The term "offscouring" is used in the Bible to describe something that is considered worthless, detestable, or rejected. It is often associated with the refuse or scum that is removed during the process of cleansing or purifying. In a biblical context, it conveys a sense of being despised or treated with contempt.

Biblical References:

1. 1 Corinthians 4:13 : The Apostle Paul uses the term "offscouring" to describe the way he and other apostles were treated by the world. He writes, "when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world." Here, Paul is highlighting the humility and suffering endured by the apostles for the sake of the Gospel. Despite their noble calling, they were regarded as the lowest and most despicable by society.

2. Lamentations 3:45 : In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah laments the state of Jerusalem after its destruction, saying, "You have made us scum and refuse among the nations." The use of "offscouring" here reflects the deep humiliation and disgrace experienced by the people of Judah as a result of their disobedience and subsequent judgment by God.

Theological Significance:

The concept of "offscouring" in Scripture serves as a powerful metaphor for the rejection and persecution faced by God's faithful servants. It underscores the reality that following Christ often involves enduring scorn and derision from the world. This theme is consistent with Jesus' teachings, where He warned His disciples that they would be hated by the world because of their allegiance to Him (John 15:18-19).

From a theological perspective, the idea of being considered "offscouring" can also be seen as a reflection of the believer's identification with Christ in His sufferings. Just as Christ was despised and rejected by men (Isaiah 53:3), His followers are called to bear the reproach of the cross (Hebrews 13:13). This identification with Christ in suffering is not without purpose; it serves to refine and purify the believer, drawing them closer to the likeness of their Savior.

Practical Application:

For Christians today, the notion of being "offscouring" challenges them to embrace humility and perseverance in the face of opposition. It is a reminder that the world's estimation of worth is often contrary to God's. Believers are encouraged to find their identity and value in Christ, rather than in the approval of others. The willingness to be considered "offscouring" for the sake of the Gospel is a testament to the transformative power of God's grace and the believer's commitment to living out their faith with integrity and courage.(n.) That which is scoured off; hence, refuse; rejected matter; that which is vile or despised.OFFSCOURING

of'-skour-ing: This strong and expressive word occurs only once in the Old Testament and once in the New Testament. The weeping prophet uses it as he looks upon his erstwhile fair and holy city, despoiled, defiled, derided by the profane, the enemies of God and of His people (Lamentations 3:45, cechi). The favored people, whose city lies in heaps and is patrolled by the heathen, are hailed and held up as the scrapings, the offscouring, the offal of the earth. They are humbled to earth, crushed into the dust, carried away to be the slaves of licentious idolaters. The haughty, cruel, cutting boastfulness of the victors covered Israel with contumely.

In 1 Corinthians 4:13 the greatest of the apostles reminds the prosperous and self-satisfied Corinthinns that they, the apostles, were "made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things." In such contempt were they held by the unbelieving world and by false apostles. The strange, strong word (peripsema) should remind us what it cost in former times to be a true servant of Christ.

G.H. Gerberding

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
... Noun, Neuter Transliteration: perikatharma Phonetic Spelling: (per-ee-kath'-ar-mah)
Short Definition: refuse, filth Definition: refuse, offscouring, filth. ...
//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

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 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

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

The Dark Shadow
... will find that "the fellowship of His sufferings" is a needful result of so doing,
and that to be hated of all men and to become as the offscouring of all ...
/.../bevan/three friends of god/chapter li the dark shadow.htm

An Exhortation to the People of God not to be Discouraged in their ...
... scoffed and derided; as the world hated the Lord Jesus Christ, so will it hate you:
but be not discouraged, though we are here the scorn and offscouring of all ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/an exhortation to the people.htm

Our Hope is not the Conversion of the World.
... Like their Master, they, too, were despised and rejected of men. The apostles were
everywhere spoken against and regarded as the offscouring of the earth. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/1 our hope is not.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

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

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

Offscouring: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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