The term "delicately" in the Bible often conveys a sense of luxury, refinement, and ease, typically associated with a lifestyle of comfort and opulence. It is used to describe the manner in which certain individuals live, often in contrast to those who experience hardship or live in simplicity.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "delicately" is "עָנַג" (anag), which can mean to take delight or to live in luxury. This term is used in contexts that highlight the contrast between the wealthy and the poor or between those who live in comfort and those who suffer.

One notable instance is found in the book of Lamentations, which laments the fall of Jerusalem and the suffering of its people. Lamentations 4:5 states, "Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps." Here, "delicacies" and "crimson" symbolize the former wealth and luxury of the people, now reduced to poverty and despair.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, the concept of living delicately is often associated with warnings against indulgence and the moral dangers of a life focused on earthly pleasures. While the specific term "delicately" may not appear frequently, the idea is present in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles.

For example, in Luke 7:25 , Jesus speaks of John the Baptist, saying, "But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear fine clothes and live in luxury are found in palaces." Here, Jesus contrasts the ascetic lifestyle of John the Baptist with those who live in luxury, implying a call to a life of simplicity and spiritual focus.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, living delicately is often viewed as a potential spiritual pitfall. The Bible frequently warns against the dangers of wealth and the temptation to prioritize material comfort over spiritual well-being. In 1 Timothy 6:9-10 , Paul warns, "Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil."

The biblical narrative encourages believers to seek contentment and to find joy in spiritual riches rather than in the fleeting pleasures of a delicate lifestyle. This is echoed in the teachings of Jesus, who urged His followers to store up treasures in heaven rather than on earth (Matthew 6:19-21).

Cultural and Historical Context

In the ancient Near Eastern context, living delicately was often associated with royalty and the upper echelons of society. Kings, nobles, and wealthy merchants were typically those who could afford such a lifestyle. The Bible's references to living delicately serve as a critique of societal structures that prioritize wealth and status over justice and righteousness.

The prophetic literature, in particular, often critiques the leaders of Israel and Judah for their indulgence and neglect of the poor. The prophets call for a return to covenant faithfulness, which includes caring for the marginalized and living justly before God.

In summary, the concept of living delicately in the Bible serves as a reminder of the transient nature of earthly wealth and the importance of prioritizing spiritual values over material comforts.(adv.) In a delicate manner.DELICATE; DELICATELY

del'-i-kat, del'-i-kat-li (`edhen, `anogh; en truphe): "Delicate" usually an adjective, but once a substantive (Jeremiah 51:34 the King James Version). "He hath filled his belly (the Revised Version (British and American) "maw") with my delicates." the Revised Version (British and American) retains the word, but the American Standard Revised Version very properly has replaced it with "delicacies." In Sirach 30:18, the Revised Version (British and American) agatha, "good things." The adjective seems to have two meanings, though not easily distinguished:

(1) tenderly reared, and

(2) wanton or voluptuous. In Deuteronomy 28:54, 56 Isaiah 47:1 Jeremiah 6:2, "luxurious" or "daintily bred" would certainly be nearer the original than "delicate." "Delicate children" of Micah 1:16, the King James Version, is changed by the Revised Version (British and American) to "children of thy delight," i.e. beloved children, rather than children begotten in passion. The adverb "delicately" is employed in the same sense as the adjective (Lamentations 4:5 Luke 7:25). In the old English writers "delicate" is often used for voluptuous: "Dives for his delicate life to the devil went" (Piers Ploughman). The meaning of "delicately" (ma`adhan) in 1 Samuel 15:32 (the King James Version) is a real puzzle. The King James Version reads, "And Agag came unto him delicately," with a possible suggestion of weakness or fear. the American Standard Revised Version and the Revised Version, margin substitute "cheerfully." Others, by metathesis or change of consonants in the Hebrew word, translation "in bonds" or "fetters."

