The concept of deprivation in the Bible often relates to the withholding of rights, needs, or blessings, whether by human action or divine judgment. The term "deprive" and its implications can be found in various contexts throughout Scripture, addressing both physical and spiritual dimensions.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, deprivation is frequently associated with justice and righteousness. The Law of Moses contains numerous commands to ensure that individuals, especially the vulnerable, are not deprived of their rights. For example, in Deuteronomy 24:14-15, the Israelites are instructed not to withhold wages from hired workers, particularly those who are poor and needy: "Do not oppress a hired hand who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or a foreigner residing in one of your towns. You are to pay his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and depends on them."

The prophets also speak against the deprivation of justice. Isaiah 10:1-2 condemns those who make unjust laws and deprive the poor of their rights: "Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of justice and withhold the rights of the oppressed of My people."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of deprivation extends to spiritual matters. The Apostle Paul addresses the issue of deprivation in the context of marriage in 1 Corinthians 7:5, where he advises married couples not to deprive each other, except by mutual consent for a time of prayer: "Do not deprive one another, except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control."

Furthermore, deprivation is seen in the spiritual realm where individuals are warned against depriving themselves of the fullness of life in Christ. Colossians 2:18 cautions believers against being deprived of their reward by those who delight in false humility and the worship of angels: "Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind."

Theological Implications

Theologically, deprivation can be understood as a consequence of sin and disobedience. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve's sin led to the deprivation of their intimate relationship with God and their expulsion from paradise (Genesis 3). This narrative sets the stage for the biblical theme of restoration, where God seeks to restore what has been lost through sin.

Deprivation also serves as a reminder of the need for justice and compassion in human relationships. The Bible consistently calls for the protection of the vulnerable and the fair treatment of all individuals, reflecting God's character as a just and loving Creator.

Practical Application

Believers are encouraged to be mindful of how their actions may deprive others of their rights or needs. This includes advocating for justice, providing for the needy, and ensuring that relationships are characterized by mutual respect and love. The call to avoid depriving others is a call to live out the love and justice of God in everyday life, reflecting the transformative power of the Gospel.1. (v. t.) To take away; to put an end; to destroy.

2. (v. t.) To dispossess; to bereave; to divest; to hinder from possessing; to debar; to shut out from; -- with a remoter object, usually preceded by of.

3. (v. t.) To divest of office; to depose; to dispossess of dignity, especially ecclesiastical.

650. apostereo -- to defraud, deprive of
... to defraud, deprive of. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apostereo Phonetic
Spelling: (ap-os-ter-eh'-o) Short Definition: I deprive one of something, rob ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/650.htm - 7k

2758. kenoo -- to empty
... to empty. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kenoo Phonetic Spelling:
(ken-o'-o) Short Definition: I empty, deprive of content, make unreal Definition: ( ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2758.htm - 7k

2603. katabrabeuo -- to give judgment against
... 2603 ("to deprive") refers to discouraging (misleading) believers, diverting
them from their full potential for receiving their (cf. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2603.htm - 7k

3499. nekroo -- to put to death
... Cognate: 3499 (from 3498 , corpse-like, lifeless") -- to view as a corpse, ie without
life; (but not "make") , ; to mortify, deprive of life or energizing power ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3499.htm - 7k

7921. shakol -- to be bereaved
... bereave of children, barren, cast calf fruit, make childless, deprive, destroy.
A primitive root; properly, to miscarry, ie Suffer ...
/hebrew/7921.htm - 6k

5382. nashah -- to forget
... forget, deprive, exact. A primitive root; to forget; figuratively, to neglect;
causatively, to remit, remove -- forget, deprive, exact. 5381, 5382. ...
/hebrew/5382.htm - 6k

6605a. pathach -- to open
... root Definition to open NASB Word Usage allow (1), break forth (1), deprive (1),
drawn (2), express (1), free (1), freeing (1), freely open (2), loose (3 ...
/hebrew/6605a.htm - 5k

5186. natah -- to stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
... 1), bend down (1), bent (1), bent down (1), bow (1), bowed (3), came to stumbling
(1), cast down (1), decline (1), defraud (1), deprive (2), deviated (1 ...
/hebrew/5186.htm - 7k

