In the Bible, the term "commotion" is used to describe a state of disorder, confusion, or tumult, often associated with social or spiritual upheaval. The concept of commotion can be found in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, illustrating both physical disturbances and metaphorical unrest.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, commotion is often linked to the judgment of God or the consequences of sin. For instance, in Jeremiah 10:22 , the prophet speaks of a great commotion coming from the north, symbolizing the impending invasion and destruction by foreign nations as a divine judgment upon Israel: "Listen! The report is coming—a great commotion from the land of the north. It will make the cities of Judah a desolation, a haunt of jackals."

Similarly, in Ezekiel 38:19 , God declares a great shaking in the land of Israel as part of His judgment against Gog: "In My zeal and fiery rage I proclaim that on that day there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel."

New Testament References

In the New Testament, commotion is often associated with the spread of the Gospel and the resulting societal upheaval. In Acts 19:23-41, a significant commotion arises in Ephesus due to the preaching of Paul, which threatens the local economy centered around the worship of the goddess Artemis. The disturbance is described in Acts 19:23 : "About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way."

The commotion in Ephesus highlights the transformative power of the Gospel, which challenges existing social and religious structures, often leading to conflict and disorder as people grapple with the implications of the new faith.

Spiritual Implications

From a spiritual perspective, commotion can also refer to the internal turmoil experienced by individuals as they confront the truth of God's Word. This inner commotion is a part of the process of conviction and repentance, as the Holy Spirit works within a person's heart to bring about transformation.

In a broader sense, commotion can be seen as a sign of the spiritual battle between the forces of good and evil. As the Kingdom of God advances, it disrupts the status quo, leading to both physical and spiritual commotions. Believers are called to remain steadfast in faith amidst such disturbances, trusting in God's ultimate sovereignty and purpose.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of commotion serves as a reminder of the dynamic and often disruptive nature of God's work in the world. Whether through judgment, the spread of the Gospel, or personal spiritual growth, commotion is an integral part of the biblical narrative, reflecting the ongoing tension between the fallen world and the redemptive plan of God.1. (n.) Disturbed or violent motion; agitation.

2. (n.) A popular tumult; public disturbance; riot.

3. (n.) Agitation, perturbation, or disorder, of mind; heat; excitement.

4578. seismos -- a commotion, shaking
... a commotion, shaking. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: seismos Phonetic
Spelling: (sice-mos') Short Definition: an earthquake, storm Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4578.htm - 6k

5017. tarachos -- disturbance, trouble
... trouble. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: tarachos Phonetic Spelling:
(tar'-akh-os) Short Definition: a disturbance, commotion Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5017.htm - 6k

181. akatastasia -- instability
... 181 ("commotion") generates confusion (things being ""), ie when "up for grabs."
This inevitably generates more . ... commotion, confusion, tumult. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/181.htm - 7k

2350b. thorubeo -- to make an uproar
... 2350a, 2350b. thorubeo. 2351 . to make an uproar. Transliteration: thorubeo
Short Definition: commotion. Word Origin from thorubos ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2350b.htm - 5k

2263. eremos -- quiet
... 2263 (an adjective) -- properly, undisturbed (placid); (figuratively) ; free from
disturbance; tranquil; without needless commotion or disturbances (used only ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2263.htm - 7k

2272. hesuchios -- tranquil
... 2272 ("calmly quiet") describes being "" by not misusing (or overusing) words that
would stir up needless friction (destructive commotion). Word Origin a prol. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2272.htm - 7k

2351. thorubos -- an uproar
... East.]. Word Origin from the same as throeo Definition an uproar NASB Word
Usage commotion (1), riot (3), uproar (3). tumult, uproar. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2351.htm - 7k

993. Boanerges -- Boanerges, an epithet applied to the two sons of ...
... Boanerges. Of Chaldee origin (ben and rgaz); sons of commotion; Boanerges, an epithet
of two of the apostles -- Boanerges. see HEBREW ben. see HEBREW rgaz. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/993.htm - 8k

7283. ragash -- to be in tumult or commotion
... 7282, 7283. ragash. 7284 . to be in tumult or commotion. Transliteration: ragash
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-gash') Short Definition: uproar. Word Origin a prim ...
/hebrew/7283.htm - 5k

7494. raash -- a quaking, shaking
... Word Origin from raash Definition a quaking, shaking NASB Word Usage commotion
(1), earthquake (7), rattling (3), rumbling (2), shaking (1), trembling (1 ...
/hebrew/7494.htm - 6k

1995. hamon -- a sound, murmur, roar, crowd, abundance
... Word Origin from hamah Definition a sound, murmur, roar, crowd, abundance NASB Word
Usage abundance (4), commotion (2), great quantity (1), horde (2), hordes ...
/hebrew/1995.htm - 6k

