Emptying
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Definition and Context
The concept of "emptying" in the Bible often refers to the act of divesting oneself of power, status, or possessions. It is a theme that appears in various contexts, both literal and metaphorical, and is most notably associated with the self-emptying of Jesus Christ, known as the "kenosis."

Kenosis: The Self-Emptying of Christ
The term "kenosis" is derived from the Greek word "κένωσις," meaning "to empty." This theological concept is primarily drawn from Philippians 2:7, where the Apostle Paul writes about Jesus: "but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness." . This passage highlights the humility and obedience of Christ, who, though being in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but instead took on human form and submitted to death on a cross (Philippians 2:6-8).

Old Testament References
In the Old Testament, the idea of emptying can be seen in various narratives and laws. For example, the concept of gleaning in Leviticus 19:9-10 instructs landowners not to harvest their fields completely but to leave some for the poor and the foreigner. This act of not fully reaping one's own field can be seen as a form of emptying oneself of potential gain for the benefit of others.

Emptying as a Spiritual Discipline
Emptying oneself is also a spiritual discipline, often associated with humility and reliance on God. In the Beatitudes, Jesus teaches, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). This poverty of spirit can be understood as an emptying of self-reliance and pride, making room for God's grace and presence.

Parables and Teachings of Jesus
Jesus frequently used parables to illustrate the principle of emptying oneself. In the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21), a wealthy man hoards his abundance, only to lose his life and face judgment. The parable serves as a warning against storing up earthly treasures and neglecting one's spiritual state.

Apostolic Teachings
The Apostles also emphasized the importance of emptying oneself for the sake of the Gospel. In 2 Corinthians 8:9, Paul writes, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich" . This passage underscores the sacrificial nature of Christ's mission and serves as a model for Christian living.

Practical Applications
In practical terms, emptying oneself can manifest in acts of service, generosity, and humility. Believers are encouraged to follow Christ's example by serving others selflessly and prioritizing spiritual wealth over material gain. The act of emptying oneself is not merely an external action but an internal disposition that aligns with the will of God.

Conclusion
The theme of emptying in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing theological, ethical, and practical dimensions. It calls believers to a life of humility, service, and reliance on God, following the ultimate example set by Jesus Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Empty.

2. (n.) The act of making empty.

3. (n.) The lees of beer, cider, etc.; yeast.

Strong's Hebrew
1229. Baqbuqyah -- "emptying of Yah," a Levite
... 1228, 1229. Baqbuqyah. 1230 . "emptying of Yah," a Levite. Transliteration:
Baqbuqyah Phonetic Spelling: (bak-book-yaw') Short Definition: Bakbukiah. ...
/hebrew/1229.htm - 6k

8211. shephek -- (place of) pouring
... emptying place, eg An ash-heap. From shaphak; an emptying place, eg An ash-heap --
are poured out. see HEBREW shaphak. 8210, 8211. shephek. 8212 . ...
/hebrew/8211.htm - 6k

7385a. riq -- to make empty, empty out
... root Definition to make empty, empty out NASB Word Usage draw (6), emptied (2),
empty (3), emptying (1), keep the unsatisfied (1), led (1), pour (2), purified ...
/hebrew/7385a.htm - 5k

1228. baqbuq -- a flask
... bottle, cruse. From baqaq; a bottle (from the gurgling in emptying) -- bottle, cruse.
see HEBREW baqaq. 1227, 1228. baqbuq. 1229 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/1228.htm - 6k

Library

July the Fourth Emptying Oneself
... JULY The Fourth EMPTYING ONESELF. "He emptied Himself." "Philippians
2:1-11. In Mr. Silvester Horne's garden a very suggestive ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/july the fourth emptying oneself.htm

Death to Self is the Way Out into a Life of Sacrifice.
... Shall we not ask God to convict us, as to where lies the hindrance to this
self-emptying? ... See how this bit of oat-grass is emptying itself out. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/trotter/parables of the cross/death to self is the.htm

He Shows the Falsehood of Eunomius' Calumnious Charge that the ...
... the falsehood of Eunomius' calumnious charge that the great Basil had said that
"man was emptied to become man," and demonstrates that the "emptying" of the ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 4 he shows the.htm

The Shadow of Death
... i.23). Jesus came from the garden ready to endure the cross in obedience to his
Father's will; but it was a costly obedience, a complete emptying of himself ...
/.../rhees/the life of jesus of nazareth/viii the shadow of death.htm

Regarding the Things Said Concerning Christ.
... And when our discourse deals with the lower aspect, we speak of the incarnation
of God the Word, His becoming man, His emptying of Himself, His poverty, His ...
/.../exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter xviii regarding the things said.htm

