Dissolve
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Topical Encyclopedia
The term "dissolve" in the Bible is often used metaphorically to describe the breaking down or disintegration of physical, spiritual, or moral structures. It conveys a sense of impermanence and the eventual end of worldly things, aligning with the biblical theme of the transient nature of earthly life and the eternal nature of God's kingdom.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, the concept of dissolving is frequently associated with the judgment and destruction of nations or cities. For example, in Isaiah 34:4 , it is written, "All the stars of heaven will be dissolved. The sky will be rolled up like a scroll, and all their stars will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like foliage from the fig tree." This imagery portrays the cosmic upheaval that accompanies divine judgment, emphasizing the power of God to dismantle even the heavens.

The Hebrew word often translated as "dissolve" can also imply a melting or softening, as seen in Psalm 75:3 : "When the earth and all its dwellers quake, it is I who bear up its pillars." Here, the psalmist speaks of the earth's foundations being shaken, yet upheld by God's sovereign power.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, the idea of dissolving is linked to the end times and the transformation of the current world order. 2 Peter 3:10-12 provides a vivid description: "But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare. Since everything will be dissolved in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be dissolved by fire and the elements will melt in the heat."

This passage underscores the temporary nature of the physical world and calls believers to live in holiness and godliness in anticipation of the new heavens and new earth promised by God.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the concept of dissolving serves as a reminder of the impermanence of human achievements and the ultimate sovereignty of God. It encourages believers to focus on spiritual realities rather than temporal ones. The dissolution of the current world order is not to be feared by the faithful, as it heralds the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.

Moral and Spiritual Lessons

From a moral and spiritual perspective, the biblical use of "dissolve" challenges individuals to examine their lives and priorities. It calls for a detachment from material possessions and worldly status, urging a commitment to spiritual growth and readiness for the return of Christ. The imagery of dissolving elements serves as a powerful metaphor for the purification and renewal that God promises to those who remain steadfast in faith.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (v. t.) To diffuse; to break down; to melt into; to separate into competent parts; as, to dissolve sugar; to dissolve a company; to disorganize; to break up; hence, to bring to an end by separating the parts, sundering a relation, etc.; to terminate; to destroy; to deprive of force; as, to dissolve a partnership; to dissolve Parliament.

2. (v. t.) To break the continuity of; to disconnect; to disunite; to sunder; to loosen; to undo; to separate.

3. (v. t.) To convert into a liquid by means of heat, moisture, etc.,; to melt; to liquefy; to soften.

4. (v. t.) To solve; to clear up; to resolve.

5. (v. t.) To relax by pleasure; to make powerless.

6. (v. t.) To annul; to rescind; to discharge or release; as, to dissolve an injunction.

7. (v. i.) To waste away; to be dissipated; to be decomposed or broken up.

8. (v. i.) To become fluid; to be melted; to be liquefied.

9. (v. i.) To fade away; to fall to nothing; to lose power.

Greek
3089. luo -- to loose, to release, to dissolve
... to loose, to release, to dissolve. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: luo Phonetic
Spelling: (loo'-o) Short Definition: I loose, untie, release, destroy ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3089.htm - 9k

1262. dialuo -- to break up
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: dialuo Phonetic Spelling: (dee-al-oo'-o) Short
Definition: I break up, disperse Definition: I break up, disperse, dissolve ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1262.htm - 6k

2647. kataluo -- to destroy, overthrow
... overthrown (1), tear down (1), torn down (4). destroy, dissolve, lodge, come
to nought. From kata and luo; to loosen down (disintegrate ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2647.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew
4529. masah -- to melt, dissolve, be liquefied
... 4528, 4529. masah. 4530 . to melt, dissolve, be liquefied. Transliteration:
masah Phonetic Spelling: (maw-saw') Short Definition: consume. Word Origin a prim ...
/hebrew/4529.htm - 6k

4549. masas -- to dissolve, melt
... 4548, 4549. masas. 4550 . to dissolve, melt. Transliteration: masas Phonetic
Spelling: (maw-sas') Short Definition: melt. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/4549.htm - 6k

4127. mug -- to melt
... root Definition to melt NASB Word Usage disheartened (1), dissolve (2), dissolved
(2), melt (3), melted (2), melted away (4), melts (1), soften (1). ...
/hebrew/4127.htm - 6k