7267. rogez -- agitation, excitement, raging
... From ragaz; commotion, restlessness (of a horse), crash (of thunder), disquiet,
anger -- fear, noise, rage, trouble(-ing), wrath. see HEBREW ragaz. ...
/hebrew/7267.htm - 6k

2000. hamam -- to make a noise, move noisily, confuse, discomfit
... A primitive root (compare huwm, hamah); properly, to put in commotion; by implication,
to disturb, drive, destroy -- break, consume, crush, destroy, discomfit ...
/hebrew/2000.htm - 6k

1993. hamah -- to murmur, growl, roar, be boisterous
... A primitive root (compare huwm); to make a loud sound like Engl. "hum"); by implication,
to be in great commotion or tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor ...
/hebrew/1993.htm - 6k

Councils of Sicily and of Tyana. The Synod which was Expected to ...
... The people ran together from every quarter; there was much commotion and perturbation
throughout the city; an insurrection was expected; he therefore advised ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/chapter xii councils of sicily and.htm

Of the Sixth Seal.
... The event of this seal is a wonderful commotion of heaven and earth, by which that
marvellous change of the heathen Roman state, by Constantine the Great and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/of the sixth seal.htm

Other Discrepancies Exposed and Refuted Respecting the Evil in ...
... boiling caldron, you say that motion in Matter, before it was regulated, was confused,
[6582] restless, incomprehensible by reason of excess in the commotion. ...
/.../tertullian/against hermogenes/chapter xliii other discrepancies exposed and.htm

In Sanctuary
... But great men do not fall, any more than great trees fall crashing over the forest
which they overshadow, without serious commotion; and Philip was far from ...
/.../chapter xxvii in sanctuary.htm

Varus Composes the Tumults in Judea and Crucifies About Two ...
... himself, he marched to Samaria with his whole army, where he did not meddle with
the city itself, because he found that it had made no commotion during these ...
/.../chapter 5 varus composes the.htm

Of the Usurpers Magnentius and Vetranio.
... About this time an extraordinary commotion shook the whole state, of the principal
heads, of which we shall give a brief account, deeming it necessary not to ...
/.../chapter xxv of the usurpers magnentius.htm

Whether Anger Above all Hinders the Use of Reason?
... But the passion of anger forestalls the perfect judgment of reason, as though it
listened but imperfectly to reason, on account of the commotion of the heat ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether anger above all hinders.htm

Whether we Should Distinguish Irascible and Concupiscible Parts in ...
... understood in two ways. Sometimes they are taken as passions"-arising, that
is, with a certain commotion of the soul. And thus they ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether we should distinguish irascible.htm

The Outbreak at Benares.
... A very few years previous to 1857 the city was thrown into violent commotion, in
consequence of new messing regulations in the jail, by which it was alleged ...
/.../life and work in benares and kumaon 1839-1877/chapter xvii the outbreak at.htm

The Knowledge which Comes through Faith the Surest of All.
... reasonably written, "Cain went forth from the face of God, and dwelt in the land
of Naid, over against Eden." Now Naid is interpreted commotion, and Eden ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xi the knowledge which comes.htm

Commotion (15 Occurrences)
...Commotion (15 Occurrences). Matthew 21:10 When He thus entered Jerusalem, the whole
city was thrown into commotion, every one inquiring, "Who is this?" (WEY). ...
/c/commotion.htm - 10k

Tumult (56 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The commotion or agitation of a multitude, usually accompanied with great
noise, uproar, and confusion of voices; hurly-burly; noisy confusion. ...
/t/tumult.htm - 23k

Turbulent (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Disturbed; agitated; tumultuous; roused to violent commotion; as, the turbulent
ocean. ... 3. (a.) Producing commotion; disturbing; exciting. ...
/t/turbulent.htm - 7k

Turmoil (15 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To harass with commotion; to disquiet; to worry. 3. (vi) To be disquieted
or confused; to be in commotion. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/t/turmoil.htm - 10k

Commonwealth (2 Occurrences)

/c/commonwealth.htm - 8k

Upharsin (1 Occurrence)
... phares): These are the words that, according to Daniel's reading, were inscribed
on the walls of Belshazzar's palace and that caused the great commotion on the ...
/u/upharsin.htm - 11k

Jackals (20 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 10:22 The voice of news, behold, it comes, and a great commotion out of
the north country, to make the cities of Judah a desolation, a dwelling place ...
/j/jackals.htm - 12k

Lair (8 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 10:22 The voice of news, behold, it comes, and a great commotion out of
the north country, to make the cities of Judah a desolation, a dwelling place ...
/l/lair.htm - 8k

Winds (35 Occurrences)
... The rush of invaders is figuratively spoken of as a whirlwind (Isaiah 21:1); a
commotion among the nations of the world as a striving of the four winds (Dan. ...
/w/winds.htm - 18k

Inquiring (23 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Matthew 21:10 When He thus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was thrown
into commotion, every one inquiring, "Who is this?" (WEY). ...
/i/inquiring.htm - 13k

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