In biblical terminology, the word "divers" is an archaic term that is often used in older English translations of the Bible to mean "various" or "different kinds." It is derived from the Latin word "diversus," meaning "varied" or "different." In the context of Scripture, "divers" is used to describe a variety of things, including diseases, miracles, and kinds of tongues, among others.

Divers Diseases

In the New Testament, the term "divers diseases" is used to describe the various ailments and illnesses that Jesus healed during His earthly ministry. For instance, in the Gospel of Mark, it is recorded: "And Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed—and He healed them" (Matthew 4:23-24). Here, "various diseases" is synonymous with "divers diseases," highlighting the comprehensive nature of Jesus' healing power.

Divers Miracles

The term is also used to describe the different kinds of miracles performed by Jesus and His apostles. In the book of Hebrews, it is written: "God also testified to it by signs, wonders, and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will" (Hebrews 2:4). The use of "various miracles" underscores the manifold ways in which God's power was manifested through miraculous events, serving as a testament to the divine authority of Jesus and the early church.

Divers Tongues

In the context of spiritual gifts, "divers tongues" refers to the gift of speaking in different languages, a phenomenon that occurred on the day of Pentecost and is discussed in the epistles of Paul. In 1 Corinthians 12:10, Paul lists "various kinds of tongues" as one of the gifts of the Spirit, emphasizing the diversity of spiritual gifts given to believers for the edification of the church.

Divers Washings

The book of Hebrews also mentions "divers washings" in the context of Old Testament ceremonial practices: "They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order" (Hebrews 9:10). These "divers washings" refer to the different ritual cleansings prescribed under the Mosaic Law, which were symbolic of the need for spiritual purification.

Divers Temptations

In the epistle of James, believers are encouraged to consider it pure joy when they face "divers temptations" or various trials: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance" (James 1:2-3). The phrase "trials of many kinds" reflects the diverse challenges and temptations that Christians may encounter, which serve to strengthen their faith and character.

In summary, the term "divers" in the Bible is used to describe a range of different kinds or types, whether it be diseases, miracles, tongues, washings, or temptations. It highlights the variety and multiplicity of experiences and phenomena within the biblical narrative, illustrating the comprehensive nature of God's work and the multifaceted challenges faced by believers.1. (a.) Different in kind or species; diverse.

2. (a.) Several; sundry; various; more than one, but not a great number; as, divers philosophers. Also used substantively or pronominally.

DIVERS; DIVERSE; DIVERSITIES

di'-verz, di-vurs', di-vur'-si-tiz: "Divers" meaning "various," "different in kind," is now obsolete and used only as a synonym of "several," i.e. more than one. The distinction between "divers" and "diverse" in the King James Version seems to be that the former is the wider term, the latter being restricted to the meaning of "different in kind," while "divers" is also used to express difference of number. the Revised Version (British and American) retains "diverse" in all instances but changes "divers" nearly everywhere, except where it has the meaning "several." Compare Matthew 24:7 Luke 21:11 Hebrews 9:10, and others. It is hard to understand why the Revised Version (British and American) retains "divers" as a translation of poikilos, in Matthew 4:24 Mark 1:34, et al., because poikilos certainly cannot have the meaning "several" but "different in kind," and the idea expressed in these passages is not that some of the people had several diseases but that different people had different kinds of diseases. The same is true in Hebrews 13:9 where "divers" does not refer to number but to various kinds of teaching. Hebrews 2:4 and James 1:2 rightly change the reading of the King James Version "divers" to "manifold."

In other passages the Revised Version (British and American) changes "divers" to "diverse," and thus renders the idea of the original text "different in kind." Compare Deuteronomy 25:13; Proverbs 20:10, 23. Other passages are changed the better to render the original text: Deuteronomy 22:9, "two kinds of seed"; Judges 5:30, "dyed"; 2 Chronicles 30:11, "certain men"; Mark 8:3 and Acts 19:9, "some." the King James Version reads. in all these passages "divers." the Revised Version (British and American) changes the King James Version Hebrews 1:1 "at sundry times and in divers manners," an expression often found in Old English, to "by divers portions and in divers manners."

