To understand how hearts are hardened it might be helpful to understand what the opposite of hardening the heart is: “Because thine (King Josiah’s) heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation […]
Hardened Hearts in the Bible – Is God Responsible? Traditional Legal Model – To be hardened is understood to be an individual’s action of resisting or refusing truth. Biblical Healing Model – The meaning is the same but the word is included in the glossary to clearly distinguish who is responsible for the hardening. From […]
Smote in the New Testament The Greek word translated as smote is “patasso” (Strong’s G3960): G3960 patasso probably prolongation from 3817; TDNT-5:939,804; {See TDNT 607 } v AV-smite 9, strike 1; 10 1) to strike gently: as a part or a member of the body 2) to stroke, smite: with the sword, to afflict, to visit […]
Traditional Legal Model – Smote or to smite is used both as a physical blow and as the conscience being smitten. Biblical Healing Model – The word is used similarly except that this model recognizes that often when God is said to smite it is by withdrawing His protection. It is also understood in the […]
Question: First, this site is useful! Second, I have a few (philosophical/Biblical) questions: 1) Why did God create us with a sense of justice (not happy when others steal [our] own items)? Doesn’t that mean God’s laws are arbitrary? 2) Since only God existed for eternity, does that mean that God’s laws are arbitrary (as […]
God is Our Refuge and Strength That God is our refuge and strength comes from this verse: It is telling us that we can turn to Him for protection in times of trouble. However, few people really do this; it is more in line with human nature to take care of matters ourselves. This is […]
1 Samuel 15:3 Smite Amalek God said in 1 Samuel 15:3 smite Amalek. Or did He? When you dig deeply into scripture a different picture emerges. “Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel […]
Exodus 17:9 – Israel Takes the Sword “And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.” (Exodus 17:9) This is the first record of Israel taking up the sword to […]
Hebrews 12:17 Meaning – Esau’s Lost Blessing The background of Hebrews 12:17 In the story of Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25) Esau sold his birthright for one meal: “And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same […]
Hebrews 10:26 Meaning “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,” (Hebrews 10:26) Have you ever sinned willfully? Ever done something wrong knowing full well it was wrong? I have. I’m sure everyone has – many times. Does committing a willful […]
