The term "limped" in the Bible is often associated with physical impairment or a symbolic representation of spiritual struggle and transformation. The most notable biblical account involving limping is found in the account of Jacob, a patriarch of Israel, whose encounter with God left him with a limp.

Jacob's Limp
The account of Jacob wrestling with God is recorded in Genesis 32:22-32. Jacob, on his way to meet his estranged brother Esau, finds himself alone at the Jabbok River. During the night, he wrestles with a mysterious man, who is later revealed to be God. As dawn approaches, the man touches Jacob's hip socket, dislocating it, and Jacob is left with a limp. Genesis 32:31 states, "The sun rose above him as he passed by Penuel, and he was limping because of his hip."

This physical limp serves as a lasting reminder of Jacob's encounter with the divine. It symbolizes his transformation from a man who relied on his own cunning and strength to one who is dependent on God. The limp is a mark of both struggle and blessing, as Jacob is renamed Israel, meaning "he struggles with God," and receives God's blessing.

Symbolism and Spiritual Implications
In a broader spiritual context, limping can symbolize the human condition of weakness and the need for divine intervention. It reflects the idea that true strength and blessing come through acknowledging one's limitations and relying on God's power. The Apostle Paul echoes this sentiment in 2 Corinthians 12:9 , where he writes, "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me."

Prophetic Imagery
The concept of limping also appears in prophetic imagery. In 1 Kings 18:21 , the prophet Elijah challenges the Israelites, saying, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him." The Hebrew word translated as "waver" can also mean "limp," suggesting a spiritual indecisiveness or instability. Elijah's challenge calls the people to a decisive commitment to God, rather than a faltering or limping allegiance.

Conclusion
The biblical theme of limping, whether physical or metaphorical, underscores the transformative encounters with God that lead to spiritual growth and reliance on divine strength. It serves as a powerful reminder of the blessings that come through struggle and the importance of wholehearted devotion to God.(imp. & p. p.) of Limp.

A Prince's Bride
... He will proceed at once to Jerusalem. We have no time to lose. Ah, Momus?". He spoke
to a servant who had limped into the hall and stood waiting for his notice. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/miller/the city of delight/chapter i a princes bride.htm

Troubles of Lingering at the Crossing
... At this Exactly wilted, dropped the sword, staggered toward his memorial stone,
and, lifting it to his shoulders, limped back toward the Jordan to cross and ...
/.../berry/adventures in the land of canaan/chapter four troubles of lingering.htm

Mr. ...
... children approaching. One was a handsome girl, the other a pale-faced,
awkward-looking boy, who limped much on one leg. I withdrew ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 35 mr .htm

The Trial by Fire
... and hope declined, more violent bodily exercise was resorted to, and the shouting
crowd danced (or, perhaps, as the margin says, 'limped,'"a picturesque and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the trial by fire.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... Such Jewish rabbis and Christian fathers limped and danced upon one learned leg,
to the amazement of all beholders, but not to their edification; their ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

The Apology of Aristides the Philosopher. Translated from the ...
... And some of them, they say, were crippled and limped, and some were sorcerers, and
some actually went mad, and some played on lyres, and some were given to ...
/.../kay/the apology of aristides the philosopher/the apology of aristides the.htm

The Massacre
... A sword-point had pierced his leg, for he limped with painful efforts, and often
stumbled; and he was pale with loss of blood from a deep arrow-wound in his ...
/.../chapter xxxiii the massacre.htm

The Adventures of Saint Patrick of Ireland.
... Full one-third of the hideous satyrs had sunk lifeless from their stalwart blows,
while many others limped off sorely wounded and maimed; yet the remainder ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter nine the adventures of.htm

Heaven's Nurse Children
... Do we remember how tottering were our first steps? We limped very sadly. Our walking
was comparable to the seeing of the man to whom men looked like trees. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/heavens nurse children.htm

To Pammachius against John of Jerusalem.
... follow him." And the Lord himself says concerning the Jews, [4993] "the strange
children lied unto me; the strange children became feeble, and limped out of ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/to pammachius against john of.htm

Limped (2 Occurrences)
... & pp) of Limp. Multi-Version Concordance Limped (2 Occurrences). Genesis 32:31 The
sun rose on him as he passed over Peniel, and he limped because of his thigh. ...
/l/limped.htm - 7k

Limping (2 Occurrences)
... Limping (2 Occurrences). Genesis 32:31 And the sun rose upon him as he passed
over Peniel, and he limped upon his thigh. (See NAS RSV NIV). ...
/l/limping.htm - 7k

Limp (9 Occurrences)

/l/limp.htm - 9k

Thigh (38 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Genesis 32:31 The sun rose on him as
he passed over Peniel, and he limped because of his thigh. ...
/t/thigh.htm - 22k

Peniel (4 Occurrences)
... NIV). Genesis 32:31 The sun rose on him as he passed over Peniel, and he
limped because of his thigh. (WEB JPS BBE DBY NIV). Judges ...
/p/peniel.htm - 9k

Penu'el (7 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Penu'el (7 Occurrences). Genesis 32:31 And the sun rose
upon him as he passed over Peniel, and he limped upon his thigh. (See RSV). ...
/p/penu'el.htm - 8k

Crossed (65 Occurrences)
... Jabbok. (See NAS RSV NIV). Genesis 32:31 The sun rose on him as he passed
over Peniel, and he limped because of his thigh. (See NAS). ...
/c/crossed.htm - 25k

Hip (8 Occurrences)
... wrestled. (See NIV). Genesis 32:31 And as he passed over Peniel, the sun rose
upon him; and he limped upon his hip. (DBY NIV). Genesis ...
/h/hip.htm - 10k

Halt (12 Occurrences)
... holt (tsala`, "to limp"; cholos, "lame," "crippled"): the American Standard Revised
Version in Genesis 32:31 prefers "limped"; in Micah 4:6, 7; Ze 3:19, "is ...
/h/halt.htm - 12k

Passed (329 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS). Genesis 32:31 The sun rose on him as he passed over Peniel,
and he limped because of his thigh. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV) ...
/p/passed.htm - 34k

Limped: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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