"Diversities" is found twice as translation of diairesis, literally, "distribution" (1 Corinthians 12:4), but the Revised Version (British and American) changes the King James Version, 1 Corinthians 12:28, "diversities" to "divers kinds," as translation of gene, "kinds."

A. L. Breslich

4164. poikilos -- many colored
... diverse, manifold. Of uncertain derivation; motley, ie Various in character -- divers,
manifold. (poikilais) -- 7 Occurrences. (poikiles) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4164.htm - 6k

2596. kata -- down, against, according to
... exceeding, X more excellent, for, from... To, godly, in(-asmuch, divers,
every, -to, respect of),... By, after the manner of, + by ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2596.htm - 9k

1313. diaphoros -- varying, excellent
... differing, diverse, more excellent. From diaphero; varying; also surpassing --
differing, divers, more excellent. see GREEK diaphero. (diaphora) -- 1 Occurrence ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1313.htm - 6k

4187. polutropos -- in many ways
... in many ways. Adverb from a compound of polus and tropos; in many ways, ie Variously
as to method or form -- in divers manners. see GREEK polus. see GREEK tropos ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4187.htm - 7k

5100. tis -- a certain one, someone, anyone
... An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object -- a (kind of), any
(man, thing, thing at all), certain (thing), divers, he (every) man, one (X ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5100.htm - 7k

374. ephah -- an ephah (a measure of grain)
... ephah, divers measures. Or (shortened) ephah {ay-faw'}; of Egyptian derivation;
an ephah or measure for grain; hence, a measure in ...
/hebrew/374.htm - 6k

6446. pas -- flat (of the hand or foot)
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition flat (of the hand or foot) NASB
Word Usage long-sleeved (2), varicolored (3). divers colors. ...
/hebrew/6446.htm - 6k

582. enosh -- man, mankind
... scorners* (1), soldiers* (3). another, bloodthirsty, certain, divers, fellow,
in the flower of their age. From 'anash; properly, a ...
/hebrew/582.htm - 6k

2177. zan -- kind, sort
... divers kinds, all manner of store. From zuwn; properly, nourished (or fully developed),
ie A form or sort -- divers kinds, X all manner of store. ...
/hebrew/2177.htm - 6k

3610. kilayim -- two kinds
... divers seeds e kinds, mingled seed. Dual of kele' in the original sense of separation;
two heterogeneities -- divers seeds (-e kinds), mingled (seed). ...
/hebrew/3610.htm - 6k

7553. riqmah -- variegated stuff
... colors (1). broidered work, divers colors, raiment of needlework on both sides.
From raqam; variegation of color; specifically, embroidery ...
/hebrew/7553.htm - 6k

6157. arob -- probably a swarm
... divers sorts of flies, swarm. From arab; a mosquito (from its swarming) -- divers
sorts of flies, swarm. see HEBREW arab. 6156, 6157. arob. 6158 . ...
/hebrew/6157.htm - 6k

8162. shaatnez -- mixed stuff
... garment of divers sorts, linen and wollen. Probably of foreign derivation;
linsey- woolsey, ie Cloth of linen and wool carded and ...
/hebrew/8162.htm - 6k

2921. tala -- to patch, spot
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to patch, spot NASB Word Usage patched (1),
spotted (6), various colors (1). clouted, with divers colors, spotted. ...
/hebrew/2921.htm - 6k

6648. tseba -- dye, dyed stuff
... divers, colors. From an unused root meaning to dip (into coloring fluid); a dye --
divers, colours. 6647, 6648. tseba. 6649 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6648.htm - 5k

Divers Matters.
... A Chorographical Century. Chapters 51-60 Chapter 55 Divers matters. I.
Beth-cerem, Nehemiah 3:14. "The stones, as well of the altar ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 55 divers matters.htm

Of Divers Friendships of Good and Ill, and if they Can be Loosed ...
... BOOK II CHAPTER IX OF DIVERS FRIENDSHIPS OF GOOD AND ILL, AND IF THEY CAN BE LOOSED:
OF THE SCARCENESS OF FRIENDSHIP OF MEN AND WOMEN: AND OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP ...
/.../rolle/the fire of love/chapter ix of divers friendships.htm

