The term "overthroweth" is an archaic form of the verb "overthrow," which appears in various contexts throughout the Bible, primarily in the Old Testament. It generally refers to the act of bringing down, destroying, or defeating, often in a dramatic or decisive manner. This concept is significant in biblical narratives, illustrating God's power, judgment, and the consequences of disobedience.

Divine Judgment and Overthrow

One of the most notable uses of "overthroweth" is in the context of divine judgment. The Bible frequently depicts God as the ultimate authority who overthrows nations, cities, and individuals who act in defiance of His will. This is seen in the account of Sodom and Gomorrah, where God overthrows the cities due to their wickedness. Genesis 19:29 states, "So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, He remembered Abraham, and He brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived."

Overthrow of Nations

The overthrow of nations is a recurring theme, demonstrating God's sovereignty over the affairs of the world. In the prophetic literature, God often uses the imagery of overthrow to describe the fate of nations that oppose His people or His purposes. For instance, in Jeremiah 18:7-10 , God declares, "At any time I might announce that a nation or kingdom will be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed. But if that nation I warned turns from its evil, then I will relent of the disaster I had planned to bring."

Moral and Spiritual Overthrow

Beyond physical destruction, "overthroweth" can also refer to moral and spiritual defeat. Proverbs 21:12 states, "The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin." This highlights the principle that those who live in opposition to God's righteousness will ultimately face spiritual overthrow.

Human Agents of Overthrow

While God is often the direct agent of overthrow, He sometimes uses human instruments to accomplish His purposes. The Israelites, under divine command, were used to overthrow the Canaanite nations as they entered the Promised Land. This was not merely a military conquest but a fulfillment of divine judgment against the iniquity of those nations, as seen in Deuteronomy 9:4-5 .

Overthrow in Wisdom Literature

In the wisdom literature, the concept of overthrow is used to contrast the fate of the wicked with the stability of the righteous. Proverbs 12:7 states, "The wicked are overthrown and perish, but the house of the righteous will stand." This serves as a moral teaching, emphasizing the ultimate triumph of righteousness over wickedness.

Conclusion

The term "overthroweth" encapsulates a powerful biblical theme of divine intervention and justice. Whether through direct action or through human agents, the overthrow of the wicked serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the moral order He upholds.

The Testament of Asher Concerning Two Faces of vice and virtue.
... For, having his mind set upon righteousness, and casting away maliciousness,
he straightway overthroweth the evil, and uprooteth the sin. ...
/.../the testaments of the twelve patriarchs/x the testament of asher concerning.htm

Methodists, or the Methodist Episcopal Church.
... substance of bread and wine in the supper of our Lord, cannot be proved by Holy
Writ, but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature ...
/.../hayward/the book of religions/methodists or the methodist episcopal.htm

Methodist Articles of Religion. AD 1784.
... of bread and wine in the Supper of our Lord, can not be proved by Holy Writ, but
is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature of a ...
/.../methodist articles of religion a d.htm

A Sermon Made by M. Hugh Latimer, at the Time of the Insurrection ...
... for he can give us an after-clap when we least ween; that is, suddenly return unawares
to us, and then he giveth us an after-clap that overthroweth us: this ...
/.../latimer/sermons on the card and other discourses/a sermon made by m.htm

Articles of Religion of the Reformed Episcopal Church in America. ...
... very body and blood of Christ) in the Supper of the Lord can not be proved by Holy
Writ, is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature ...
/.../articles of religion of the.htm

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
... is the greatest of evils. Sin pulled angels out of heaven, pulls men down
to hell, and overthroweth kingdoms. Who, that sees a house ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the life and death of.htm

An Account of the Organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church ...
... substance of bread and wine in the supper of the Lord, cannot be proved by holy
writ, but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature ...
/.../chapter 3 an account of.htm

The Irish Articles of Religion. AD 1615.
... of Christ, commonly called Transubstantiation, can not be proved by holy Writ; but
is repugnant to plain testimonies of the Scripture, overthroweth the nature ...
/.../the irish articles of religion.htm

A Defence of the Doctrine of Justification, by Faith in Jesus ...
... HOW WHILE HE PRETENDS TO BE A MINISTER OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, HE OVERTHROWETH
THE WHOLESOME DOCTRINE CONTAINED IN THE 10TH, 11TH, AND 13TH, OF THE THIRTY ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a defence of the doctrine.htm

Light for them that Sit in Darkness;
... is, take away sin, his [the devil's] work, that he might destroy the works of the
devil; for sin is the great engine of hell, by which he overthroweth all that ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/light for them that sit.htm

Overthroweth (7 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Overthroweth (7 Occurrences). ... (YLT). Job 12:19 He leadeth
princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty. (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT). ...
/o/overthroweth.htm - 8k

Overthrows (6 Occurrences)
... (WEB RSV NIV). Proverbs 22:12 The eyes of the LORD preserve him that hath knowledge,
but He overthroweth the words of the faithless man. (See NAS RSV). ...
/o/overthrows.htm - 7k

Overthrowing (10 Occurrences)

/o/overthrowing.htm - 9k

Overthrowest (1 Occurrence)

/o/overthrowest.htm - 6k

Guardeth (4 Occurrences)
... (ASV DBY JPS). Proverbs 13:6 Righteousness guardeth him that is upright in
the way; But wickedness overthroweth the sinner. (ASV JPS). ...
/g/guardeth.htm - 7k

Transgressor (9 Occurrences)
... upright. (KJV WBS). Proverbs 22:12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge,
and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor. (KJV WBS). ...
/t/transgressor.htm - 9k

Treacherous (34 Occurrences)
... (WEB ASV DBY YLT NAS). Proverbs 22:12 The eyes of Jehovah preserve 'him that hath'
knowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man. ...
/t/treacherous.htm - 16k

Throweth (4 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Proverbs 29:4 The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth
gifts overthroweth it. (Root in KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT). ...
/t/throweth.htm - 7k

Exacts (3 Occurrences)
... deserves. (WEB RSV). Proverbs 29:4 The king by justice establisheth the land;
but he that exacteth gifts overthroweth it. (See RSV). ...
/e/exacts.htm - 7k

Establisheth (16 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Proverbs 29:4 The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that
receiveth gifts overthroweth it. (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT). ...
/e/establisheth.htm - 11k

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