The term "off-scouring" is used in the Bible to describe something that is considered worthless, detestable, or the refuse of society. It is a vivid metaphor that conveys the idea of being the lowest or most despised among people. The concept of off-scouring is primarily found in the New Testament, where it is used to describe the apostles' experience of being rejected and scorned by the world.

Biblical References:

1. 1 Corinthians 4:13 : "when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world." In this passage, the Apostle Paul is addressing the Corinthian church, explaining the hardships and humiliations faced by the apostles. The term "refuse of the world" is synonymous with "off-scouring," indicating the apostles' status as outcasts and the lowest in society's eyes. Paul uses this imagery to highlight the contrast between the world's perception and the apostles' true spiritual significance.

2. Lamentations 3:45 (KJV): "Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people." Although the Berean Standard Bible does not use the term "off-scouring" in this verse, the King James Version does. This Old Testament reference in Lamentations reflects the deep lament and sense of disgrace experienced by the people of Jerusalem following the destruction of the city. It underscores the feeling of being utterly rejected and despised among the nations.

Theological Significance:

The use of "off-scouring" in Scripture serves as a powerful reminder of the cost of discipleship and the reality of suffering for the sake of Christ. The apostles, as leaders of the early church, embraced their role as servants of Christ, even when it meant enduring scorn and rejection. This term illustrates the paradox of the Christian life, where true greatness is found in humility and service, and where the world's values are often at odds with God's kingdom.

From a theological perspective, the concept of off-scouring challenges believers to reconsider their understanding of worth and honor. It calls Christians to identify with Christ in His sufferings and to find their identity not in the approval of the world but in their relationship with God. The apostles' willingness to be regarded as off-scouring for the sake of the Gospel serves as an example of steadfast faith and commitment to God's mission.

Practical Application:

For contemporary believers, the notion of being considered "off-scouring" can be a source of encouragement when facing persecution or marginalization for their faith. It is a call to remain faithful and to find strength in the knowledge that God values what the world often despises. Christians are reminded to live counter-culturally, embracing humility and service, and to find their worth in Christ rather than in societal status or acceptance.

In summary, the biblical concept of off-scouring highlights the tension between the world's values and the values of God's kingdom. It serves as a poignant reminder of the cost of following Christ and the ultimate worth found in serving Him faithfully, regardless of worldly rejection or scorn.4067. peripsema -- offscouring
... offscouring. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: peripsema Phonetic Spelling:
(per-ip'-so-mah) Short Definition: scrapings, offscourings Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4067.htm - 6k

4027. perikatharma -- that which is cleaned off, refuse
... Phonetic Spelling: (per-ee-kath'-ar-mah) Short Definition: refuse, filth Definition:
refuse, offscouring, filth. 4027 -- properly, off-scouring (refuse); "left ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4027.htm - 7k

5501a. sechi -- offscouring
... sechi. 5501b . offscouring. Transliteration: sechi Short Definition: offscouring.
Word Origin from sachah Definition offscouring NASB Word Usage offscouring ( ...
/hebrew/5501a.htm - 5k

5501. cchiy -- offscouring
... offscouring. Transliteration: cchiy Phonetic Spelling: (seh-khee') Short Definition:
offscouring. offscouring From cachah; refuse (as swept off) -- offscouring. ...
/hebrew/5501.htm - 5k

1 Cor. Iv. 10
... "We are made the filth," not, "of your city," but, "of the world." And again, "the
off-scouring of all men;" not of you ... "The offscouring of all men, even until ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xiii 1 cor iv.htm

The Believing Thief
... to the cross, our Lord was mocked by a ribald crowd, and was dying in agony: then
was he "numbered with the transgressors," and made as the offscouring of all ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 35 1889/the believing thief.htm

The Sufferings of Christ, and the New Covenant, were Announced by ...
... you, that ye may understand. I am the off-scouring of your love. [1500]
What, then, again says the prophet? "The assembly of the ...
/.../barnabas/the epistle of barnabas /chapter vi the sufferings of christ.htm

The Glory of the Cross.
... Footnotes: [606] Again, peripsema, translated "offscouring," 1 Corinthians
4:13. [607] Comp. 1 1 Corinthians 1:18. [608] 1 Corinthians 1:20. ...
/.../the epistle of ignatius to the ephesians/chapter xviii the glory of the.htm

The Gospel Message, Good Tidings
... Though he was by many accounted and treated as the off-scouring and filth of all
things, the Galatians received him as an angel of God, and attended to him, as ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xxxi the gospel message.htm

Preface
... For it was just those Christians,' who were represented by the chief authors of
antiquity as the offscouring of all things,' who were hated and persecuted as ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bevan/three friends of god/preface.htm

Second Sunday after Trinity Exhortation to Brotherly Love.
... they who seek to serve, to benefit and save the world by declaring the good news,
must be, as Paul says, "as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/second sunday after trinity exhortation.htm

Humdrum
... "As the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, unto this day.".
We walked along the road bordered with beautiful banyan trees. ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter iii humdrum.htm

Chapter v.
... hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we
entreat: we are made as the filth of the earth, and as the offscouring of all ...
//christianbookshelf.org/paley/evidences of christianity/chapter v.htm

The Church of Christ
... Not long shall it be ere they shall come"shall come from distant lands wher'er they
rest or roam; and she who has been the offscouring of all things, whose ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the church of christ.htm

Offscouring (2 Occurrences)
...OFFSCOURING. of'-skour-ing: This strong and expressive word occurs only once in
the Old Testament and once in the New Testament. ...Offscouring (2 Occurrences). ...
/o/offscouring.htm - 8k

Off-scouring (1 Occurrence)
Off-scouring. Offscouring, Off-scouring. Offset . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(WEB ASV). Offscouring, Off-scouring. Offset . Reference Bible.
/o/off-scouring.htm - 6k

Offset (3 Occurrences)

/o/offset.htm - 8k

Officiated (1 Occurrence)

/o/officiated.htm - 6k

Intreat (13 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 4:13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world,
and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. (KJV). ...
/i/intreat.htm - 12k

Insulted (18 Occurrences)
... (WEB). 1 Corinthians 4:13 insulted, we entreat: we are become as the
offscouring of the world, the refuse of all, until now. (DBY). ...
/i/insulted.htm - 11k

Mere (56 Occurrences)
... one cursed. (See NIV). Lamentations 3:45 You have made us an off-scouring
and refuse in the midst of the peoples. (See NAS). Hosea ...
/m/mere.htm - 22k

Persecution (22 Occurrences)
... The Christians, whose lives were pure and virtuous and beneficent, were spoken of
as being the offscouring of the earth. (2) Reference in 1 Peter. ...
/p/persecution.htm - 47k

Refuse (103 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Lamentations 3:45 You have made
us an off-scouring and refuse in the midst of the peoples. ...
/r/refuse.htm - 36k

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