The term "degraded" refers to a state of moral or spiritual decline, often characterized by a departure from God's intended order and purpose for humanity. In the biblical context, degradation is frequently associated with sin, idolatry, and the rejection of God's commandments. This concept is woven throughout Scripture, illustrating the consequences of turning away from God's righteous path.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, degradation is often linked to the worship of false gods and the moral decay that follows. The Israelites, despite being chosen by God, frequently fell into idolatry, leading to their spiritual and moral degradation. In the book of Judges, this cycle of sin and degradation is evident as the Israelites repeatedly turn away from God, resulting in oppression by their enemies. Judges 2:19 states, "But when the judge died, they would turn back and act more corruptly than their fathers, following other gods to serve and worship them; they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways."

The prophets also spoke against the degradation of Israel and Judah, warning of the dire consequences of their actions. Isaiah 1:4 laments, "Oh, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children of depravity! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, degradation is often associated with the rejection of Christ and the gospel. The Apostle Paul addresses the moral decline of humanity in Romans 1:21-32 , where he describes how people, although knowing God, did not honor Him and became futile in their thinking. This led to God giving them over to "degrading passions" and a "depraved mind," resulting in a litany of sinful behaviors.

Paul's letters frequently warn against returning to a life of sin after receiving the knowledge of Christ. In Ephesians 4:17-19 , he exhorts believers to no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds, being darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God. This passage highlights the contrast between the degraded state of those who reject God and the renewed life offered through Christ.

Moral and Spiritual Implications

The concept of degradation in the Bible serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of remaining faithful to God's commandments. It underscores the need for repentance and the transformative power of God's grace. The Bible consistently calls believers to live lives that reflect God's holiness, avoiding the moral and spiritual decline that comes from turning away from Him.

Throughout Scripture, the theme of degradation is countered by the hope of redemption and restoration. God's desire is for His people to return to Him, to be cleansed from their sins, and to live in accordance with His will. This call to holiness and righteousness is a central tenet of the Christian faith, urging believers to resist the pull of a degraded world and to pursue a life that honors God.1. (imp. & p. p.) of Degrade.

2. (a.) Reduced in rank, character, or reputation; debased; sunken; low; base.

3. (a.) Having the typical characters or organs in a partially developed condition, or lacking certain parts.

4. (a.) Having steps; -- said of a cross each of whose extremities finishes in steps growing larger as they leave the center; -- termed also on degrees.

7034. qalah -- to be lightly esteemed or dishonored
... qalah. 7035 . to be lightly esteemed or dishonored. Transliteration: qalah Phonetic
Spelling: (kaw-law') Short Definition: degraded. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7034.htm - 6k

Whether a Degraded Priest Can Consecrate this Sacrament?
... OF THE MINISTER OF THIS SACRAMENT (TEN ARTICLES) Whether a degraded priest
can consecrate this sacrament? Objection 1: It seems ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether a degraded priest can.htm

"Now Here, You must Degrade Reason Just as Much as it is Degraded ...
... Address 61: "Now here, you must degrade reason just as much as it is
degraded by religion? "Now here, you must degrade reason ...
/.../address 61 0 0 now here you.htm

Whether those who are Schismatics, Heretics, Excommunicate ...
... OF THE MINISTERS OF THE KEYS (SIX ARTICLES) Whether those who are schismatics, heretics,
excommunicate, suspended or degraded have the use of the keys? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether those who are schismatics.htm

A Short Home Mission Sermon.
... "It has sunk to rise no more;" and yet it swam! Why lose hope of the fallen and
degraded? ... Let the churches move over the places where the degraded lie. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/champness/broken bread/iv a short home mission.htm

Sensual and Spiritual Excitement.
... in him: at the very moment when he expects to find himself as the gods, knowing
good and evil, he discovers that he is unexpectedly degraded, his health wrecked ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/ix sensual and spiritual excitement.htm

Footnites
... The original is a most ingenious combination of rhythms; and its masterly beauty
could not be guessed from the inane form into which it is degraded in Hymns ...
/.../bridges/a practical discourse on some principles of hymn-singing/footnites.htm

Melted by Kindness
... There was not a ragged beggar in Jericho who would not have thought himself degraded
by putting his foot across the threshold that Jesus now says He will cross ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/melted by kindness.htm

The Fruits of Grace
... They had the sacred beetle, the sacred mouse, and I know not what. And yet, degraded
as they were by idolatry, the grace of God was to come to them. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/the fruits of grace.htm

The Surprise Party.
... its purity and perfection. If we delight in pleasures of the other sort,
our moral natures are degraded.'. "You have noticed the ...
/.../byrum/the value of a praying mother/chapter xiv the surprise party.htm

Not Servants, but Friends.
... Men do not feel degraded by any amount of hardship, by going for months on short
rations or lying in frost without tents; but they do feel degraded when they ...
/.../xiii not servants but friends.htm

Degraded (3 Occurrences)
... the center; -- termed also on degrees. Multi-Version Concordance Degraded
(3 Occurrences). Deuteronomy 25:3 Forty stripes he may ...
/d/degraded.htm - 7k

Outcast (6 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) One who is cast out or expelled; an exile; one driven from home, society,
or country; hence, often, a degraded person; a vagabond. ...
/o/outcast.htm - 9k

Zadok (50 Occurrences)
... The act of deposition may have affected his son Ahimelech as well, and if both father
and son were degraded, perhaps this was only to the extent of excluding ...
/z/zadok.htm - 40k

Keepers (78 Occurrences)
... yourselves" (Ezekiel 44:7 f). In place of these servants or "keepers" Ezekiel directs
that such Levites are to be employed as have been degraded from priestly ...
/k/keepers.htm - 33k

Jesting (2 Occurrences)
... quick-witted," from its root meaning "something easily turned," adding that, since
the majority of people love excessive jesting, the word is apt to be degraded...
/j/jesting.htm - 7k

Fallen (233 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (pp) of Fall. 2. (a.) Dropped; prostrate; degraded;
ruined; decreased; dead. Multi-Version Concordance Fallen (233 Occurrences). ...
/f/fallen.htm - 38k

Degrade (1 Occurrence)

/d/degrade.htm - 7k

Degenerate (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (a.) Having become worse than one's kind, or one's former state; having declined
in worth; having lost in goodness; deteriorated; degraded; unworthy; base ...
/d/degenerate.htm - 7k

Degrading (3 Occurrences)

/d/degrading.htm - 7k

Maachah (19 Occurrences)
... Possibly she acted as regent during his minority. Ultimately, she was degraded by
him for an act of peculiar infamy (1 Kings 15:13 2 Chronicles 15:16). ...
/m/maachah.htm - 16k

What does it mean that we live in a fallen world? | GotQuestions.org

Why is the science community so opposed to creationism? | GotQuestions.org

Degraded: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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