In biblical literature, the concept of "roots" carries significant metaphorical and theological weight, symbolizing stability, origin, and spiritual nourishment. The imagery of roots is used throughout Scripture to convey ideas about faith, growth, and the consequences of one's actions.

Old Testament References

1. Stability and Nourishment: In the Old Testament, roots often symbolize stability and the source of life. For instance, in Isaiah 37:31 , it is written, "And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah will again take root downward and bear fruit upward." Here, roots represent the foundation and sustenance necessary for growth and fruitfulness, emphasizing the restoration and resilience of God's people.

2. Judgment and Uprooting: Conversely, roots can also symbolize judgment and destruction when they are removed or withered. In Malachi 4:1 , the prophet warns, "For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day that is coming will set them ablaze, says the LORD of Hosts, not leaving them root or branch." This imagery underscores the totality of divine judgment, where the wicked are completely eradicated.

3. Righteousness and Wisdom: Proverbs 12:3 states, "A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted." Here, roots symbolize the enduring nature of righteousness, suggesting that a life grounded in godly principles is secure and unshakeable.

New Testament References

1. Faith and Spiritual Growth: In the New Testament, roots are often used to describe the depth and authenticity of one's faith. Colossians 2:6-7 exhorts believers, "Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." This passage highlights the importance of being deeply rooted in Christ to grow spiritually and remain steadfast in faith.

2. Parable of the Sower: Jesus uses the imagery of roots in the Parable of the Sower to illustrate different responses to the Gospel. In Matthew 13:20-21 , He explains, "The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away." Here, the lack of roots signifies a superficial faith that cannot withstand trials.

3. Love and Unity: Ephesians 3:17-19 speaks of being "rooted and grounded in love," emphasizing the foundational role of love in the Christian community. This rootedness in love enables believers to comprehend the vastness of Christ's love and to be filled with the fullness of God.

Theological Implications

Theologically, roots in the Bible often point to the source of one's spiritual life and strength. They serve as a metaphor for the hidden, yet vital, aspects of faith that sustain and nourish believers. A well-rooted faith is depicted as one that is deeply connected to Christ, resilient in the face of adversity, and fruitful in good works. Conversely, a lack of roots signifies vulnerability and the potential for spiritual failure.

In summary, the biblical concept of roots encompasses themes of stability, growth, judgment, and the essential nature of a deep, abiding faith in God. Through various scriptural references, roots illustrate the profound connection between one's spiritual foundation and their capacity to thrive in accordance with God's will.5429. phronimos -- practically wise, sensible
... This always roots to our ("inner outlook") which our definition of being
"shrewd," ie reflects personal -set (sight). See 5426 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5429.htm - 8k

1162. deesis -- a need, entreaty
... lack, want). [1162 () ultimately roots back to 1211 ("really") which likewise
implies a need that is and (, 1149).]. Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1162.htm - 7k

4217. potapos -- from what country?
... of what kind, of what manner. Word Origin from prim. roots and Definition
from what country? NASB Word Usage how great (1), what ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4217.htm - 6k

2198. zao -- to live
... roots ze- and zo- Definition to live NASB Word Usage alive (15), get their living
(1), holding (1), life (6), life* (1), live (53), lived (3), lives (19 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2198.htm - 9k

3134. marana tha -- (our) Lord, come!
... hand). 3134 () -- " an term derived from two roots which literally mean, ""
(perfect tense in Aramaic, emphasizing the involved). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3134.htm - 6k

993. Boanerges -- Boanerges, an epithet applied to the two sons of ...
... 993 -- an Aramaic term transliterated from two Semitic roots: ("sons")
and ("of thunder, tumult"; see Strong's OT #1123, 7285). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/993.htm - 8k

1419. dusbastaktos -- hard to be borne, oppressive
... or oppressive to carry (bear). 1419 () is very emphatic because of the roots
convey "" (" burden"). Word Origin from dus- and bastaktos ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1419.htm - 7k

5614. hosanna -- save, we pray
... or "!". [The - suffix in Hebrew expresses . 5614 () comes from two Hebrew
roots meaning, "Save !" (= "Save I pray!").]. Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5614.htm - 7k

1610. ekrizoo -- to uproot
... of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekrizoo Phonetic Spelling: (ek-rid-zo'-o) Short
Definition: I root out, root up Definition: I root out, pluck up by the roots. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1610.htm - 6k

4491. rhiza -- a root
... Word Origin a prim. word Definition a root NASB Word Usage root (16), roots (1).
root. Apparently a primary word; a "root" (literally or figuratively) -- root. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4491.htm - 6k

8327. sharash -- to deal with the roots
... 8326, 8327. sharash. 8328 . to deal with the roots. Transliteration: sharash
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-rash') Short Definition: root. ...
/hebrew/8327.htm - 6k

6132. aqar -- to be rooted up
... 6131, 6132. aqar. 6133 . to be rooted up. Transliteration: aqar Phonetic Spelling:
(ak-ar') Short Definition: roots. ... pluck up by the roots. ...
/hebrew/6132.htm - 6k

5428. nathash -- to pull or pluck up, root out
... destroy, forsake, pluck out, up, by the roots, pull up, root out up, utterly.
A primitive root; to tear away -- destroy, forsake, pluck ...
/hebrew/5428.htm - 6k

2742. charuwts -- sharp, diligent
... 2741, 2742. charuwts. 2742a . sharp, diligent. Transliteration: charuwts
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-roots') Short Definition: decision. ...
/hebrew/2742.htm - 6k