W. W. Davies

5172. truphe -- softness, daintiness, luxuriousness
... Word Origin from thrupto (to break) Definition softness, daintiness, luxuriousness
NASB Word Usage luxury (1), revel (1). delicately, riot. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5172.htm - 7k4574. maadan -- a dainty (food), delight
... Word Origin from the same as eden Definition a dainty (food), delight NASB Word
Usage dainties (1), delicacies (1), delight (1). dainty, delicately, delight. ...
/hebrew/4574.htm - 6k

Treats of the Same Subject: Explains, by Some Delicately Drawn ...
... TREATS OF THE SAME SUBJECT: EXPLAINS, BY SOME DELICATELY DRAWN COMPARISONS,
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPIRITUAL UNION AND SPIRITUAL MARRIAGE. ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/chapter ii treats of the.htm

The Home Scene.
... character. These have been so often delicately and truthfully drawn that
it is the less necessary to dwell minutely upon them here. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/ii the home scene.htm

Philippians iii. 18-21
... Thy Master was crucified, and dost thou seek ease? Thy Master was pierced with nails,
and dost thou live delicately? Do these things become a noble soldier? ...
/.../homily xiii philippians iii 18-21.htm

That Divine Inspirations Leave us in Full Liberty to Follow or ...
... In like manner his mercy ordinarily converts and graces souls so sweetly, gently
and delicately, that its movement is scarcely perceived; and yet it happens ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xii that divine inspirations.htm

Anxious Care
... and sleepless nights, is but to adorn a little more beautifully or a little less
beautifully, the allotted span"but to feed a little more delicately or a ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/anxious care.htm

How God is Jealous of Us.
... [467] Consider a little, Theotimus, I pray you, how delicately this divine lover
expresses the nobility and generosity of his jealousy: They have left me, says ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xiii how god is.htm

The Testament of Joseph Concerning Sobriety.
... and I entered into my chamber [176] and prayed unto the Lord; and I fasted in those
seven years, and I appeared to my master as one living delicately, for they ...
/.../xi the testament of joseph concerning.htm

Marriage of the Blessed virgin to Joseph
... Her high, delicately traced eyebrows were black; she had a very high forehead, large
downcast eyes with long black lashes, a rather long straight nose ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/vii marriage of the blessed.htm

The Presentation of the Blessed virgin in the Temple
... than the child Mary. Mary is very delicately formed, and has reddish-fair
hair, smooth, but curly at the ends. She can already read ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/iii the presentation of the.htm

God's Love for Man
... The lovely birds making the air vocal with their happy songs, the delicately tinted
flowers in their perfection perfuming the air, the lofty trees of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/steps to christ/chapter 1 gods love for.htm

Delicately (11 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DELICATE; DELICATELY. ... The adverb "delicately" is
employed in the same sense as the adjective (Lamentations 4:5 Luke 7:25). ...
/d/delicately.htm - 11k

Delicate (32 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DELICATE; DELICATELY. ... The adverb "delicately" is
employed in the same sense as the adjective (Lamentations 4:5 Luke 7:25). ...
/d/delicate.htm - 19k

Crafts (2 Occurrences)
... These are characterized, from the standpoint of art, by a crudeness which distinguishes
them from the more delicately and artistically wrought work of their ...
/c/crafts.htm - 30k

Robes (124 Occurrences)
... Robes (124 Occurrences). Matthew 11:8 But what went you out to see? a man delicately
clothed? Those who have fair robes are in kings' houses. (BBE). ...
/r/robes.htm - 39k

Scarlet (54 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 1:24 You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet
delicately, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing. ...
/s/scarlet.htm - 26k

Clothed (153 Occurrences)
... A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously dressed, and live
delicately, are in kings' courts. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). ...
/c/clothed.htm - 37k

Nourished (29 Occurrences)
... followed. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). James 5:5 You have lived
delicately on the earth, and taken your pleasure. You have ...
/n/nourished.htm - 15k

Nurtured (3 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Lamentations 4:5 Those who did feed delicately are desolate in the streets:
Those who were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills. (See NIV). ...
/n/nurtured.htm - 7k

Nourish (16 Occurrences)
... (YLT). James 5:5 You have lived delicately on the earth, and taken your pleasure.
You have nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter. ...
/n/nourish.htm - 13k

Luxuriously (6 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 1:24 You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet
delicately, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing. (See NAS). ...
/l/luxuriously.htm - 8k

What is the best evidence/argument for intelligent design? | GotQuestions.org

Delicately: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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