness" (AV Psalm 10:8 ...
/p/poor.htm - 60k

Bitter (203 Occurrences)
... bitterness describe emotions of sympathy;' the sorrow of childlessness and of penitence,
of disappointment; the feeling of misery and wretchedness, giving rise ...
/b/bitter.htm - 42k

Bitterness (37 Occurrences)
... bitterness describe emotions of sympathy;' the sorrow of childlessness and of penitence,
of disappointment; the feeling of misery and wretchedness, giving rise ...
/b/bitterness.htm - 21k

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Wretchedness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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