Plight
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In the context of the Bible, the term "plight" refers to a difficult, distressing, or unfortunate situation that individuals or groups may find themselves in. The Scriptures are replete with narratives and teachings that address the human condition, including the various plights that people face due to sin, disobedience, or external circumstances.

Old Testament Examples

The plight of humanity begins with the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Their disobedience to God's command resulted in the curse of sin and death upon all creation (Genesis 3:16-19). This foundational event sets the stage for the various plights experienced by individuals and nations throughout the biblical narrative.

The Israelites frequently found themselves in dire situations due to their disobedience to God. For instance, during the period of the Judges, the Israelites repeatedly fell into idolatry, leading to oppression by surrounding nations. Judges 2:14-15 states, "So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He handed them over to raiders who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist."

The plight of Job is another profound example. Job, a righteous man, faced immense suffering and loss, including the death of his children, the loss of his wealth, and severe physical affliction. Despite his plight, Job maintained his faith in God, declaring, "Though He slays me, I will hope in Him" (Job 13:15).

New Testament Insights

In the New Testament, the plight of humanity is addressed through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul articulates the universal plight of sin in Romans 3:23 : "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." This condition of sinfulness is the ultimate plight from which humanity needs deliverance.

The parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) illustrates the plight of separation from the Father due to sin. The younger son squanders his inheritance and finds himself in a desperate situation, feeding pigs and longing to eat their food. His plight leads him to repentance and a return to his father, symbolizing the restoration available through repentance and forgiveness.

Spiritual and Moral Dimensions

The Bible consistently presents the plight of humanity as both a physical and spiritual condition. Physical plights, such as poverty, illness, and oppression, are often intertwined with spiritual realities. The prophets frequently called Israel to recognize their spiritual plight and return to God. Isaiah 1:4 laments, "Oh, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children of corruption! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him."

The teachings of Jesus emphasize the spiritual plight of humanity and the need for salvation. In John 8:34 , Jesus states, "Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin." This spiritual bondage is the ultimate plight from which Christ offers freedom through His death and resurrection.

Hope and Deliverance

While the Bible acknowledges the reality of human plight, it also offers hope and deliverance through faith in God. The psalms often express a cry for help in times of distress, coupled with trust in God's deliverance. Psalm 34:17 assures, "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles."

The ultimate resolution to the plight of sin and death is found in Jesus Christ. Romans 6:23 declares, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Through Christ, believers are promised deliverance from their spiritual plight and the hope of eternal life.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (v.) imp. & p. p. of to pledge.

2. (v.) imp. & p. p. of Pluck.

3. (v. t.) To weave; to braid; to fold; to plait.

4. (n.) A network; a plait; a fold; rarely a garment.

5. (n.) That which is exposed to risk; that which is plighted or pledged; security; a gage; a pledge.

6. (n.) Condition; state; -- risk, or exposure to danger, often being implied; as, a luckless plight.

7. (n.) To pledge; to give as a pledge for the performance of some act; as, to plight faith, honor, word; -- never applied to property or goods.

8. (n.) To promise; to engage; to betroth.

Library

The Plight of Man after the Fall
... CHAPTER VIII. The Plight of Man After the Fall. 23. With this much said,
within the necessary brevity of this kind of treatise, as ...
/.../augustine/handbook on faith hope and love/chapter viii the plight of.htm

How Aristobulus and Hyrcanus came to Pompey in Order to Argue who ...
... CHAPTER 3. How Aristobulus And Hyrcanus Came To Pompey In Order To Argue Who Ought
To Have The Kingdom; And How Upon The Plight Of Aristobulus To The Fortress ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 3 how aristobulus and.htm

The Petition
... The accumulated penalty for these offenses is great"my plight is most serious.
"The pitying gods have left me one chance for escape. ... Thou seest my plight.". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxiv the petition.htm

Who Can Tell?
... First, the miserable plight in which the men of Nineveh found themselves; secondly,
the scanty reasons which they had for hope; and then, thirdly, I shall ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/who can tell.htm

