Topical Bible: Severe

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Topical Encyclopedia

The term "severe" in the biblical context often refers to the intensity or seriousness of God's actions, judgments, or the circumstances faced by individuals. It is used to describe the gravity of situations that demand a response or highlight the righteousness and justice of God.

Divine Severity

The severity of God is a theme that underscores His holiness and justice. In Romans 11:22, the Apostle Paul writes, "Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in His kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off." This passage illustrates the dual nature of God's dealings with humanity—His kindness towards those who remain faithful and His severity towards those who reject Him.

Judgment and Discipline

God's severity is often manifested in His judgments. The Old Testament provides numerous examples where God's severe actions serve as a means of discipline and correction. In the account of the Flood (Genesis 6-9), God's severe judgment through the deluge was a response to the pervasive wickedness of humanity. Similarly, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) exemplifies God's severe judgment against sin.

The severity of God is also evident in His dealings with Israel. In Deuteronomy 28, God outlines the blessings for obedience and the severe curses for disobedience. These severe consequences were intended to lead the people back to righteousness and covenant faithfulness.

Human Experience of Severity

The Bible also records instances where individuals experience severe trials and tribulations. Job's account is a profound example of enduring severe suffering while maintaining faith in God. Job 1:21-22 states, "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD." Despite the severity of his trials, Job's response reflects a deep trust in God's sovereignty.

Severe Warnings

The New Testament contains severe warnings about the consequences of rejecting the Gospel. Hebrews 10:26-27 warns, "If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries." Such warnings serve to remind believers of the seriousness of apostasy and the importance of perseverance in faith.

Severe Mercy

Interestingly, God's severity can also be an expression of His mercy. Severe actions may be necessary to bring about repentance and restoration. In the book of Jonah, the severe storm that threatens the ship is a means by which God redirects Jonah to fulfill his prophetic mission (Jonah 1). This severity ultimately leads to the repentance of the Ninevites and their deliverance from impending judgment.

In summary, the concept of severity in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing God's righteous judgment, the trials faced by individuals, and the serious warnings given to humanity. It serves as a reminder of the holiness of God and the serious nature of sin, while also pointing to the possibility of redemption and restoration through repentance and faith.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (superl.) Serious in feeling or manner; sedate; grave; austere; not light, lively, or cheerful.

2. (superl.) Very strict in judgment, discipline, or government; harsh; not mild or indulgent; rigorous; as, severe criticism; severe punishment.

3. (superl.) Rigidly methodical, or adherent to rule or principle; exactly conformed to a standard; not allowing or employing unnecessary ornament, amplification, etc.; strict; -- said of style, argument, etc.

4. (superl.) Sharp; afflictive; distressing; violent; extreme; as, severe pain, anguish, fortune; severe cold.

5. (superl.) Difficult to be endured; exact; critical; rigorous; as, a severe test.

Greek

840. austeros -- harsh, severe
... harsh, severe. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: austeros Phonetic Spelling:
(ow-stay-ros') Short Definition: grim, severe, strict, exacting Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/840.htm - 6k

5604. odin -- a birth pang
... a birth pang. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: odin Phonetic Spelling:
(o-deen') Short Definition: the pain of childbirth, severe agony Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5604.htm - 7k

857. apheidia -- unsparing treatment
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: apheidia Phonetic Spelling:
(af-i-dee'-ah) Short Definition: severity Definition: severity, severe treatment. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/857.htm - 7k

3356. metriopatheo -- to hold one's emotions in restraint
... controlled "). 3356 ("feel with divinely-measured intensity") expresses
(empathy) which is not too severe or too tolerant. 3356 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3356.htm - 7k

4642. skleros -- hard, rough
... fierce, hard. From the base of skelos; dry, ie Hard or tough (figuratively, harsh,
severe) -- fierce, hard. see GREEK skelos. (skleron) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4642.htm - 6k

5005. talaiporos -- distressed, miserable
... J. Thayer) -- properly, (beaten-down) from continued strain, leaving a person literally
full of (deep misery) -- describing a person with severe side-effects ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5005.htm - 7k

3173. megas -- great
... 8), larger (2), larger ones (1), long time (1), loud (42), mighty (1), more important
(2), older (1), one greater (1), perfectly (2), severe (2), stricter (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3173.htm - 8k

1912. epibareo -- to put a burden on
... From epi and bareo; to be heavy upon, ie (pecuniarily) to be expensive to; figuratively,
to be severe towards -- be chargeable to, overcharge. see GREEK epi. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1912.htm - 7k

3148. mastix -- a whip, scourge
... a scourge, lash, sufferings Definition: (a) a scourge, lash, of leathern thongs
with pieces of metal sewn up in them, (b) met: severe pains (sufferings ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3148.htm - 7k

