Topical Encyclopedia In biblical terms, "descent" often refers to lineage, genealogy, or the act of coming down from a higher place. It is a concept that appears in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, highlighting both physical and spiritual dimensions.Genealogical Descent Genealogical descent is a significant theme in the Bible, emphasizing the importance of family lineage and heritage. The genealogies in the Bible serve to trace the lineage of key figures, particularly in the context of God's covenant promises. For instance, the genealogy of Jesus Christ is meticulously recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, underscoring His rightful place in the line of David and Abraham. Matthew 1:1 begins, "This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." The genealogies in Genesis also highlight the descent from Adam through Noah to the patriarchs, establishing the foundation for the nation of Israel. Genesis 5 and 10 provide detailed accounts of these lineages, demonstrating God's unfolding plan through specific family lines. Descent from Heaven The concept of descent is also used to describe divine intervention and the coming of God to earth. A notable example is the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Acts 2:1-4 describes this event: "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw tongues like flames of a fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." This descent signifies the empowering presence of God among His people, marking the birth of the Church and the fulfillment of Jesus' promise to send the Helper (John 14:16-17). Descent into Hades The Apostles' Creed, an early statement of Christian belief, includes the phrase "He descended into hell," referring to Jesus' descent into Hades between His crucifixion and resurrection. This concept is rooted in passages such as 1 Peter 3:18-20 , which states, "For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit, in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built." This descent is interpreted as Christ's victory over death and His proclamation of triumph to the spirits, affirming His authority over all realms. Descent in Humility Philippians 2:5-8 provides a profound example of descent in the context of humility and servanthood: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross." This passage highlights the voluntary descent of Christ from His divine status to become human, ultimately leading to His sacrificial death. It serves as a model for believers to emulate Christ's humility and selflessness. Descent in Judgment The Bible also speaks of descent in the context of divine judgment. In Genesis 11:5 , the Lord descends to observe the city and the tower that the people were building, leading to the confusion of languages and the scattering of the people: "Then the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men were building." This descent signifies God's active involvement in human affairs, executing judgment and ensuring that His purposes prevail. In summary, the concept of descent in the Bible encompasses a range of meanings, from genealogical lineage and divine intervention to humility and judgment, each reflecting different aspects of God's interaction with humanity. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) A change of place from higher to lower; as, a descent from a mountaintop.2. (n.) Incursion; sudden attack; especially, hostile invasion from sea; -- often followed by upon or on; as, to make a descent upon the enemy. 3. (n.) Progress downward, as in station, virtue, as in station, virtue, and the like, from a higher to a lower state, from a higher to a lower state, from the more to the less important, from the better to the worse, etc. 4. (n.) Derivation, as from an ancestor; procedure by generation; lineage; birth; extraction. 5. (n.) Transmission of an estate by inheritance, usually, but not necessarily, in the descending line; title to inherit an estate by reason of consanguinity. 6. (n.) Inclination downward; a descending way; inclined or sloping surface; declivity; slope; as, a steep descent. 7. (n.) That which is descended; descendants; issue. 8. (n.) A step or remove downward in any scale of gradation; a degree in the scale of genealogy; a generation. 9. (n.) Lowest place; extreme downward place. 10. (n.) A passing from a higher to a lower tone. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia DESCEND; DESCENTde-send', de-sent' (yaradh; katabaino, "go down"); (katabasis): Of Yahweh (Exodus 34:5); of the Spirit (Matthew 3:16); of angels (Genesis 28:12 Matthew 28:2 John 1:51); of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16 Ephesians 4:9). "He also descended into the lower parts of the earth" is variously interpreted, the two chief interpretations being the one of the incarnation, and the other of the "descent into hell" (1 Peter 3:19). The former regards the clause "of the earth," an appositive genitive, as when we speak of "the city of Rome," namely, "the lower parts, i.e. the earth." The other regards the genitive as possessive, or, with Meyer, as governed by the comparative, i.e. "parts lower than the earth." For the former view, see full discussion in Eadie; for the latter, Ellicott and especially Meyer, in commentaries on Eph. DESCENT, OF JESUS de-sent'. Greek 2600. katabasis -- descent ... descent. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: katabasis Phonetic Spelling: (kat-ab'-as-is) Short Definition: descent Definition: descent. ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2600.htm - 6k 1075. genealogeo -- to trace ancestry 35. agenealogetos -- without genealogy 1080. gennao -- to beget, to bring forth 5449. phusis -- nature 1078. genesis -- origin, birth 36. agenes -- unborn, of no family, ignoble 3965. patria -- lineage, family 1085. genos -- family, offspring Strong's Hebrew 4174. morad -- a descent, slope... 4173, 4174. morad. 4175 . a descent, slope. Transliteration: morad Phonetic Spelling: (mo-rawd') Short Definition: descent. Word ... /hebrew/4174.htm - 6k 5183b. nachath -- descent 5183. Nachath -- quietness, rest 8435. toledoth -- generations 2233. zera -- a sowing, seed, offspring 5157. nachal -- to get or take as a possession 3382. Yered -- a descendant of Seth, also a man of Judah 4163. motsaah -- going forth Library The Descent from the Mount The Lord's Descent from Heaven. Book iv. The Descent: from the Mount of Transfiguration into the ... The Descent of the Spirit. --Acts, ii. 1-4. A Detached Account of the Descent into Hell. The Names and Descent of Other ??ons; First Half a Score, Then Two ... Concerning the Descent to Hades. Whether Christ by his Descent into Hell Delivered Souls from ... But the Descent into the Water, and the Trine Immersion of the ... Eighth Tractate. The Soul's Descent into Body. Thesaurus Descent (22 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A change of place from higher to lower; as, a descent from a mountaintop. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DESCEND; DESCENT. ... /d/descent.htm - 15k Jared (7 Occurrences) Luhith (2 Occurrences) Great (10383 Occurrences) Features (3 Occurrences) Blood (435 Occurrences) Antediluvians Greeks (22 Occurrences) Grecians (4 Occurrences) God (45911 Occurrences) Resources Who was Simon of Cyrene? | GotQuestions.orgIs Barack Obama the antichrist? | GotQuestions.org What does it mean that the Shulammite had dark skin (Song of Solomon 1:6)? | GotQuestions.org Descent: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Descent (22 Occurrences)Luke 19:37 John 1:13 Acts 4:6 Romans 1:3 Romans 9:8 Hebrews 7:3 Hebrews 7:6 Hebrews 7:16 Genesis 10:32 Joshua 7:5 Joshua 8:14 Joshua 10:11 2 Kings 12:20 Ezra 2:59 Nehemiah 7:61 Nehemiah 9:2 Nehemiah 13:3 Esther 6:13 Isaiah 30:30 Jeremiah 48:5 Ezekiel 44:22 Daniel 9:1 Subtopics Related Terms |