4743. maqaq -- to decay, rot, fester, pine away
... consume away, be corrupt, dissolve, pine away. A primitive root; to melt;
figuratively, to flow, dwindle, vanish -- consume away, be ...
/hebrew/4743.htm - 6k

8271. shera -- to loosen, abide
... 1), solve (1), solving (1), went slack (1). begin, dissolve, dwell, loose.
(Aramaic) a root corresponding to that of sheruwth; to ...
/hebrew/8271.htm - 6k

1638. garas -- to be crushed
... break. A primitive root; to crush; also (intransitively and figuratively) to dissolve --
break. 1637, 1638. garas. 1639 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/1638.htm - 5k

2490. chalal -- to bore, pierce
... A primitive root (compare chalah); properly, to bore, ie (by implication) to wound,
to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break ...
/hebrew/2490.htm - 6k

6565. parar -- to break, frustrate
... figuratively, ie To violate, frustrate -- X any ways, break (asunder), cast off,
cause to cease, X clean, defeat, disannul, disappoint, dissolve, divide, make ...
/hebrew/6565.htm - 5k

Library

Whether Other Sins Dissolve Marriage?
... OF DISPARITY OF WORSHIP AS AN IMPEDIMENT TO MARRIAGE (SIX ARTICLES) Whether
other sins dissolve marriage? Objection 1: It would ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether other sins dissolve marriage.htm

He Explains what it Means to Confess, and what it Means to ...
... Book V. Chapter X. He explains what it means to confess, and what it means
to dissolve Jesus. For this it is which John, the man ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter x he explains what.htm

Whether a Solemn Vow Dissolves a Marriage Already Contracted?
... the Divine acceptance. Therefore since a simple vow does not dissolve marriage,
neither will a solemn vow dissolve it. Objection 2 ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether a solemn vow dissolves.htm

Whether it is Fitting that Impediments Should be Assigned to ...
... Therefore if anything prevent a marriage being contracted, it will "de facto" dissolve
it after it has been contracted; and thus impediments should not be ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is fitting that 7.htm

Whether the Believer who Leaves his Unbelieving Wife Can Take ...
... cannot take another wife. Objection 2: Further, a crime subsequent to
marriage does not dissolve the marriage. Now, if the wife ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the believer who leaves.htm

Ezra, the Praying Reformer
... What force was there which could recover them to God so that they would dissolve
business partnerships, divorce wives and husbands, cut acquaintances and ...
/.../bounds/prayer and praying men/vii ezra the praying reformer.htm

To Brother Raimondo of Capua of the Order of the Preachers
... dead! Thou givest life, thou dost dissolve the shadows that darken the minds
of reasonable creatures, and dost give us light! Sweet ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to brother raimondo of capua 4.htm

Whether Christ's Body was Reduced to Dust in the Tomb?
... But directly after death our bodies begin to dissolve into dust, and are disposed
towards putrefaction, because when the natural heat departs, there supervenes ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christs body was reduced.htm

Whether the Husband, Being Converted to the Faith, May Remain with ...
... lawfully remain together. I answer that, The faith of a married person does
not dissolve but perfects the marriage. Wherefore, since ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the husband being converted.htm

Whether Slavery Can Supervene to Marriage?
... Therefore if it could supervene to marriage it would dissolve it; which is unreasonable.
On the contrary, Everyone can give another that which is his own. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether slavery can supervene to.htm

Thesaurus
Dissolve (4 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To diffuse; to break down; to melt into; to separate into competent parts;
as, to dissolve sugar; to dissolve a company; to disorganize; to break up ...
/d/dissolve.htm - 8k

Resolve (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To separate the component parts of; to reduce to the constituent elements; --
said of compound substances; hence, sometimes, to melt, or dissolve. ...
/r/resolve.htm - 9k

Relent (15 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To become less rigid; to yield; to dissolve;
to melt; to deliquesce. ... 4. (vt) To soften; to dissolve. ...
/r/relent.htm - 11k

Dissolved (12 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Dissolve. Multi-Version Concordance
Dissolved (12 Occurrences). 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we ...
/d/dissolved.htm - 10k

Divorce (18 Occurrences)
... It seems that it was not uncommon for the Jews at that time to dissolve the union
on very slight pretences (Matthew 5:31, 32; 19:1-9; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18 ...
/d/divorce.htm - 41k