5003. talaiporeo -- to suffer hardship or distress
... Verb Transliteration: talaiporeo Phonetic Spelling: (tal-ahee-po-reh'-o) Short
Definition: I am miserable, distressed Definition: I endure severe hardship, am ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5003.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

7185. qashah -- to be hard, severe or fierce
... qashah. 7186 . to be hard, severe or fierce. Transliteration: qashah Phonetic
Spelling: (kaw-shaw') Short Definition: stiffened. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7185.htm - 6k

7186. qasheh -- hard, severe
... 7185, 7186. qasheh. 7187 . hard, severe. Transliteration: qasheh Phonetic
Spelling: (kaw-sheh') Short Definition: hard. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/7186.htm - 6k

4273. machats -- a severe wound
... 4272, 4273. machats. 4274 . a severe wound. Transliteration: machats Phonetic
Spelling: (makh'-ats) Short Definition: bruise. Word ...
/hebrew/4273.htm - 6k

3515. kabed -- heavy
... 1), difficult (2), great (4), grievous (1), heavier (1), heavy (11), huge (1), large
(4), large number (1), much (1), numerous (1), rich (1), severe (7), slow ...
/hebrew/3515.htm - 6k

2388. chazaq -- to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen
... 12), repaired (14), repairers (1), repairing (1), resist (1), resolutely (2), retain
(1), retained (1), seize (4), seized (6), seizes (2), severe (5), show ...
/hebrew/2388.htm - 8k

7451a. ra -- bad, evil
... 1), evils (1), great (1), grievous (4), harm* (1), harmful (3), man (1), miserable
(1), misfortune* (1), sad (4), selfish* (1), serious (1), severe (2), sore (2 ...
/hebrew/7451a.htm - 6k

1419. gadol -- great
... mighty (1), mighty and great (1), more* (1), much (1), nobles (1), old (1), older
(8), oldest (3), prominent (1), rich (1), screamed* (1), severe (1), spacious ...
/hebrew/1419.htm - 6k

3513. kabad -- to be heavy, weighty, or burdensome
... Or kabed {kaw-bade'}; a primitive root; to be heavy, ie In a bad sense (burdensome,
severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable; causatively ...
/hebrew/3513.htm - 7k

4605. maal -- above, upwards
... greatly (1), heaven (4), high above (1), high* (1), higher (4), highly (2), hovered*
(2), older (2), onward (2), over (4), over* (1), severe (1), successive ...
/hebrew/4605.htm - 6k

2389. chazaq -- strong, stout, mighty
... NASB Word Usage compulsion* (3), fiercest (1), hard (2), harder (1), loud (1), might
(1), mighty (20), obstinate* (1), powerful (1), severe (3), stalwart (1 ...
/hebrew/2389.htm - 6k

Library

Wesley Encounters Severe Weather
... Chapter 7. Severe Weather; Ireland; Wesley's Protest against Lawlessness cWesley
and Faith-healing Wesley Encounters Severe Weather. 1747. ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/wesley encounters severe weather.htm

He was a Strict and Severe Applier of all Things to Himself
... THE FOURTH CENTURY 55 He was a strict and severe applier of all things to
himself. He was a strict and severe applier of all things ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/traherne/centuries of meditations/55 he was a strict.htm

A Hymn on Recovery from Severe Illness
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First CCIII A HYMN ON RECOVERY FROM SEVERE
ILLNESS. C. Smart. When Israel's ruler on the royal bed. ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/cciii a hymn on recovery.htm

This ChapterShows How, when God Bestows Greater Favours on the ...
... THE SIXTH MANSIONS CHAPTER I. THIS CHAPTER SHOWS HOW, WHEN GOD BESTOWS GREATER
FAVOURS ON THE SOUL, IT SUFFERS MORE SEVERE AFFLICTIONS. ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/chapter i this chapter shows.htm

Letter i. My Dear Friend, I Employed the Compelled and Most ...
... LETTERS ON THE INSPIRATION OF THE SCRIPTURES. LETTER I. My dear friend, I employed
the compelled and most unwelcome leisure of severe indisposition in? ...
/.../coleridge/confessions of an inquiring spirit etc/letter i my dear friend.htm

He Abandons the School-Room. Remarkable Meeting Near Alexandria. ...
... Mischief-making Preachers. Long and Severe Attack of Typhoid Fever. Does not Lose
Hope. ... Mischief-making Preachers. Long and Severe Attack of Typhoid Fever. ...
/.../chapter xi he abandons the.htm

God's Love for Man
... evidences have been given, the enemy of good blinded the minds of men, so that they
looked upon God with fear; they thought of Him as severe and unforgiving. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/steps to christ/chapter 1 gods love for.htm

Called to Reach a Higher Standard
... appeal. Those who desired their names entered as competitors for the prize
had first to undergo a severe preparatory training. Harmful ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 30 called to reach.htm

