In biblical literature, the term "chasm" is often used to describe a profound separation or gulf, both in a physical and metaphorical sense. The concept of a chasm is most notably illustrated in the New Testament, specifically in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus found in the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 16:19-31: In this parable, Jesus describes a rich man who lived in luxury and a poor man named Lazarus who lay at his gate, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Upon their deaths, Lazarus is carried by angels to Abraham's side, while the rich man finds himself in Hades, in torment. The rich man, seeing Lazarus with Abraham, calls out for mercy, asking Abraham to send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool his tongue. Abraham responds, "And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross from there to us" (Luke 16:26).

This chasm represents the irreversible separation between the righteous and the unrighteous after death. It underscores the finality of one's eternal destiny based on the choices made in life. The imagery of the chasm serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of ignoring the needs of others and living a life centered on self-indulgence.

Theological Implications: The chasm in this parable is not merely a physical barrier but a spiritual one, symbolizing the moral and spiritual divide between those who have accepted God's grace and those who have rejected it. It highlights the importance of repentance and faith in Christ as the means of bridging the spiritual chasm that separates humanity from God due to sin.

Old Testament References: While the specific term "chasm" is not frequently used in the Old Testament, the concept of separation from God due to sin is prevalent. For instance, Isaiah 59:2 states, "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." This separation is akin to a chasm that only God's intervention can bridge.

Symbolism in Christian Doctrine: In Christian theology, the chasm can also symbolize the separation between heaven and hell, emphasizing the eternal nature of one's final destination. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus serves as a moral teaching on the importance of compassion, humility, and the pursuit of righteousness.

Practical Application: Believers are encouraged to reflect on the parable's message, examining their own lives for areas where they may be neglecting the needs of others or prioritizing material wealth over spiritual well-being. The chasm serves as a call to action, urging individuals to live in a manner that reflects the love and grace of Christ, thereby ensuring their place on the right side of the divide.

In summary, the biblical concept of a chasm is a powerful metaphor for the spiritual and moral separations that exist in the human experience, with eternal implications as taught in the Scriptures.1. (n.) A deep opening made by disruption; a breach in the earth or a rock; a void; a fissure.

2. (n.) A void space; a gap or break, as in ranks of men.

5490. chasma -- a chasm, wide space
... a chasm, wide space. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: chasma Phonetic
Spelling: (khas'-mah) Short Definition: a gap, gulf, chasm Definition: a gap ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5490.htm - 6k

5327. pharagx -- a chasm, ravine
... a chasm, ravine. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: pharagx Phonetic
Spelling: (far'-anx) Short Definition: a valley, ravine Definition: a valley ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5327.htm - 6k

1942. havvah -- desire, chasm, destruction
... 1941, 1942. havvah. 1943 . desire, chasm, destruction. Transliteration: havvah
Phonetic Spelling: (hav-vaw') Short Definition: destruction. ...
/hebrew/1942.htm - 6k

6354. pachath -- a pit
... pit. Word Origin from an unused word Definition a pit NASB Word Usage caves
(1), chasm (1), pit (7), pitfall (1). hole, pit, snare. ...
/hebrew/6354.htm - 6k

7745. shuchah -- a pit
... Word Origin from shuach Definition a pit NASB Word Usage pit (4), pits (1). ditch,
pit. From shuwach; a chasm -- ditch, pit. see HEBREW shuwach. 7744, 7745. ...
/hebrew/7745.htm - 6k

6178. aruts -- dreadful
... cliffs. Passive participle of arats; feared, ie (concretely) a horrible place or
chasm -- cliffs. see HEBREW arats. 6177, 6178. aruts. 6179 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/6178.htm - 6k

The Creed Chasm
... CHAPTER X The Creed Chasm. "I have had to deal in the same afternoon's
work, on the one hand with men of keen powers of intellect ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter x the creed chasm.htm