Break (257 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) To interrupt; to destroy the continuity of; to dissolve or terminate; as,
to break silence; to break one's sleep; to break one's journey. ...
/b/break.htm - 46k

Knots (2 Occurrences)
... Daniel 5:16 But I have heard of thee, that thou canst give interpretations, and
dissolve doubts; now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the ...
/k/knots.htm - 7k

Leach (1 Occurrence)
... 5. (vt) To dissolve out; -- often used with out; as, to leach out alkali from
ashes. 6. (vi) To part with soluble constituents by percolation. ...
/l/leach.htm - 7k

Wearied (36 Occurrences)
... YLT). Psalms 6:6 I am wearied with my groaning; all the night make I my bed
to swim; I dissolve my couch with my tears. (DBY). Psalms ...
/w/wearied.htm - 17k

Inscription (18 Occurrences)
... Daniel 5:16 But I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations, and dissolve
doubts; now if you can read the writing, and make known to me its ...
/i/inscription.htm - 12k

Resources
What does the Bible say about an unhappy marriage? | GotQuestions.org

I am a Hindu, why should I consider becoming a Christian? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that Jesus fulfilled the law, but did not abolish it? | GotQuestions.org

Dissolve: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Dissolve (4 Occurrences)

Job 30:22
You lift me up to the wind, and drive me with it. You dissolve me in the storm.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS)

Psalms 6:6
I am wearied with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I dissolve my couch with my tears.
(DBY NAS)

Daniel 5:16
But I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations, and dissolve doubts; now if you can read the writing, and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

Nahum 1:5
The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, yes, the world, and all who dwell in it.
(See NAS)

Subtopics

Dissolve

Related Terms

Elements (7 Occurrences)

Indissoluble (1 Occurrence)

Intense (13 Occurrences)

Fervent (10 Occurrences)

Huzzab (1 Occurrence)

Dissolve (4 Occurrences)

Burning (415 Occurrences)

Leaven (24 Occurrences)

Gatherings (9 Occurrences)

Fade (16 Occurrences)

Torn (100 Occurrences)

Rudiments (5 Occurrences)

Roar (53 Occurrences)

Element (1 Occurrence)

Deportment (12 Occurrences)

Dissolves (1 Occurrence)

Den (19 Occurrences)

Disappear (13 Occurrences)

Dissolution (1 Occurrence)

Divorce (18 Occurrences)

Dismay (16 Occurrences)

Melt (33 Occurrences)

Mixture (16 Occurrences)

Pious (18 Occurrences)

Palestina (3 Occurrences)

Behove (5 Occurrences)

Behaviours (1 Occurrence)

Collapses (5 Occurrences)

Solution (1 Occurrence)

Speed (22 Occurrences)

Burned (587 Occurrences)

Clean (298 Occurrences)

Bare (250 Occurrences)

Noise (126 Occurrences)

Leaf (20 Occurrences)

Thief (41 Occurrences)

Entirely (39 Occurrences)

Earthly (39 Occurrences)

Withered (46 Occurrences)

Rolled (38 Occurrences)

Cloud (119 Occurrences)

Conversation (30 Occurrences)

Wherein (208 Occurrences)

Heat (104 Occurrences)

Earnestly (78 Occurrences)

Tent (333 Occurrences)

Delicate (32 Occurrences)

Macedonia (23 Occurrences)

Wholly (67 Occurrences)

Desiring (108 Occurrences)

Loud (222 Occurrences)

Heavens (548 Occurrences)

Scroll (70 Occurrences)

Building (249 Occurrences)

Waiting (274 Occurrences)

Earth (10501 Occurrences)

David (1052 Occurrences)

Holiness (76 Occurrences)

Persons (156 Occurrences)

Troops (92 Occurrences)

Isaac (127 Occurrences)

Fig (45 Occurrences)

Fire (602 Occurrences)

Eternal (166 Occurrences)

Hastening (6 Occurrences)

Hardness (11 Occurrences)

Hasting (9 Occurrences)

Rivers (81 Occurrences)

Esther (48 Occurrences)

Vine (76 Occurrences)

Establish (133 Occurrences)

Nineveh (23 Occurrences)

Captivity (141 Occurrences)

Mouth (534 Occurrences)

Tabernacle (333 Occurrences)

Acts (271 Occurrences)

Book (211 Occurrences)

Dissolution
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