The term "pluckest" is an archaic form of the verb "pluck," which means to pull or remove something with a sudden force. In the context of the Bible, "pluckest" is often used to describe God's actions or the actions of individuals in relation to divine intervention, judgment, or deliverance. The term is found in older translations of the Bible, such as the King James Version, but is less common in modern translations like the Berean Standard Bible .

Biblical Usage and Context

1. Divine Deliverance and Protection: The concept of plucking is frequently associated with God's deliverance of His people from danger or oppression. In Psalm 91:3 , the psalmist declares, "Surely He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly plague." While the BSB does not use the term "pluckest," the imagery of being rescued or delivered is consistent with the idea of being plucked from harm.

2. Judgment and Removal: The act of plucking can also signify God's judgment, where He removes or uproots nations or individuals due to their disobedience or sin. In Jeremiah 12:14-17, God speaks of plucking up the wicked nations that surround Israel, illustrating His sovereign power to judge and remove those who oppose His will.

3. Moral and Spiritual Lessons: The metaphor of plucking is used to convey moral and spiritual lessons. In Matthew 5:29 , Jesus teaches, "If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away." While the BSB uses "gouge" instead of "pluck," the underlying message is the same: the importance of removing anything from one's life that leads to sin, emphasizing the radical commitment required to follow Christ.

4. Imagery of Harvest and Fruitfulness: The act of plucking is also associated with harvest and fruitfulness, symbolizing the gathering of what is ripe and ready. In John 15:2 , Jesus says, "He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes to make it even more fruitful." The imagery here reflects the divine care and cultivation of believers to produce spiritual fruit.

Theological Implications

The use of "pluckest" and its related imagery in Scripture underscores several key theological themes:

· Sovereignty of God: God's ability to pluck or remove highlights His sovereign control over creation and history. He is depicted as the ultimate authority who can deliver, judge, and cultivate according to His divine purposes.

· Divine Protection and Deliverance: The imagery of being plucked from danger reassures believers of God's protective care and His power to save them from spiritual and physical threats.

· Call to Holiness: The metaphor of plucking out sinful influences serves as a powerful call to holiness and the necessity of removing anything that hinders one's relationship with God.

· Fruitfulness and Judgment: The dual imagery of plucking in terms of harvest and judgment emphasizes the importance of bearing spiritual fruit and the consequences of failing to do so.

In summary, while the term "pluckest" may not appear in modern translations like the Berean Standard Bible, its thematic presence is evident throughout Scripture, illustrating God's active role in the lives of His people and His creation.

There Remains the Pleasure of These Eyes of My Flesh...
... And I, though I speak and see this, entangle my steps with these outward beauties;
but Thou pluckest me out, O Lord, Thou pluckest me out; because Thy loving ...
/.../the confessions of saint augustine/chapter xxxiv there remains the.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xix. 17, "If Thou Wouldest Enter ...
... evil"? Thou pluckest up out of thy field the root of thorns, and wilt thou
not pluck up out of thy heart the root of evil desires? ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xxxv on the words.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke x. 2, "The Harvest Truly is ...
... By all means when thou seest any such thing as this and art hungry, be careful as
thou pluckest it, lest when thou puttest forth thy hand to the grape, thou be ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon li on the words.htm

Pluckest (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Pluckest (1 Occurrence). Ezekiel 23:34 And thou
hast drunk it, and hast drained 'it', And its earthen ware ...
/p/pluckest.htm - 6k

Ware (6 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 23:34 And thou hast drunk it, and hast drained 'it', And its earthen ware
thou dost gnaw, And thine own breasts thou pluckest off, For I have spoken ...
/w/ware.htm - 8k

Plucked-out (1 Occurrence)
Plucked-out. Plucked, Plucked-out. Pluckest . Multi-Version Concordance ... (See
NAS). Plucked, Plucked-out. Pluckest . Reference Bible.
/p/plucked-out.htm - 6k

Plucketh (2 Occurrences)

/p/plucketh.htm - 6k

Earthen (19 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 23:34 And thou hast drunk it, and hast drained 'it', And its earthen ware
thou dost gnaw, And thine own breasts thou pluckest off, For I have spoken ...
/e/earthen.htm - 13k

Drained (38 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 23:34 And thou hast drunk it, and hast drained 'it', And its earthen ware
thou dost gnaw, And thine own breasts thou pluckest off, For I have spoken ...
/d/drained.htm - 18k

Drunk (84 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 23:34 And thou hast drunk it, and hast drained 'it', And its earthen ware
thou dost gnaw, And thine own breasts thou pluckest off, For I have spoken ...
/d/drunk.htm - 34k

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