Topical Encyclopedia In biblical literature, the term "mire" is often used figuratively to describe a state of moral or spiritual degradation, entrapment, or distress. The imagery of mire, which refers to a swampy, muddy ground, evokes a sense of being stuck or bogged down, unable to move freely. This metaphor is employed in various scriptural passages to illustrate the human condition apart from divine intervention, as well as the consequences of sin and disobedience.One of the most poignant uses of this imagery is found in the Psalms. In Psalm 40:2 , the psalmist declares, "He lifted me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm." Here, the mire symbolizes a place of despair and helplessness, from which only God can deliver. The contrast between the unstable mire and the solid rock underscores the transformative power of divine salvation. Similarly, in Psalm 69:14 , the psalmist pleads, "Rescue me from the mire and do not let me sink; deliver me from my foes and out of the deep waters." The mire represents overwhelming circumstances and adversities that threaten to engulf the believer. The plea for rescue highlights the dependence on God's intervention to escape such perilous situations. The prophet Jeremiah also employs this metaphor in Jeremiah 38:6 , where the prophet is cast into a cistern filled with mud: "So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah with ropes. Now there was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud." This physical entrapment in mire serves as a powerful symbol of the prophet's isolation and the rejection of his message by the people of Judah. In the New Testament, the apostle Peter uses the imagery of mire to describe the state of those who turn away from the truth. In 2 Peter 2:22 , he writes, "Of them the proverbs are true: 'A dog returns to its vomit,' and, 'A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.'" Here, the mire signifies a return to sinful behaviors and the futility of attempting to cleanse oneself apart from genuine repentance and transformation through Christ. The figurative use of mire in Scripture serves as a vivid reminder of the human propensity to become ensnared in sin and the necessity of divine grace for deliverance. It underscores the contrast between the instability of a life mired in sin and the firm foundation provided by faith in God. Through these vivid images, the Bible communicates the hope of redemption and the assurance of God's ability to rescue and restore those who call upon Him. Nave's Topical Index Psalm 40:2He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet on a rock, and established my goings. Nave's Topical Index Psalm 69:2 Library Elements of Prophetic Interpretation. The Use of the Symbolic Style by Poets and Philosophers. Sin is Spiritual Slavery He Then once More Excellently, Appropriately, and Clearly Examines ... Significant Phrases Rom. vi. 5 Matt. v. 1, 2 The Scope of the Apocalypse is Indicated by Its Place in the ... And ii. To Pammachius against John of Jerusalem. Resources Is The Divine Comedy / Dante's Inferno a biblically accurate description of Heaven and Hell? | GotQuestions.orgIs it possible for a person's name to be erased from the Book of Life? | GotQuestions.org What is the “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” sermon? | GotQuestions.org Mire: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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