The Adventures of Achamoth Outside the Pleroma the Mission of ...
... Whilst she is in this plight, [6767] Christ descends from [6768] the heights, conducted
by Horos, in order to impart form to the abortion, out of his own ...
/.../tertullian/against the valentinians/chapter xiv the adventures of achamoth.htm

The Fainting Soul Revived
... linger a little while, then perish I must in this horrible prison of a whale's belly."
I dare say he thought that never was man in such a plight before; never ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/the fainting soul revived.htm

Rom. I. 26, 27
... not say that they are quit of punishment, but for this very reason are under a more
grievous vengeance, in that they are unconscious of the plight they are in. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily iv rom i 26.htm

Corn in Egypt
... Three things, then, this morning: first, a pitiful plight; secondly, good news;
and thirdly, excellent advice. I. First, A PITIFUL PLIGHT. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/corn in egypt.htm

The Joyous Return
... You are in an evil plight through sin; therefore return to the Lord your God. ... Dear
friends, the argument is also this: the cause of your evil plight is sin. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/the joyous return.htm

Rachel's Refuge
... Her plight was desperate. ... "I am alone"desolate, and the powers of Egypt are arrayed
against me!" Rachel was hearing her own plight given expression. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxxii rachels refuge.htm

Thesaurus
Plight (4 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) Condition; state; -- risk, or exposure to danger, often being implied; as,
a luckless plight. ... Multi-Version Concordance Plight (4 Occurrences). ...
/p/plight.htm - 8k

Willow (1 Occurrence)
... A wreath of willow to show my forsaken plight. Sir W. Scott. Hence, a lover forsaken
by, or having lost, the person beloved, is said to wear the willow. ...
/w/willow.htm - 7k

Faint (76 Occurrences)
... or obscure," and so, figuratively, "to be faint or depressed." Israel's helpless
state when harassed by Amalek (Deuteronomy 25:18) and the plight of Gideon's ...
/f/faint.htm - 38k

Forlorn (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (pp) of Forlese. 2. (vt) Deserted; abandoned; lost. 3. (vt) Destitute; helpless;
in pitiful plight; wretched; miserable; almost hopeless; desperate. ...
/f/forlorn.htm - 7k

Fasting (34 Occurrences)
... David demonstrated his grief at Abner's death (2 Samuel 3:35) by fasting, just as
the Psalmist indicated his sympathy with his adversaries' sorry plight in the ...
/f/fasting.htm - 23k

Deborah (10 Occurrences)
... 20). The nation was in a sad plight, oppressed by a mighty king, and the
tribes loth to submerge their separatist tendencies. Some ...
/d/deborah.htm - 14k

Mara (1 Occurrence)
... In the light of her bitter experience, and her present pitiable plight, the old
name has become peculiarly inappropriate. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/m/mara.htm - 7k

Pledge (55 Occurrences)
... one's watch. 8. (n.) To give or pass as a security; to guarantee; to engage;
to plight; as, to pledge one's word and honor. 9. (n ...
/p/pledge.htm - 28k

Pleroma
Pleroma. Plenty, Pleroma. Plight . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia PLEROMA.
ple-ro'-ma. See FULLNESS. Plenty, Pleroma. Plight . Reference Bible.
/p/pleroma.htm - 6k

Plighted (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Plight. Multi-Version Concordance
Plighted (1 Occurrence). Ezekiel 16:8 Now when I passed ...
/p/plighted.htm - 6k

Resources
Who was Moses in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the biblical significance of Beer Lahai Roi? | GotQuestions.org

What should we learn from the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16? | GotQuestions.org

Plight: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Plight (4 Occurrences)

Exodus 5:19
The officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble, when it was said, "You shall not diminish anything from your daily quota of bricks!"
(See RSV)

2 Kings 7:13
One of his servants answered, "Please let some take five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are left in it. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are consumed. Let us send and see."
(See NIV)

Psalms 59:4
I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me. Rise up, behold, and help me!
(See NIV)

Psalms 107:26
They mount up to the sky; they go down again to the depths. Their soul melts away because of trouble.
(See RSV)

Subtopics

Plight

Related Terms

Plight (4 Occurrences)

Plot (53 Occurrences)

Songs (100 Occurrences)

Song (207 Occurrences)

Pleroma
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