In the context of the Bible, the term "bursts" can be understood both literally and metaphorically, often symbolizing sudden and powerful actions or events. The concept of bursting is used to describe physical phenomena, emotional expressions, and divine interventions.

Physical Bursts

One of the most vivid examples of a physical burst in the Bible is found in the account of the wineskins. In Matthew 9:17 , Jesus says, "Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved." Here, the bursting of wineskins serves as a metaphor for the incompatibility of old and new covenants, emphasizing the need for renewal and transformation in spiritual life.

Emotional Bursts

The Bible also describes emotional bursts, particularly in the context of human reactions to divine encounters or overwhelming circumstances. In Acts 4:24 , the early Christians, upon hearing the report of Peter and John, "raised their voices together in prayer to God." This collective burst of prayer reflects the intensity of their faith and reliance on God in times of trial.

Divine Bursts

Divine bursts are often depicted as sudden and powerful acts of God that demonstrate His sovereignty and power. In the Old Testament, the bursting forth of God's power is seen in events such as the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-22) and the collapse of the walls of Jericho (Joshua 6:20). These acts serve as reminders of God's ability to intervene in human history in dramatic and unexpected ways.

In the prophetic literature, bursts are sometimes used to describe the suddenness of God's judgment or blessing. Isaiah 35:6 speaks of a future time of restoration: "Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the mute tongue will shout for joy. For waters will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert." This imagery of water bursting forth in barren places symbolizes the transformative power of God's salvation.

Metaphorical Bursts

Metaphorically, bursts can represent the sudden onset of spiritual enlightenment or the breaking forth of truth. In 2 Corinthians 4:6 , Paul writes, "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." This passage illustrates the concept of spiritual illumination as a burst of divine light into the human heart.

Warnings Against Bursts

The Bible also warns against negative bursts, such as uncontrolled anger or rash actions. Proverbs 29:11 states, "A fool vents all his anger, but a wise man holds it back." This proverb cautions against the destructive potential of emotional outbursts and encourages self-control and wisdom.

In summary, the concept of bursts in the Bible encompasses a range of meanings, from physical phenomena to spiritual revelations. Whether describing the power of God, the fervor of human emotion, or the suddenness of divine intervention, bursts serve as powerful symbols of transformation and the dynamic nature of God's interaction with the world.

Christ's Kingdom among the Gentiles. 1 Jesus Shall Reign Where'er ...
... 4 Blessings abound where'er he reigns; The joyful prisoner bursts his chains;
The weary find eternal rest, And all the sons of want are blest. ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/284 christs kingdom among.htm

Psalm LXXXVII.
... Thus filled with the Holy Spirit, and with many thoughts of love and longing for
that city, as if after long internal meditation, that citizen bursts out, "Her ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxxvii.htm

Why Christ Speaks
... or stumble. He warns them of the storm before it bursts, lest, when it
bursts, it should sweep them away from their moorings. Of ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture st john chaps xv to xxi/why christ speaks.htm

Missionary Hymns.
... This hymn, also by Watts, is often sung as a Christmas song; but "The Saviour Reigns"
and "He Rules the World" are bursts of prophetic triumph always apt and ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter iv missionary hymns.htm

The Dying King's Last vision and Psalm
... of these glorious Eastern sunrises without a cloud, when everything laughs in the
early beams, and, with tropical swiftness, the tender herbage bursts from the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the dying kings last vision.htm

Corinthians. Calling on the Name
... How much has been done in the Church's history by short bursts of prayer, as
'Lord, help me!' spoken or unspoken in the moment of extremity! ...
/.../romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/i corinthians calling on the.htm

"Come Thou and all Thy House into the Ark. "
... world reels. The storm bursts upon them, and that old ark of Noah's would
have been worth more than the whole world to them. I want ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/the overcoming life/come thou and all thy.htm

The Exile.
... up and etherealised. It broods over them till life stirs, and the winged
creature bursts from them to sing and soar. If we accept ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/iv the exile.htm

Beside the Still Waters.
... years; the lava stream descends the mountain-side like a black and burning glacier,
and destruction too plainly marks its path; a storm bursts upon the hills ...
/.../beard/beside the still waters/beside the still waters.htm

The Naturalness of Prayer
... central sense of that word. It is the climate in which God's manifestation
bursts open into inspiration. All the mediation of Nature ...
/.../forsyth/the soul of prayer/chapter ii the naturalness of.htm

Bursts (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Bursts (2 Occurrences). Luke 6:49 But he who
has heard and not practised is like a man who has built a ...
/b/bursts.htm - 7k

Torrent (49 Occurrences)
... Luke 6:48 He is like a man building a house, who digs and goes deep, and lays the
foundation on the rock; and when a flood comes, the torrent bursts upon that ...
/t/torrent.htm - 22k

Burst (33 Occurrences)
... who has heard and not practised is like a man who has built a house upon the soft
soil without a foundation, against which the torrent bursts, and immediately ...
/b/burst.htm - 17k

Bursting (22 Occurrences)

/b/bursting.htm - 13k

Wreck (1 Occurrence)
... who has heard and not practised is like a man who has built a house upon the soft
soil without a foundation, against which the torrent bursts, and immediately ...
/w/wreck.htm - 8k

Terrible (90 Occurrences)
... who has heard and not practised is like a man who has built a house upon the soft
soil without a foundation, against which the torrent bursts, and immediately ...
/t/terrible.htm - 36k

Eruption (6 Occurrences)
... to another. Milton. (c) A violent commotion. 2. (n.) That which bursts forth.
3. (n.) A violent exclamation; ejaculation. 4. (n.) The ...
/e/eruption.htm - 8k

Dirty (9 Occurrences)
... king of Egypt, and say to him, Young lion of the nations, destruction has come on
you; and you were like a sea-beast in the seas, sending out bursts of water ...
/d/dirty.htm - 9k

Practised (13 Occurrences)
... who has heard and not practised is like a man who has built a house upon the soft
soil without a foundation, against which the torrent bursts, and immediately ...
/p/practised.htm - 10k

Baalperazim (2 Occurrences)
... Baal having rents, bursts, or destructions, the scene of a victory gained by
David over the Philistines (2 Samuel 5:20; 1 Chronicles 14:11). ...
/b/baalperazim.htm - 8k

What is the significance of pomegranates in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who is the false prophet of the end times? | GotQuestions.org

Should Christians go to doctors? | GotQuestions.org

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