For we -- But, Perhaps, You Would Rob and Deprive us of Common ...
... Book IV. 2 For we " but, perhaps, you would rob and deprive us of
common-sense " feel? For we"but, perhaps, you would rob ...
/.../arnobius/the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/2 for we but.htm

That a Bishop Should not Rashly Deprive Anyone of Communion.
... Canon CXXXIII. (Greek cxxxiv.) That a bishop should not rashly deprive anyone of
communion. That a bishop should not rashly deprive anyone of communion. ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon cxxxiii greek cxxxiv that.htm

The General Purport of this Work the Heretics, Marcion, Apelles ...
... I."The General Purport of This Work The Heretics, Marcion, Apelles, and Valentinus,
Wishing to Impugn the Doctrine of the Resurrection, Deprive Christ of All ...
/.../tertullian/ on the flesh of christ/chapter i the general purport of.htm

He Concludes that He Does not Deprive the Wicked of Free Will.
... A Treatise against two letters of the pelagians, Chapter 7."He Concludes
that He Does Not Deprive the Wicked of Free Will. It ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 7 he concludes that he.htm

The Rule Given About not Seeking One's Own Gain is Established...
... Wherefore the writer shows what a crime it is to deprive another of what is useful,
since the law of nature as well as the divine law is broken by such ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter iii the rule given.htm

Wherein are Shewn Some of the Great Benefits, of Of which a ...
... the world? can there be a greater felicity? and shall there be any Minister
to deprive the Soul of this benefit? In this wonderful ...
/.../the spiritual guide which disentangles the soul/chap iii wherein are shewn.htm

Whether Excommunication is Suitably Defined as Separation from the ...
... Now excommunication is not a fault, but a punishment. Therefore excommunication
does not deprive a man of the general suffrages of the Church. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether excommunication is suitably defined.htm

This HomilyIs Intended to Shew that the Fear of Magistrates is ...
... And even as if you deprive the ship of its pilot, you sink the vessel; or as, if
you remove the general from the army, you place the soldiers bound in the ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily vi this homily is.htm

On St Barbara's Day, or that of any Other Holy virgin
... Therefore, when man is conscious of the fiery arrows which are shot at him, and
which would deprive him of his spiritual peace, let him at once betake himself ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tauler/the inner way/sermon ii on st barbaras.htm

The Life of Mr. David Calderwood.
... to synods and presbyteries between this and October, conform in the time, and promise
obedience in all time coming, the bishop of Glasgow was to deprive him. ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr david 2.htm

Deprive (17 Occurrences)
...Deprive (17 Occurrences). Matthew 5:40 If any one wishes to go to law with you and
to deprive you of your under garment, let him take your outer one also. (WEY) ...
/d/deprive.htm - 11k

Bereave (10 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To make destitute; to deprive; to take away; as,
the accident bereaved them of their father. 2. (vt) To take away from. ...
/b/bereave.htm - 11k

Cripple (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Lame; halting. 3. (vt) To deprive of the use of a limb, particularly
of a leg or foot; to lame. 4. (vt) To deprive of strength ...
/c/cripple.htm - 7k

Strip (33 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To deprive; to bereave; to make destitute; to plunder; especially, to deprive
of a covering; to skin; to peel; as, to strip a man of his possession ...
/s/strip.htm - 18k

Outlaw (6 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A lawbreaker; a fugitive; a habitual criminal. 2. (vt) To deprive of the
benefit and protection of law; to declare to be an outlaw; to proscribe. ...
/o/outlaw.htm - 8k

Emasculate (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To deprive of virile or procreative power;
to castrate power; to castrate; to geld. 2. (vt) To ...
/e/emasculate.htm - 7k

Darken (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v.) To make dark or black; to deprive of light; to
obscure; as, a darkened room. 2. (v.) To render dim; to deprive of vision. ...
/d/darken.htm - 7k

Discredit (4 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To deprive of credibility. 5. (vt) To deprive of credit or good repute;
to bring reproach upon; to make less reputable; to disgrace. ...
/d/discredit.htm - 8k

Deprived (14 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Deprive. Multi-Version Concordance Deprived
(14 Occurrences). Luke 10:42 and yet only one thing is really necessary. ...
/d/deprived.htm - 10k

Disqualify (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (vt) To deprive of the qualities or properties necessary for any purpose; to
render unfit; to incapacitate; -- with for or from before the purpose, state ...
/d/disqualify.htm - 7k

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