Whether this Knowledge was Distinguished by Divers Habits?
... OF THE KNOWLEDGE IMPRINTED OR INFUSED IN THE SOUL OF CHRIST (SIX ARTICLES)
Whether this knowledge was distinguished by divers habits? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether this knowledge was distinguished.htm

Of Divers Gifts of God's Chosen: and How Saints Come to Love in ...
... BOOK II CHAPTER VI OF DIVERS GIFTS OF GOD'S CHOSEN: AND HOW SAINTS COME TO LOVE
IN PRAYING, MEDITATING, LOVING, SUFFERING, ADVERSITY AND HATING VICE, AND THAT ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter vi of divers gifts.htm

How Divers Churches of the Scots, at the Instance of Adamnan ...
... XV. How divers churches of the Scots, at the instance of Adamnan, adopted the Catholic
Easter; and how the same wrote a book about the holy places. [703 AD]. ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xv how divers churches.htm

Epistle Lviii. To Divers Bishops of Gaul.
... Epistle LVIII. To Divers Bishops of Gaul. To Divers Bishops of Gaul. Gregory
to Mennas of Telona (Toulon), Serenus of Massilia (Marseilles ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle lviii to divers bishops.htm

Of the Divers Orders who Serve the Church, that if any one Fall ...
... The Sixth Ecumenical Council. Canon XV. Of the divers orders who serve
the Church, that if any one fall into a? Of the divers ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon xv of the divers.htm

Divers Towns Called by the Name of Tyre.
... A Chorographical Century. Chapters 81-90 Chapter 89 Divers towns called by
the name of Tyre. Besides Tyre, the noble mart of Phoenicia ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 89 divers towns called.htm

Divers Machinations of the Arians against Athanasius, and his ...
... Book IV. Chapter X."Divers Machinations of the Arians against Athanasius, and
his Escape from Various Dangers through Divine Interposition. ...
/.../chapter x divers machinations of the.htm

They who have Sinned in Divers Particulars, if they have ...
... Canon II. They who have sinned in divers particulars, if they have persevered
in the prayer of? They who have sinned in divers ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon ii they who have.htm

Divers (36 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Several; sundry; various; more than one, but not a great number; as, divers
philosophers. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DIVERS; DIVERSE; DIVERSITIES. ...
/d/divers.htm - 20k

Diversities (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Plural of Diversity. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. DIVERS; DIVERSE; DIVERSITIES. di'-verz, di-vurs ...
/d/diversities.htm - 10k

Diverse (15 Occurrences)
... 3. (adv.) In different directions; diversely. 4. (vi) To turn aside. Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DIVERS; DIVERSE; DIVERSITIES. ...
/d/diverse.htm - 14k

Needlework (23 Occurrences)
... have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of
divers colors, a prey of divers colors of needlework, of divers colors of ...
/n/needlework.htm - 14k

Needle-work (7 Occurrences)
... Judges 5:30 Have they not found; have they not divided the prey; to every man a
damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colors, a prey of divers colors of ...
/n/needle-work.htm - 8k

Colours (20 Occurrences)
... (BBE DBY JPS YLT). Psalms 45:14 In divers colours she is brought to the king, Virgins --
after her -- her companions, Are brought to thee. (YLT). ...
/c/colours.htm - 12k

Damsel (43 Occurrences)
... have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of
divers colors, a prey of divers colors of needlework, of divers colors of ...
/d/damsel.htm - 20k

Prey (105 Occurrences)
... have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of
divers colors, a prey of divers colors of needlework, of divers colors of ...
/p/prey.htm - 42k

Colors (12 Occurrences)
... The references to Joseph's coat of many colors (Genesis 37:3, 13, 12) and "garments
of divers colors" (2 Samuel 13:18, 19) probably do not mean the color of ...
/c/colors.htm - 36k

Inspiration (4 Occurrences)
... It belongs to the conception of Scripture that, though originating "by divers portions
and in divers manners" (Hebrews 1:1), it should yet, in its completeness ...
/i/inspiration.htm - 57k

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