The Upright Does Nothing that is Contrary to Duty...
... 30. I need not, therefore, imagine a great chasm in the earth, which had been loosened
by heavy rains, and had afterwards burst asunder, as Plato does. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter v the upright does.htm

Personal Experience
... After the struggle was over and I was sanctified I could look back and see where
I had come up to a deep chasm so deep and dark that I could not see the bottom ...
/.../byers/sanctification/chapter xiii personal experience.htm

About the Young Man who Killed the Maiden.
... to a place where there were many chasms, and a great stench and most hateful odour
were given forth thence; and he made me bend down into each chasm, and I saw ...
/.../unknown/acts of the holy apostle thomas/about the young man who.htm

First Greek Form.
... lower regions, so that the very sanctuary of the temple, as they call it, could
not be seen by the Jews in their fall; and they saw below them a chasm of the ...
/.../the report of pilate concerning our lord jesus christ/first greek form.htm

On Smart Novelists and the Smart Set
... It may be inaccurate about details such as the title by which a baronet is addressed
or the width of a mountain chasm which a baronet can conveniently leap ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/heretics/xv on smart novelists and.htm

1 John ii. 1, 2
... When man, having become conscious of the chasm, between himself in his sin and
imperfection and the holy and perfect God, sinks under the feeling of separation ...
//christianbookshelf.org/neander/the first epistle of john/1 john ii 1 2.htm

"We Will Never Surrender. "
... to his heart. And calling up another, he said to him, "Leap into yonder
chasm," and the man leaped into the chasm. The young man ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/we will never surrender.htm

The Tomb of the Pharaoh
... The ravine was simply a chasm, with perpendicular sides of naked rock. At its
upper end, it was blocked by a wall of unscalable heights. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxiii the tomb of.htm

Our Glorious Transforming
... God's love is infinite. Who knoweth the power of shine anger, O Most High? It is
all filled now, as far as we are concerned. Christ has bridged the chasm. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/our glorious transforming.htm

Chasm (2 Occurrences)
... a fissure. 2. (n.) A void space; a gap or break, as in ranks of men.
Multi-Version Concordance Chasm (2 Occurrences). Luke 16:26 ...
/c/chasm.htm - 7k

Gulf (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A hollow place in the earth; an abyss; a deep
chasm or basin,. 2. (n.) That which swallows; the gullet. ...
/g/gulf.htm - 9k

Chaste (4 Occurrences)

/c/chaste.htm - 8k

Chasing (12 Occurrences)

/c/chasing.htm - 10k

Vacancy (3 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) An open or unoccupied space between bodies or things; an interruption of
continuity; chasm; gap; as, a vacancy between buildings; a vacancy between ...
/v/vacancy.htm - 7k

Vast (54 Occurrences)
... Luke 16:26 And, besides all this, a vast chasm is immovably fixed between us and
you, put there in order that those who desire to cross from this side to you ...
/v/vast.htm - 22k

Immovably (1 Occurrence)
... Luke 16:26 And, besides all this, a vast chasm is immovably fixed between us and
you, put there in order that those who desire to cross from this side to you ...
/i/immovably.htm - 6k

Frightful (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Full of that which causes fright; exciting alarm; impressing terror; shocking;
as, a frightful chasm, or tempest; a frightful appearance. ...
/f/frightful.htm - 7k

Brink (11 Occurrences)
... (n.) The edge, margin, or border of a steep place, as of a precipice; a bank or
edge, as of a river or pit; a verge; a border; as, the brink of a chasm. ...
/b/brink.htm - 10k

Bridge
... 1. (n.) A structure, usually of wood, stone, brick, or iron, erected over a river
or other water course, or over a chasm, railroad, etc., to make a passageway ...
/b/bridge.htm - 9k

How can we know what parts of the Bible apply to us today? | GotQuestions.org

Where did Old Testament believers/saints go when they died? | GotQuestions.org

What is ultimate reconciliation? | GotQuestions.org

Chasm: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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