To Olympias. Having Risen from the Very Gates of Death I Address ...
... For the winter, which has become more than commonly severe, brought on a storm of
internal disorder even more distressing, and during the last two months I ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/to olympias having risen from.htm

The Whole of that in which we Appear Before God, Justifies Us. But ...
... which he has performed, yet he will not obtain from God, the judge, a sentence of
justification, unless He quit the tribunal of His severe justice, and place ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/article xxv v the whole.htm

Thesaurus

Severe (53 Occurrences)
... 2. (superl.) Very strict in judgment, discipline, or government; harsh; not mild
or indulgent; rigorous; as, severe criticism; severe punishment. ...
/s/severe.htm - 23k

Famine (99 Occurrences)
... Luke 15:14 When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country,
and he began to be in need. ... The famine was severe in the land of Egypt. ...
/f/famine.htm - 49k

Fever (13 Occurrences)
... These fevers are generally more severe in late summer and autumn, when the mosquitoes
are most numerous, and when there is a liability to chill, owing to the ...
/f/fever.htm - 17k

Purity (16 Occurrences)
... The minute regulations against marriage with relatives, and the severe punishments
inflicted for disregard of the restrictions (Leviticus 18 and 20), were a ...
/p/purity.htm - 30k

Smart (2 Occurrences)
... 5. (vi) Severe, pungent pain of mind; pungent grief; as, the smart of affliction. ...
9. (vi) Keen; severe; poignant; as, smart pain. 10. ...
/s/smart.htm - 8k

Hail (42 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HAIL (1). hal (baradh; chalaza): 1. Its Occurrence:
Hail usually falls in the spring or summer during severe thunder storms. ...
/h/hail.htm - 25k

Second (2060 Occurrences)
... RESUME OF EVENTS III. THE NEW SITUATION 1. The Offender 2. The False Teachers
3. The Painful Visit 4. The Severe Letter IV. HISTORICAL ...
/s/second.htm - 96k

Grind (12 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To oppress by severe exactions; to harass. ... 11. (n.) Any severe continuous
work or occupation; esp., hard and uninteresting study. 12. ...
/g/grind.htm - 11k

Gird (44 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A stroke with a rod or switch; a severe spasm; a twinge; a pang. ... 5. (vi)
To gibe; to sneer; to break a scornful jest; to utter severe sarcasms. ...
/g/gird.htm - 20k

Worst (8 Occurrences)
... moral sense. 2. (n.) That which is most bad or evil; the most severe,
pernicious, calamitous, or wicked state or degree. 3. (v.) To ...
/w/worst.htm - 8k

Resources

How can I spiritually survive a severe physical trauma? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about famine? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about Bipolar Disorder / Manic Depression? | GotQuestions.org

Severe: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Severe (53 Occurrences)

Matthew 4:24
The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them.
(See NIV)

Matthew 25:24
"But, next, the man who had the one talent in his keeping came and said, "'Sir, I knew you to be a severe man, reaping where you had not sown and garnering what you had not winnowed.
(WEY)

Matthew 28:2
Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky, and came and rolled away the stone from the door, and sat on it.
(See NAS)

Luke 4:25
But I tell you in truth that there was many a widow in Israel in the time of Elijah, when there was no rain for three years and six months and there came a severe famine over all the land;
(WEY NIV)

Luke 7:21
He immediately cured many of diseases, severe pain, and evil spirits, and to many who were blind He gave the gift of sight.
(WEY)

Luke 12:47
That servant, who knew his lord's will, and didn't prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes,
(See RSV)

Luke 15:14
When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.
(WEB WBS NAS NIV)

Luke 19:21
For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man: you take up what you did not lay down, and you reap what you did not sow.'
(WEY RSV)

Luke 19:22
"'By your own words,' he replied, 'I will judge you, you bad servant. You knew me to be a severe man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow:
(WEY RSV)

Acts 11:28
One of them named Agabus stood up, and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius.
(See NIV)

2 Corinthians 8:2
how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality.
(See RSV NIV)

2 Corinthians 13:10
For this reason I write thus while absent, that when present I may not have to act severely in the exercise of the authority which the Lord has given me for building up, and not for pulling down.
(Root in WEY RSV)

Colossians 2:1
For I would have you know in how severe a struggle I am engaged on behalf of you and the brethren in Laodicea and of all who have not known me personally,
(WEY)

1 Thessalonians 1:6
And you followed the pattern set you by us and by the Master, after you had received the Message amid severe persecution, and yet with the joy which the Holy Spirit gives,
(WEY NIV)

Hebrews 10:29
How much severer punishment, think you, will he be held to deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, has not regarded as holy that Covenant-blood with which he was set free from sin, and has insulted the Spirit from whom comes grace?
(Root in WEY WBS NAS NIV)

