In biblical terms, the concept of "expire" is often associated with the end of life or the cessation of breath. The term is derived from the Latin "exspirare," meaning "to breathe out," and is used in Scripture to describe the moment of death when the spirit departs from the body. This entry explores the theological and scriptural significance of expiration as it relates to the human condition, mortality, and the hope of eternal life.

Scriptural References

The Bible frequently uses the imagery of breath to symbolize life, and its cessation to denote death. In Genesis 2:7, the creation of man is described: "Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being." This divine breath is what animates human life, and its withdrawal signifies the end of earthly existence.

In the Old Testament, the term "expire" is often used in the context of patriarchal narratives. For instance, Genesis 25:8 recounts the death of Abraham: "Abraham breathed his last and died at a ripe old age, an old man and full of years, and he was gathered to his people." Similarly, Genesis 49:33 describes Jacob's death: "When Jacob had finished instructing his sons, he drew his feet into the bed, breathed his last, and was gathered to his people."

The New Testament also reflects on the concept of expiration, particularly in the context of Jesus Christ's crucifixion. In Luke 23:46, Jesus' death is described: "Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, 'Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.' And when He had said this, He breathed His last." This moment is pivotal in Christian theology, symbolizing the completion of Jesus' earthly mission and the fulfillment of divine redemption.

Theological Significance

From a theological perspective, the expiration of life is not merely an end but a transition. The Bible teaches that physical death is a consequence of sin, as stated in Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." However, through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are promised eternal life, transcending the expiration of the physical body.

The concept of expiration also underscores the transient nature of human life and the importance of living in accordance with God's will. Psalm 90:10 reflects on the brevity of life: "The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty if we are strong—yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away." This awareness encourages believers to focus on spiritual growth and the pursuit of righteousness.

Practical Implications

Understanding the biblical concept of expiration can provide comfort and hope to believers facing the reality of death. It serves as a reminder of the promise of resurrection and eternal life through Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14: "Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him."

In summary, the biblical notion of expiration is deeply intertwined with themes of life, death, and resurrection. It calls believers to live with an eternal perspective, trusting in the hope and promise of life beyond the grave.1. (v. t.) To breathe out; to emit from the lungs; to throw out from the mouth or nostrils in the process of respiration; -- opposed to inspire.

2. (v. t.) To give forth insensibly or gently, as a fluid or vapor; to emit in minute particles; to exhale; as, the earth expires a damp vapor; plants expire odors.

3. (v. t.) To emit; to give out.

4. (v. t.) To bring to a close; to terminate.

5. (v. i.) To emit the breath.

6. (v. i.) To emit the last breath; to breathe out the life; to die; as, to expire calmly; to expire in agony.

7. (v. i.) To come to an end; to cease; to terminate; to perish; to become extinct; as, the flame expired; his lease expires to-day; the month expired on Saturday.

8. (v. i.) To burst forth; to fly out with a blast.

1634. ekpsucho -- to expire, breathe one's last
... to expire, breathe one's last. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekpsucho Phonetic
Spelling: (ek-psoo'-kho) Short Definition: I breathe my last, die, expire ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1634.htm - 6k

1606. ekpneo -- to breathe out, expire
... to breathe out, expire. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekpneo Phonetic Spelling:
(ek-pneh'-o) Short Definition: I breathe my last, expire Definition: (lit ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1606.htm - 6k

5055. teleo -- to bring to an end, complete, fulfill
... From telos; to end, ie Complete, execute, conclude, discharge (a debt) -- accomplish,
make an end, expire, fill up, finish, go over, pay, perform. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5055.htm - 8k

5053. teleutao -- to complete, to come to an end, hence to die
... decease, die. From a presumed derivative of teleo; to finish life (by implication,
of bios), ie Expire (demise) -- be dead, decease, die. see GREEK teleo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5053.htm - 7k

4137. pleroo -- to make full, to complete
... accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make)
full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply. see GREEK pleres. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4137.htm - 10k

1478. gava -- to expire, perish, die
... 1477, 1478. gava. 1479 . to expire, perish, die. Transliteration: gava Phonetic
Spelling: (gaw-vah') Short Definition: perish. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/1478.htm - 6k

5301. naphach -- to breathe, blow
... A primitive root; to puff, in various applications (literally, to inflate, blow
hard, scatter, kindle, expire; figuratively, to disesteem) -- blow, breath ...
/hebrew/5301.htm - 6k

1846. daak -- to go out, be extinguished
... A primitive root; to be extinguished; figuratively, to expire or be dried up --
be extinct, consumed, put out, quenched. 1845, 1846. daak. 1847 . ...
/hebrew/1846.htm - 6k

3615. kalah -- to be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished ...
... Were) done, (be an) end (of), expire, (cause to) fail, faint, finish, fulfil, X
fully, X have, leave (off), long, bring to pass, wholly reap, make clean ...
/hebrew/3615.htm - 7k

