The term "raze" refers to the act of completely destroying or demolishing a structure or city, often to the ground. In biblical contexts, razing is frequently associated with divine judgment or military conquest, where cities or strongholds are utterly destroyed as a demonstration of God's power or as a consequence of sin and rebellion.

Biblical Instances of Razing

1. Jericho: One of the most notable examples of razing in the Bible is the destruction of Jericho. Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites marched around the city for seven days, and on the seventh day, the walls of Jericho fell, allowing the Israelites to capture and destroy the city. This event is recorded in Joshua 6:20: "So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. When the people heard the sound of the trumpet, they raised a great shout, and the wall collapsed. Then all the people charged straight into the city and captured it."

2. Babylon: The prophetic literature of the Old Testament often speaks of the razing of cities as a form of divine judgment. Isaiah prophesies the destruction of Babylon, a city symbolic of pride and idolatry. Isaiah 13:19 states, "And Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah."

3. Jerusalem: The razing of Jerusalem is a significant event in biblical history, particularly during the Babylonian conquest. In 2 Kings 25:9-10, the destruction of the city is described: "He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building. And the whole army of the Chaldeans under the commander of the guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem."

Theological Significance

The act of razing in the Bible often serves as a physical manifestation of God's judgment against sin and disobedience. It underscores the seriousness with which God views idolatry, injustice, and rebellion. The destruction of cities like Jericho and Babylon serves as a warning to nations and individuals about the consequences of turning away from God's commandments.

Moreover, the razing of cities is sometimes followed by a promise of restoration and renewal. For instance, after the destruction of Jerusalem, the prophets also speak of a future hope and the rebuilding of the city. This dual theme of judgment and restoration is central to the biblical narrative, highlighting God's justice and mercy.

Symbolic Interpretations

In addition to its literal meaning, the concept of razing can also be understood symbolically. It represents the tearing down of spiritual strongholds and the eradication of sin in the believer's life. The Apostle Paul speaks to this in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5: "The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

Conclusion

The biblical theme of razing serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and the ultimate triumph of His purposes. Whether through the literal destruction of cities or the spiritual dismantling of sin, the act of razing is a testament to the transformative power of God's judgment and grace.(v. t.) To destroy; to demolish; to erase; to efface; to obliterate; as, to raze a building1474. edaphizo -- to raze
... to raze. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: edaphizo Phonetic Spelling:
(ed-af-id'-zo) Short Definition: I dash to the ground Definition: I dash to the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1474.htm - 6k

2506. kathairesis -- a pulling down
... razing, destroying. Cognate: 2506 (from 2507 ) -- demolition, ie taking
down (apart) to destroy, raze. See 2507 (). Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2506.htm - 6k

6209. arar -- to strip oneself
... make bare, break, raise up perhaps by clerical error for raze, utterly. A
primitive root; to bare; figuratively, to demolish -- make ...
/hebrew/6209.htm - 6k

6168. arah -- to be naked or bare
... 1), empty (1), laid bare (2), lay him open (1), leave (1), made naked (1), make
their bare (1), make yourself naked (1), poured (2), raze (2), spreading (1 ...
/hebrew/6168.htm - 6k

Psalm 137
... who in Jerus'lems day,. Ev'n unto its foundation,. Raze, raze it quite, did
say. ^8O daughter thou of Babylon,. near to destruction; ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/psalm 137.htm

Book iv. --Of Marcion's Antitheses.
... But as Christ's household"servants"o'er the earth. They should conduct a massive
war; [1542] should raze. The wicked's lofty towers, savage walls,. ...
/.../book iv of marcions antitheses.htm

In the Latter Days of the Emperor Tiberius, in the Consulship of ...
... worship of idols, and, condemning their old ways, went over to the new religion,
he, an execrable and pernicious tyrant, sprung forward to raze the heavenly ...
/.../of the manner in which the persecutors died/chap ii in the latter.htm

The End
... to burn palace, Temple, the more important houses (the poorer people would probably
be lodged in huts not worth burning), and to raze the fortifications. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the end.htm

Not Even the Most Experienced Men could Persuade Him of the Vanity ...
... We are irresistibly reminded of the words of our great poet:-- "Canst thou minister
to a mind diseased; Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow; Raze out the ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/chapter iii not even the most.htm

"For as Many as are Led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of ...
... of legal terror, do not despair for that, do not think that such a thing could not
befall a child of God, and from that ground do not raze former foundations ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxxvii for as many.htm

Of the Scriptures
... on, though it appear very solid, and the soul be settled and fixed upon it, yet
a day will come that will unsettle that soul and raze that foundation. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture v of the scriptures.htm

The Life of Mr. Alexander Henderson.
... the covenant), commissioner Middleton, some time in the month of June or July 1662,
stooped so low as to procure an order of parliament, to raze and demolish ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr alexander.htm

On the Return of Flavian the Bishop, and the Reconciliation of the ...
... crimes! For if you pull down, and overturn, and raze the city, you will be
doing those very things which they have long been desiring. ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily xxi on the return.htm

Providential Guidance
... an attempt, which he assured him would rouse the foreigners in other places to come
with armed forces to avenge the death of their countrymen and raze the city ...
/.../taylor/a retrospect/chapter xiv providential guidance.htm

Raze (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To destroy; to demolish; to erase; to efface;
to obliterate; as, to raze a building. ...Raze (1 Occurrence). ...
/r/raze.htm - 6k

Foundation (82 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS RSV NIV). Psalms 137:7 Remember, Yahweh, against the
children of Edom, the day of Jerusalem; who said, "Raze it! ...
/f/foundation.htm - 36k

Rase (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (vt) To rub along the surface of; to graze. 2. (vt) To rub or scratch out; to
erase. 3. (vt) To level with the ground; to overthrow; to destroy; to raze. ...
/r/rase.htm - 7k

Razed (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp. & pp) of Raze. 2. (a.) Slashed or striped
in patterns. Multi-Version Concordance Razed (3 Occurrences). ...
/r/razed.htm - 7k

Rays (5 Occurrences)

/r/rays.htm - 7k

Race (36 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To raze. 2. (n.) A root. 3. (n.) The
descendants of a common ancestor; a family, tribe, people ...
/r/race.htm - 19k

Demolish (16 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To pull down; to raze; to destroy the fabric of;
to pull to pieces; to ruin; as, to demolish an edifice, or a wall. ...
/d/demolish.htm - 11k

Bacchus
... I, in conducting the war against Judas Maceabacus, threatened the priests that,
unless they delivered Judas up as a prisoner, "he would raze the temple of God ...
/b/bacchus.htm - 12k

Edom (108 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Psalms 137:7 Remember, Yahweh, against
the children of Edom, the day of Jerusalem; who said, "Raze it! ...
/e/edom.htm - 53k

Raze: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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