Revelation 11:13
and in that hour came a great earthquake, and the tenth of the city did fall, and killed in the earthquake were names of men -- seven thousands, and the rest became affrighted, and they gave glory to the God of the heaven.
(See NIV)

Revelation 16:18
There were lightnings, sounds, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men on the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty.
(See NIV)

Revelation 16:21
Great hailstones, about the weight of a talent, came down out of the sky on people. People blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, for this plague is exceedingly severe.
(WEB WEY NAS)

Genesis 12:10
There was a famine in the land. Abram went down into Egypt to live as a foreigner there, for the famine was severe in the land.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 35:16
They traveled from Bethel. There was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and Rachel travailed. She had hard labor.
(See NAS)

Genesis 35:17
When she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, "Don't be afraid, for now you will have another son."
(See NAS)

Genesis 41:31
and the plenty will not be known in the land by reason of that famine which follows; for it will be very grievous.
(See NAS NIV)

Genesis 41:56
The famine was over all the surface of the earth. Joseph opened all the store houses, and sold to the Egyptians. The famine was severe in the land of Egypt.
(WEB WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:57
All countries came into Egypt, to Joseph, to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all the earth.
(WEB YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 43:1
The famine was severe in the land.
(WEB WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 47:4
They said to Pharaoh, "We have come to live as foreigners in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants' flocks. For the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen."
(WEB WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 47:13
There was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 47:20
So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine was severe on them, and the land became Pharaoh's.
(WEB YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 9:3
behold, the hand of Yahweh is on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the herds, and on the flocks with a very grievous pestilence.
(See NAS RSV)

Exodus 9:24
So there was very severe hail, and lightning mixed with the hail, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
(WEB NAS)

Numbers 11:33
While the flesh was yet between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of Yahweh was kindled against the people, and Yahweh struck the people with a very great plague.
(See NAS NIV)

Deuteronomy 28:59
Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and severe sicknesses, and of long continuance.
(WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 20:34
And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was severe: but they knew not that evil was near them.
(WBS)

1 Samuel 5:7
When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, "The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us; for his hand is severe on us, and on Dagon our god."
(WEB DBY WBS NAS)

1 Samuel 14:52
And the war is severe against the Philistines all the days of Saul; when Saul hath seen any mighty man, and any son of valour, then he doth gather him unto himself.
(YLT NAS)

1 Samuel 31:3
And the battle was severe against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was severely wounded by the archers.
(WBS)

2 Samuel 2:17
The battle was very severe that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
(WEB DBY WBS NAS)

2 Samuel 24:4
And the word of the king is severe towards Joab, and against the heads of the force, and Joab goeth out, and the heads of the force, 'from' before the king to inspect the people, even Israel;
(YLT)

1 Kings 17:17
And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so severe that there was no breath left in him.
(DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

1 Kings 18:2
Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria.
(WEB DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 3:26
When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too severe for him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew sword, to break through to the king of Edom; but they could not.
(WEB DBY WBS)

2 Kings 25:3
on the ninth of the month -- when the famine is severe in the city, and there hath not been bread for the people of the land,
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 21:4
And the word of the king 'is' severe against Joab, and Joab goeth out, and goeth up and down in all Israel, and cometh in to Jerusalem.
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 16:12
And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceedingly severe: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.
(WBS NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 21:15
and you shall have great sickness by disease of your bowels, until your bowels fall out by reason of the sickness, day by day.
(See NAS RSV)

2 Chronicles 21:19
And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of severe diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.
(WBS)

Psalms 71:20
Thou, who hast shown me great and severe troubles, wilt revive me again, and wilt bring me again from the depths of the earth.
(WBS)

Proverbs 15:10
There is bitter punishment for him who is turned from the way; and death will be the fate of the hater of teaching.
(See RSV)

Ecclesiastes 6:2
A man to whom God gives money, wealth, and honour so that he has all his desires but God does not give him the power to have joy of it, and a strange man takes it. This is to no purpose and an evil disease.
(See NAS)

Song of Songs 8:6
Put me as a sign on your heart, as a sign on your arm; love is strong as death, and wrath bitter as the underworld: its coals are coals of fire; violent are its flames.
(See NAS)

Jeremiah 52:6
And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was severe in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.
(WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 14:21
For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four severe judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?
(WBS NAS)

Daniel 2:15
he answered Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so urgent from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
(See RSV)

Subtopics

Severe

Related Terms

Severely (48 Occurrences)

Zaanaim (1 Occurrence)

Thomas (12 Occurrences)

Regeneration (2 Occurrences)

Excommunication

Dagon (9 Occurrences)

Discontinue (1 Occurrence)

Malchus (1 Occurrence)