3518. kabah -- to be quenched or extinguished, to go out
... go put out, quench. A primitive root; to expire or (causatively) to extinguish
(fire, light, anger) -- go (put) out, quench. 3517, 3518. kabah. 3519 . ...
/hebrew/3518.htm - 6k

Having Thus Attained to the Highest Power, He Bent his Mind to ...
... Meanwhile cold water was continually poured on their faces, and their mouths moistened,
lest, by reason of their jaws being parched, they should expire. ...
/.../of the manner in which the persecutors died/chap xxi having thus attained.htm

The Complaint: Or, Night Thoughts.
... Where momentary ages are no more! Where time, and pain, and chance, and
death, expire! ... All joys, but joys that never can expire. ...
/.../young/youngs night thoughts/the complaint or night thoughts.htm

Howe -- the Redeemer's Tears Over Lost Souls
... Whereas therefore these things must concur to make up such a day; if either a man's
time, his life on earth, expire, or if light quite fail him, or if all ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons vol 2/howe the redeemers tears.htm

On Eternity
... that portion of duration which commenced when the world began, which will continue
as long as this world endures, and then expire for ever? ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 54 on eternity.htm

John xix. 16-18
... the ghost.". That is, "died." Yet to expire does not come [2492] after the
bowing the head; but here, on the contrary, it doth. For ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily lxxxv john xix 16-18.htm

In Troubles --
... Here it was that the king lay waiting for the truce with France to expire.
The bishop arrived at the Rock castle in the morning of St. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/marson/hugh bishop of lincoln/chapter vi in troubles.htm

Answer to Mr. W's Sixth Objection.
... (So the words must be understood, because, according to St. John, Lazarus did actually
expire and die of that sickness.) But for the glory of God. ...
/.../section vi answer to mr.htm

Purity and Peace in the Present Lord
... leads not only the Philippians generally but Euodia and Syntyche in particular up
to a level where the self-will and self-assertion must, of themselves, expire ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/moule/philippian studies/chapter xi purity and peace.htm

The Caroline Settlement
... of Chancellor Hyde, where he bemoans the fact that Papists awl Puritans were both
computing in how few years the enfeebled Church of England would expire. ...
/.../studies in the book of common prayer/chapter iv the caroline settlement.htm

On the Unutterable Heart-Rending Grief of the Pure Queen of Heaven ...
... and how thou didst support thyself at the foot of the cross, when thou didst behold
thy tender Child, the beautiful and tender Wisdom, so lamentably expire. ...
/.../suso/a little book of eternal wisdom/chapter xvii on the unutterable.htm

Expire (14 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To give forth insensibly or gently, as a fluid or vapor; to emit in minute
particles; to exhale; as, the earth expires a damp vapor; plants expire odors ...
/e/expire.htm - 10k

Ghost (123 Occurrences)
... idea. 4. (n.) A false image formed in a telescope by reflection from the
surfaces of one or more lenses. 5. (vi) To die; to expire. 6 ...
/g/ghost.htm - 39k

Inspire (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To infuse by breathing, or as if by breathing. 3. (vt) To draw in by
the operation of breathing; to inhale; -- opposed to expire. ...
/i/inspire.htm - 8k

Expired (29 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Expire. Multi-Version Concordance
Expired (29 Occurrences). Matthew 27:50 Jesus, when he ...
/e/expired.htm - 15k

Gatherest (4 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS). Psalms 104:29 Thou hidest Thy face -- they are troubled,
Thou gatherest their spirit -- they expire, And unto their dust they turn back. ...
/g/gatherest.htm - 7k

Fallen (233 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Acts 5:5 and Ananias hearing these words, having fallen down, did expire,
and great fear came upon all who heard these things, (YLT). ...
/f/fallen.htm - 38k

Two-thirds (2 Occurrences)
... Zechariah 13:8 And it hath come to pass, In all the land, an affirmation of Jehovah,
Two parts in it are cut off -- they expire, And the third is left in it. ...
/t/two-thirds.htm - 6k

Thirds (2 Occurrences)
... Zechariah 13:8 And it hath come to pass, In all the land, an affirmation of Jehovah,
Two parts in it are cut off -- they expire, And the third is left in it. ...
/t/thirds.htm - 6k

Teeming (18 Occurrences)
... Genesis 7:21 and expire doth all flesh that is moving on the earth, among fowl,
and among cattle, and among beasts, and among all the teeming things which are ...
/t/teeming.htm - 12k

Returneth (27 Occurrences)
... returneth to man His righteousness. (YLT). Job 34:15 Expire doth all flesh
together, And man to dust returneth. (YLT). Psalms 35:13 And ...
/r/returneth.htm - 14k

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