Definition and Context:
The term "roving" generally refers to wandering or moving about without a fixed destination or purpose. In biblical contexts, roving can be associated with the idea of restlessness, lack of commitment, or a departure from a set path or purpose. This concept can be both physical, as in the movement from place to place, and metaphorical, as in the wandering of the heart or mind away from God.

Biblical References and Themes:

1. Physical Roving:
The Bible often depicts physical roving in the context of nomadic lifestyles or journeys. The Israelites, for example, roved through the wilderness for forty years after their exodus from Egypt. This period of wandering was a time of testing and reliance on God's provision. In Numbers 14:33 , it is stated, "Your children will be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years and bear the brunt of your unfaithfulness until your bodies lie scattered in the wilderness."

2. Spiritual Roving:
Spiritual roving is frequently addressed in the Scriptures as a metaphor for straying from God's commandments and pursuing idolatry or sinful desires. The prophets often called the people of Israel to return to the Lord and abandon their roving ways. In Jeremiah 14:10 , the Lord says, "This is what the LORD says about this people: They greatly love to wander; they do not restrain their feet. So the LORD does not accept them; He will now remember their iniquity and punish their sins."

3. Moral and Ethical Implications:
Roving can also imply a lack of moral and ethical stability. The book of Proverbs frequently warns against the dangers of a roving heart, which can lead to folly and destruction. Proverbs 21:16 states, "The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead." This highlights the peril of departing from wisdom and righteousness.

4. Contrast with Stability in God:
The Bible contrasts roving with the stability and security found in a relationship with God. Psalm 23:1-3 illustrates this beautifully: "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in paths of righteousness for the sake of His name." Here, the imagery of a shepherd guiding his sheep underscores the peace and direction found in following God.

5. New Testament Perspective:
In the New Testament, the concept of roving can be seen in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). The younger son roves away from his father's house, squandering his inheritance in a distant land. His eventual return and reconciliation with his father symbolize repentance and the restoration of a right relationship with God.

Conclusion:
While the Bible acknowledges the human tendency to rove, both physically and spiritually, it consistently calls believers to find their rest and direction in God. Through faith and obedience, one can overcome the restlessness of roving and experience the peace and fulfillment that come from a steadfast walk with the Lord.1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Rove.

2. (n.) The operation of forming the rove, or slightly twisted sliver or roll of wool or cotton, by means of a machine for the purpose, called a roving frame, or roving machine.

3. (n.) A roll or sliver of wool or cotton drawn out and slightly twisted; a rove. See Rove.

4. (n.) The act of one who roves or wanders.

4108. planos -- wandering, leading astray (adjective), a deceiver ...
... deceiver, seducer. Of uncertain affinity; roving (as a tramp), ie (by implication)
an impostor or misleader; --deceiver, seducing. (planoi) -- 2 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4108.htm - 7k719. Arvad -- a city of Phoenicia
... Arvad. Probably from ruwd; a refuge for the roving; Arvad, an island-city of Palestine
-- Arvad. see HEBREW ruwd. 718, 719. Arvad. 720 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/719.htm - 6k

5479. Sotay -- an Israelite
... NASB Word Usage Sotai (2). Sotai. From suwt; roving; Sotai, one of the Nethinim --
Sotai. see HEBREW suwt. 5478, 5479. Sotay. 5480 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5479.htm - 6k

5503. sachar -- to go around or about, travel about
... root Definition to go around or about, travel about NASB Word Usage commercial
(1), customer (3), customers (2), merchant (1), merchants (6), roving about (1 ...
/hebrew/5503.htm - 6k

A Question on the Roving Tendency of the Mind and the Attacks of ...
... II. Second Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter VII. A question on the roving
tendency of the mind and the attacks of spiritual wickedness. ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter vii a question on.htm

The Massacre
... He felt that at Constantinople, as far as he was concerned, all was over. He would
throw himself back on the wild and roving life of his ancestors. ...
/.../chapter xxxiii the massacre.htm

The
... deed. Let not thy tongue speak unseemly words, let thine eye abstain from
sin, and from roving [431] after things unprofitable. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/the.htm

The Reconnoitering of Greece.
... to arrive for making some return. Democedes was ingenious and cunning, and
fond of roving adventure. In running away from home, he ...
/.../abbott/darius the great/chapter vi the reconnoitering of.htm

Curiosity a Temptation to Sin.
... the abundance of blessings which were given, because something was withheld, was
the sin of our first parents: in like manner, a wanton roving after things ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon v curiosity a temptation.htm

Eighth Letter
... Our mind is extremely roving; but as the will is mistress of all our faculties,
she must recall them, and carry them to GOD, as their last end. ...
/.../lawrence/the practice of the presence of god/eighth letter.htm

Choosing the Tens
... thatched hovels of the Israelites stood in the center of gardens of lentils, garlic
and lettuce, securely hedged against the inroads of hares and roving cattle ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter i choosing the tens.htm

The Third Word from the Cross
... I. The eye of Jesus, roving over the multitude whose component parts have been already
described, lighted on His mother standing at the foot of the cross. ...
/.../stalker/the trial and death of jesus christ/chapter xvi the third word.htm

Christian Names.
... "He specified the partridge by her cry, and the forest prowler by his roving, The
tree by its use, and the flower by its beauty, and everything according to ...
/.../philips/the christian home/chapter xii christian names.htm

The Remembrance of Christ
... sit down and meditate on all our Saviour did and suffered; all he is; all he has
gloriously promised to perform; and never would our roving affections stray ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the remembrance of christ.htm

Roving (4 Occurrences)
... n.) The operation of forming the rove, or slightly twisted sliver or roll of wool
or cotton, by means of a machine for the purpose, called a roving frame, or ...
/r/roving.htm - 7k

Wanton (20 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) Untrained; undisciplined; unrestrained; as, a
wanton display of disrespect; hence, loose; free; luxuriant; roving; sportive. ...
/w/wanton.htm - 13k

Penury (4 Occurrences)
... she had. (KJV WBS). Proverbs 6:11 So shall thy poverty come as a roving
plunderer, and thy penury as an armed man. (DBY). Proverbs ...
/p/penury.htm - 8k

Plunderer (4 Occurrences)
... plunderer.' (YLT). Proverbs 6:11 So shall thy poverty come as a roving
plunderer, and thy penury as an armed man. (DBY). Proverbs ...
/p/plunderer.htm - 7k

Row (26 Occurrences)

/r/row.htm - 14k

Nomad (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) One of a group that wanders from place to place in search of pasture or
game. 2. (a.) Roving; nomadic. Multi-Version Concordance Nomad (1 Occurrence). ...
/n/nomad.htm - 6k

Tent (333 Occurrences)
... of Syria or Arabia, which probably have much the same aspect today as in Abraham's
time, it is an easy matter to espy an encampment of roving Bedouin, "a nation ...
/t/tent.htm - 48k

Range (9 Occurrences)
... 18. (n.) A bolting sieve to sift meal. 19. (n.) A wandering or roving; a
going to and fro; an excursion; a ramble; an expedition. 20. ...
/r/range.htm - 13k

Rovest (1 Occurrence)

/r/rovest.htm - 6k

Random (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A roving motion; course without definite direction; want of direction, rule,
or method; hazard; chance; -- commonly used in the phrase at random, that ...
/r/random.htm - 7k

Did Jacob placing branches in front of his flock really result in the offspring being speckled and spotted? | GotQuestions.org

Roving: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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