Excerpts of Theodotus;
... want. He wishes, therefore, that we, emptying ourselves of worldly cares,
should be filled with that which is directed towards God. ...
/.../theodotus/excerpts of theodotus/excerpts of theodotus.htm

Book xii. At Length, with the Holy Ghost Speeding Our Way...
... form of a servant. But He could not descend from God into man, except by
emptying Himself, as God, of the form of God. But when He ...
/.../the life and writings of st hilary of poitiers/book xii at length with.htm

Philippians ii. 11-May
... The very same. But it is no emptying of Himself, that one who is of human nature,
and a mere man, should wash his fellow-servants. ... What was His emptying? ...
/.../homily vii philippians ii 11-may.htm

The Satisfier of all Desires
... as I have no doubt He has done it with many of us, by withholding or withdrawing
the satisfaction of some of our lower desires, and so emptying our hearts and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the satisfier of all desires.htm

"And Watch unto Prayer. "
... bosom. It is the emptying of the soul, and the landing of it on God's
lee shore, Psal. cii.2, 1 Samuel 1:10, Psal. cxlii.2, &c. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxi and watch unto.htm

Thesaurus
Emptying (4 Occurrences)
... & vb. n.) of Empty. 2. (n.) The act of making empty. 3. (n.) The lees of beer, cider,
etc.; yeast. Multi-Version Concordance Emptying (4 Occurrences). ...
/e/emptying.htm - 7k

Kenosis
... term for the humiliation of the Son in the incarnation, but in recent years has
acquired a still more technical sense, ie of the Son's emptying Himself of ...
/k/kenosis.htm - 14k

Person (807 Occurrences)
... This is already apparent from the definition of the manner in which the "emptying"
is said to have been accomplished, supplied by the modal clause which is at ...
/p/person.htm - 49k

Emulation (5 Occurrences)

/e/emulation.htm - 9k

Eden (19 Occurrences)
... favor of identifying Eden with Armenia, for it is here that the Tigris and Euphrates
have their origin, while two others, the Aras (Araxes) emptying into the ...
/e/eden.htm - 28k

River (189 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A large stream of water flowing in a bed or channel and emptying into the
ocean, a sea, a lake, or another stream; a stream larger than a rivulet or ...
/r/river.htm - 52k

Empty-headed (1 Occurrence)
Empty-headed. Empty-handed, Empty-headed. Emptying . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(WEB). Empty-handed, Empty-headed. Emptying . Reference Bible.
/e/empty-headed.htm - 6k

Draw (212 Occurrences)
... 9. (vt) To select by the drawing of lots. 10. (vt) To remove the contents
of. 11. (vt) To drain by emptying; to suck dry. 12. (vt ...
/d/draw.htm - 41k

Bethbarah (1 Occurrence)
... "The waters" were the streams emptying themselves into the Jordan: "even the Jordan"
is a gloss on "the waters." Between the Jordan and the modern Wady Fari`ah ...
/b/bethbarah.htm - 8k

Beth-barah (1 Occurrence)
... "The waters" were the streams emptying themselves into the Jordan: "even the Jordan"
is a gloss on "the waters." Between the Jordan and the modern Wady Fari`ah ...
/b/beth-barah.htm - 8k

Resources
What is the kenosis? | GotQuestions.org

What is kenoticism / kenotic theology? | GotQuestions.org

What is a quiet time? | GotQuestions.org

Emptying: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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

Genesis 42:35
And it cometh to pass, they are emptying their sacks, and lo, the bundle of each man's silver 'is' in his sack, and they see their bundles of silver, they and their father, and are afraid;
(YLT NAS NIV)

Isaiah 24:1
Lo, Jehovah is emptying the land, And is making it waste, And hath overturned 'it on' its face, And hath scattered its inhabitants.
(YLT)

Habakkuk 1:17
Doth he therefore empty his net, And continually to slay nations spare not?
(See RSV NIV)

Zechariah 4:12
And I answer a second time, and say unto him, 'What 'are' the two branches of the olive trees that, by means of the two golden pipes, are emptying out of themselves the oil?'
(YLT)

Subtopics

Emptying

Related Terms

Contest (7 Occurrences)

Vie (2 Occurrences)

Lasciviousnesses (3 Occurrences)

Lasciviousness (9 Occurrences)

Incite (5 Occurrences)

Envy (56 Occurrences)

Emulations (1 Occurrence)

Emptying (4 Occurrences)

Disorder (6 Occurrences)

Day-time (11 Occurrences)

Daytime (18 Occurrences)

Drunkennesses (2 Occurrences)

Chamberings (1 Occurrence)

Strife (71 Occurrences)

Herod (45 Occurrences)

Empty-headed
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