8330. shoresh -- a root
... 8329, 8330. shoresh. 8331 . a root. Transliteration: shoresh Phonetic
Spelling: (sho'-resh) Short Definition: roots. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/8330.htm - 6k

730. erez -- a cedar
... cedar tree. From 'araz; a cedar tree (from the tenacity of its roots) -- cedar
(tree). see HEBREW 'araz. 729, 730. erez. 731 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/730.htm - 6k

7095. qetseb -- a cut, shape, extremity
... Definition: form. Word Origin from qatsab Definition a cut, shape, extremity
NASB Word Usage form (2), roots (1). bottom, size. From ...
/hebrew/7095.htm - 6k

7323. ruts -- to run
... 7322, 7323. ruts. 7324 . to run. Transliteration: ruts Phonetic Spelling:
(roots) Short Definition: run. Word Origin a prim. root ...
/hebrew/7323.htm - 6k

8328. shoresh -- a root
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition a root NASB Word Usage base (1), deep
root (1), depths (1), line (1), pretext (1), root (17), roots (10), soles (1). ...
/hebrew/8328.htm - 6k

2743. Charuts -- grandfather of King Amon
... 2742d, 2743. Charuts. 2744 . grandfather of King Amon. Transliteration: Charuts
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-roots') Short Definition: Haruz. Word Origin pass. ...
/hebrew/2743.htm - 6k

Keep the Roots Watered.
... KEEP THE ROOTS WATERED. How often you admire a tree ... in the ground. But that
tree owes its beauty and its life to roots. The foliage is ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/how to live a holy life/keep the roots watered.htm

Roots
... CHAPTER VIII Roots. ... When a soul in India is held down, not by one root only,
but by a myriad roots, who is sufficient to deliver it? ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter viii roots.htm

The Two Roots of Action, Love and Cupidity; and Each Brings Forth ...
... A Treatise on the grace of christ, and on original sin, Chapter 19 [XVIII.]"The
Two Roots of Action, Love and Cupidity; And Each Brings Forth Its Own Fruit. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 19 xviii the two roots.htm

System of the Arithmeticians; Predictions through Calculations ...
... Chapter XIV."System of the Arithmeticians; Predictions Through Calculations; Numerical
Roots; Transference of These Doctrines to Letters; Examples in ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter xiv system of the arithmeticians.htm

How Faults Cannot be Cured Unless their Roots and Causes have Been ...
... Prolegomena. Chapter XVII. How faults cannot be cured unless their roots
and causes have been discovered. I thought it well to insert ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xvii how faults cannot.htm

"Ye are the Branches"
... It has to send its roots out into the soil and hunt under the ground"the roots often
extend a long way out"for nourishment, and to drink in the moisture. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/absolute surrender/ye are the branches.htm

Letter iii. True Religion a Work of Grace in the Heart; but it ...
... is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is; for he shall be
as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river ...
/.../letter iii true religion a.htm

Simon's System of a Threefold Emanation by Pairs.
... He who was begotten from the principle of that fire took six roots, and those
primary ones, of the originating principle of generation. ...
/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter vii simons system of a.htm

Christ's Prayer Answered.
... the Universe. STUMPS AND ROOTS. There are many roots, hidden roots, which
bury themselves deep in the soil of the heart. They extend ...
/.../rees/the heart-cry of jesus/chapter iv christs prayer answered.htm

The Dew and the Plants
... HOSEA THE DEW AND THE PLANTS. 'I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as
the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.6. His branches shall spread ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the dew and the plants.htm

Broom-roots (1 Occurrence)
Broom-roots. Broom-plant, Broom-roots. Broom-tree . Multi-Version
Concordance Broom-roots (1 Occurrence). Job 30:4 Those ...
/b/broom-roots.htm - 6k

Roots (31 Occurrences)
...Roots (31 Occurrences). Matthew 15:13 But he said in answer, Every plant which my
Father in heaven has not put in the earth, will be taken up by the roots. ...
/r/roots.htm - 16k

Stump (7 Occurrences)
... (See NAS RSV NIV). Isaiah 11:1 And there will come a rod out of the broken tree
of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots will give fruit. (See RSV NIV). ...
/s/stump.htm - 10k

Withereth (13 Occurrences)
... without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose
fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; (KJV). ...
/w/withereth.htm - 10k

Leaves (55 Occurrences)
... who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds;
autumn leaves without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; (WEB ASV). ...
/l/leaves.htm - 24k

Uprooted (29 Occurrences)
... shall he not pull up its roots, and cut off its fruit, that it may wither;
that all its fresh springing leaves may wither? and not ...
/u/uprooted.htm - 15k

Withered (46 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). Mark 11:20 As they passed by in the morning,
they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots. (WEB WEY ASV NAS RSV NIV). ...
/w/withered.htm - 22k

Wither (30 Occurrences)
... Job 18:16 His roots shall be dried up beneath, And above shall his branch be cut
off. ... and not by a strong arm or much people can it be raised from its roots. ...
/w/wither.htm - 15k

Pluck (41 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 7:20 then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I
have given them; and this house, which I have made holy for my name, will I ...
/p/pluck.htm - 19k

Shoots (32 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 17:6 And it springeth up, and becometh a spreading vine, humble of stature,
To turn its thin shoots toward itself, And its roots are under it, And it ...
/s/shoots.htm - 15k

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