The term "writhe" is often used in the Bible to describe a physical or emotional response to intense pain, distress, or anguish. It conveys a vivid image of twisting or contorting the body, often as a reaction to suffering or turmoil. In the biblical context, this term is employed both literally and metaphorically to depict the profound agony experienced by individuals or nations under divine judgment or personal affliction.

Biblical Usage:

1. Physical Pain and Suffering:
In the prophetic literature, "writhe" is frequently used to describe the physical agony associated with judgment or calamity. For instance, in Micah 4:10 , the prophet calls upon the daughter of Zion to "writhe and groan like a woman in labor," illustrating the severe distress and impending deliverance of God's people. This imagery of childbirth is a common biblical metaphor for intense suffering followed by eventual relief or redemption.

2. Emotional and Spiritual Anguish:
The term also captures the emotional and spiritual turmoil experienced by individuals. In Jeremiah 4:31 , the prophet describes the voice of the daughter of Zion as one who "writhes in anguish," likening her cries to those of a woman in labor, reflecting the deep sorrow and desperation felt by the people due to their estrangement from God and the impending destruction.

3. Divine Judgment:
The prophets often use "writhe" to depict the response of nations under God's judgment. Nahum 3:19 speaks of the Assyrians, saying, "Your injury has no healing; your wound is severe. All who hear the news about you clap their hands over you. For who has not felt your endless cruelty?" Here, the imagery of writhing underscores the inescapable and overwhelming nature of divine retribution.

4. Symbol of Repentance and Humility:
In some contexts, writhing can symbolize a posture of repentance and humility before God. The physical manifestation of distress can lead to a spiritual awakening or turning back to God, as seen in various calls to repentance throughout the prophetic books.

Theological Implications:

The use of "writhe" in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of sin and the reality of divine justice. It underscores the severity of God's judgment while also pointing to the hope of redemption and restoration. The imagery of writhing, particularly in the context of childbirth, suggests that while suffering is intense and unavoidable, it can lead to new life and transformation. This duality reflects the biblical theme of suffering leading to glory, a concept central to the Christian understanding of salvation history.

In summary, "writhe" in the biblical narrative is a multifaceted term that conveys the depth of human suffering and the profound impact of divine intervention, whether in judgment or in the process of redemption.1. (v. t.) To twist and to turn in pain; as to writhe from an ankle sprain.

2. (v. t.) To wrest; to distort; to pervert.

3. (v. t.) To extort; to wring; to wrest.

4. (v. i.) To twist or contort the body; to be distorted; as, to writhe with agony. Also used figuratively.

2342a. chul -- to whirl, dance, writhe
chul or chil. 2342, 2342a. chul or chil. 2342b . to whirl, dance, writhe.
Transliteration: chul or chil Short Definition: anguish. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/2342a.htm - 6k

2342. chuwl -- to whirl, dance, writhe
... 2341, 2342. chuwl. 2342a . to whirl, dance, writhe. Transliteration: chuwl
Phonetic Spelling: (khool) Short Definition: bear. bear ...
/hebrew/2342.htm - 6k

2254. chabal -- to bind, pledge
... A primitive root; to wind tightly (as a rope), ie To bind; specifically, by a pledge;
figuratively, to pervert, destroy; also to writhe in pain (especially of ...
/hebrew/2254.htm - 5k

Continued.
... desert. The voice of Jehovah makes the hinds writhe And scathes the
woods"and in His temple" "All in it (are) saying, "Glory.". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/iii early dayscontinued.htm

Shame
... face death in battle, men who would have a limb cut off without a groan, you may
see such, in spite of all their courage, gnash their teeth, and writhe in agony ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon xviii shame.htm

The Fifth Word from the Cross
... in a previous chapter, it was not uncommon for the victims of crucifixion, when
the ghastly operation of nailing them to the tree began, to writhe and resist ...
/.../stalker/the trial and death of jesus christ/chapter xviii the fifth word.htm

Of Divers Unseemly Practices that Follow them that Lack the Work ...
... For some men are so cumbered in nice curious customs in bodily bearing, that when
they shall ought hear, they writhe their heads on one side quaintly, and up ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the three and 4.htm

Two Innumerable Series
... Is it true that 'God's mercies are innumerable'? If it be, what is the
meaning of all this that makes me writhe and weep? Nobody ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/two innumerable series.htm

Ep. I. There is one Good Point in My Character, and I Will Boast ...
... If you were to practise boxing in public, or to give and receive blows in the theatre,
or to writhe and twist yourself shamefully, would you speak of yourself ...
/.../cyril/select letters of saint gregory nazianzen/ep i there is one.htm

On the Question of an Accused Bishop Appealing to the Seat of the ...
... When thou art present, he will speak sweetly, and will admire thy words. But
at last he will writhe his mouth, and slander thy sayings. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/v on the question of.htm

How a Light from Heaven Stood all Night Over his Relics, and How ...
... he had gone to bed after supper, was suddenly seized by the Devil, and began to
cry out, to gnash his teeth, to foam at the mouth, and to writhe and distort ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xi how a light.htm

Jesus, Ever-Loving Saviour
... 4. Jesus, when the cruel anguish Dying on the shameful tree, All abandoned
by Thy Father, Thuo didst writhe in agony. Jesus! Jesus! ...
/.../no 135 jesus ever-loving saviour.htm

Looking up to the Cross
... What if the martyrs' fire some day thy dainty limbs devour? What if beneath
the scourge they writhe, or in dull famine cower? What ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/cccxii looking up to the.htm

Writhe (6 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To twist and to turn in pain; as to writhe from an ankle sprain. ... 4. (vi)
To twist or contort the body; to be distorted; as, to writhe with agony. ...
/w/writhe.htm - 8k

Wring (4 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To twist and compress; to turn and strain with violence; to writhe;
to squeeze hard; to pinch; as, to wring clothes in washing. ...
/w/wring.htm - 8k

Twist (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To contort; to writhe; to complicate;
to crook spirally; to convolve. 2. (vt) Hence, to turn from ...
/t/twist.htm - 10k

Writeth (26 Occurrences)

/w/writeth.htm - 14k

Writhed (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp.) of Writhe. 2. (pp) of Writhe. Multi-Version
Concordance Writhed (4 Occurrences). Esther 4:4 Esther's ...
/w/writhed.htm - 7k

Travail (54 Occurrences)
... trav'-al (yaladh (Genesis 35:16, etc.), chul, chil (properly "writhe," Job 15:20,
etc.); odin (classical odis) (Matthew 24:8, etc.), odino (Sirach 19:11, etc ...
/t/travail.htm - 26k

Bring (1372 Occurrences)
... Psalm 70 title); yabhal = "to flow," "bring" (especially with pomp) (Psalm 60:9;
Psalm 68:29; Psalm 76:11 Zephaniah 3:10); chul, or chil = "to writhe in pain ...
/b/bring.htm - 40k

Agonize (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To writhe with agony; to suffer violent anguish.
2. (vi) To struggle; to wrestle; to strive desperately. ...
/a/agonize.htm - 6k

Anguish (75 Occurrences)
... derivatives signifying "straitness," "narrowness," hence distress; also shabhats,
"giddiness," "confusion of mind"; hul "to twist" with pain, "writhe." So in ...
/a/anguish.htm - 29k

Ashkelon (12 Occurrences)
... Zechariah 9:5 Ashkelon will see it, and fear; Gaza also, and will writhe in agony;
as will Ekron, for her expectation will be disappointed; and the king will ...
/a/ashkelon.htm - 13k

Is it wrong to kill spiders or step on bugs? | GotQuestions.org

Writhe: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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