The term "languishes" in the Bible often conveys a sense of weakness, deterioration, or a state of decline, both physically and spiritually. It is used to describe the condition of individuals, nations, or even the land itself when it is deprived of God's favor or when it suffers under the weight of sin and disobedience.

Biblical Usage and Context

1. Physical and Spiritual Decline: In Isaiah 24:4 , the prophet describes a scene of universal decay: "The earth mourns and withers; the world languishes and withers; the exalted of the earth languish." Here, "languishes" is used to depict the earth and its inhabitants in a state of mourning and decline due to the judgment of God. This passage highlights the consequences of sin and the resulting divine judgment that affects all creation.

2. Moral and Social Decay: The concept of languishing is also applied to the moral and social state of a people. In Jeremiah 14:2 , the prophet laments, "Judah mourns, and her gates languish; they wail for the land, and a cry goes up from Jerusalem." This verse illustrates the spiritual and societal decay of Judah as a result of their unfaithfulness to God. The gates, symbolizing the strength and security of the city, are depicted as languishing, indicating vulnerability and distress.

3. Divine Judgment and Restoration: The Bible often uses the imagery of languishing to underscore the need for repentance and divine intervention. In Hosea 4:3 , it is written, "Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it will waste away; the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and even the fish of the sea will be removed." This passage reflects the comprehensive impact of sin on the environment and the living creatures within it. However, the prophetic literature also offers hope for restoration when the people turn back to God.

4. Contrast with Flourishing: The state of languishing is frequently contrasted with flourishing, which is associated with righteousness and divine blessing. Psalm 1:3 describes the righteous person as "a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does." This imagery contrasts the vitality and prosperity of the righteous with the languishing condition of those who are separated from God.

Theological Implications

The use of "languishes" in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of remaining in right relationship with God. It underscores the belief that spiritual health and vitality are intrinsically linked to obedience and faithfulness to God's commandments. The imagery of languishing calls believers to examine their own lives and communities, encouraging repentance and a return to the life-giving presence of God.

In summary, the concept of languishing in the Bible is a multifaceted theme that addresses physical, spiritual, and societal decline. It serves as both a warning and an invitation to seek renewal and restoration through a faithful relationship with God.535. amal -- to be weak, languish
... root Definition to be weak, languish NASB Word Usage decays (1), fade away (1),
fades (1), fails (2), languish (1), languished (1), languishes (2), languishing ...
/hebrew/535.htm - 6k

3615. kalah -- to be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished ...
... 1), fail (10), failed (1), fails (2), faints (1), feed (1), finish (6), finished
(67), finishes (1), fulfill (2), languish (1), languishes (1), longed (1 ...
/hebrew/3615.htm - 7k

1669. daeb -- to become faint, languish
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to become faint, languish NASB Word Usage
languish (1), languishes (1), wasted away (1). mourn, sorrowful. ...
/hebrew/1669.htm - 5k

Of the Felicity and Sweetness of God's Love: and of the ...
... Truly Christ as it were languishes in our love, whiles He to get us hied to the
Cross with so great heat; but it is well said in play love goes before and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter xii of the felicity.htm

That Lovers of God Shall Deem with Him: and of the Love of ...
... thing wants"and truly it is called great formerly to mortals it is nearly
unknown"he never trows himself to be in prosperity, but alway languishes in love ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter xi that lovers of.htm

Beasts Similarly Subject to the Law of Mutation.
... I say nothing of the stag, because himself withal, the witness of his own age, feeding
on the serpent, languishes"from the effect of the poison"into youth. ...
/.../tertullian/on the pallium/chapter iii beasts similarly subject to.htm

The Release of Saint George.
... "Well spoken," answered the Fairy; "yes, there languishes, even now, a brother knight,
one for whose country I have a fond regard, Saint David, of Wales, in ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter eleven the release of.htm

Piety.
... Woman's heart languishes for God, because it thirsts after the good and beautiful;
and all her efforts to satisfy its cravings will prove futile until it is ...
/.../sainte-foi/serious hours of a young lady/chapter xi piety.htm

Curiosity.
... It sadly languishes and pines in the grip of famine; and all this in the midst of
full and plenty, but this abundance contains no nutriment, it is made up of ...
/.../sainte-foi/serious hours of a young lady/chapter xvii curiosity.htm

How we Ought Lovingly to Receive God.
... are uncounted. The Servant."Ah, sweet Love of mine! ah, tender Lord elect!
how my soul languishes for Thy love! Turn Thy mild ...
/.../suso/a little book of eternal wisdom/chapter xxiii how we ought.htm

Christ the Bread of Life.
... above. When he seeks to gratify the cravings of his carnal nature by turning
back to the flesh-pots of Egypt, he languishes and dies. ...
/.../ii christ the bread of life.htm

Treatment of Words
... hence honily honeyed, honey-sweet ill evil kind nature, essence lasts perseveres
liking delight, pleasure lovely lovable longs languishes lust pleasure manner ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/treatment of words.htm

How Perfect Love is Gotten by Cleanness and Love: and of Imperfect ...
... more glorious it shall be. The lover truly languishes if he has not by him
the likeness of that he loves. Therefore it is said: Nunciate ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter xvii how perfect love.htm

Languishes (11 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Languishes (11 Occurrences). ... Yes, the barren has borne
seven. She who has many children languishes. (WEB NAS). ...
/l/languishes.htm - 9k

Mourns (13 Occurrences)
... (WEB). Isaiah 24:4 The earth mourns and fades away. The world languishes and fades
away. ... (WEB NAS RSV). Isaiah 24:7 The new wine mourns. The vine languishes. ...
/m/mourns.htm - 10k

Fades (10 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 24:4 The earth mourns and fades away. The world languishes and fades away. ...
Bashan languishes, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languishes. ...
/f/fades.htm - 8k

Fade (16 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 24:4 The earth mourns and fades away. The world languishes and fades away. ...
Bashan languishes, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languishes. ...
/f/fade.htm - 13k

Languish (13 Occurrences)
... The world languishes and fades away. ... The land mourns, for the grain is destroyed,
The new wine has dried up, and the oil languishes. ...
/l/languish.htm - 11k

Rebukes (13 Occurrences)
... Nahum 1:4 He rebukes the sea, and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers. Bashan
languishes, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languishes. ...
/r/rebukes.htm - 10k

Dries (10 Occurrences)
... Nahum 1:4 He rebukes the sea, and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers. Bashan
languishes, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languishes. ...
/d/dries.htm - 9k

Pines (7 Occurrences)
... Those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. Yes, the barren has borne
seven. She who has many children languishes. (See NIV). 2 ...
/p/pines.htm - 8k

Bloom (9 Occurrences)
... Nahum 1:4 He rebukes the sea, and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers. Bashan
languishes, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languishes. (See RSV). ...
/b/bloom.htm - 11k

Blossoms (16 Occurrences)
... Nahum 1:4 He rebukes the sea, and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers. Bashan
languishes, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languishes. (See NAS NIV). ...
/b/blossoms.htm - 11k

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