The concept of "shorten" in the Bible often relates to the idea of reducing time or length, particularly in the context of divine intervention or judgment. This term is significant in understanding God's sovereignty and mercy, as well as His judgment and the fulfillment of His plans.

Biblical References:

1. Matthew 24:22 : "If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened." In this passage, Jesus speaks about the end times, indicating that the period of tribulation will be shortened for the sake of the elect. This demonstrates God's mercy and His protective care over His chosen people, ensuring their endurance through difficult times.

2. Mark 13:20 : "If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, He has shortened them." Similar to Matthew 24:22, this verse emphasizes God's intervention in human history to preserve His people. The shortening of days is an act of divine grace, highlighting God's control over time and events.

3. Psalm 89:45 : "You have cut short the days of his youth; You have covered him with shame." This verse, part of a lament, reflects on the brevity of life and the consequences of divine judgment. The psalmist acknowledges that God has the power to shorten life as a form of discipline or judgment, reminding believers of the importance of living righteously.

4. Isaiah 38:10 : "I said, 'In the prime of my life I must go through the gates of Sheol; I am deprived of the remainder of my years.'" Here, King Hezekiah laments the prospect of his life being shortened due to illness. This passage illustrates human vulnerability and the belief that God holds the power over life and death, with the ability to extend or shorten life according to His will.

Theological Implications:

The concept of shortening, particularly in the context of time, underscores God's omnipotence and His active role in the unfolding of history. It serves as a reminder of His ultimate authority over creation and His ability to alter the course of events for His purposes. The shortening of days in eschatological contexts reassures believers of God's commitment to their salvation and His control over the end times.

Moreover, the idea of life being shortened as a result of sin or divine judgment calls believers to a life of repentance and obedience. It highlights the transient nature of human existence and the need to align one's life with God's will.

In summary, the biblical theme of "shorten" reflects God's sovereignty, mercy, and justice, offering both comfort and a call to righteousness for His people.1. (v.) To make short or shorter in measure, extent, or time; as, to shorten distance; to shorten a road; to shorten days of calamity.

2. (v.) To reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to lessen; to abridge; to curtail; to contract; as, to shorten work, an allowance of food, etc.

3. (v.) To make deficient (as to); to deprive; -- with of.

4. (v.) To make short or friable, as pastry, with butter, lard, pot liquor, or the like.

5. (v. i.) To become short or shorter; as, the day shortens in northern latitudes from June to December; a metallic rod shortens by cold.

SHORTEN

shor'-t'-n: The Hebrew word qatsar and the Greek koloboo literally indicate abbreviation of time or space (Psalm 89:45 Proverbs 10:27 Ezekiel 42:5); figuratively they point to limitation of power or of suffering (Numbers 11:23 Isaiah 50:2; Isaiah 59:1 Matthew 24:22 Mark 13:20).

2856. koloboo -- to curtail
... to curtail. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: koloboo Phonetic Spelling:
(kol-ob-o'-o) Short Definition: I cut short, shorten Definition: (lit: I maim ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2856.htm - 6k

4958. sustello -- to draw together, hence wrap up
... to draw together, hence wrap up. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sustello
Phonetic Spelling: (soos-tel'-lo) Short Definition: I shorten, swathe Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4958.htm - 6k

A Present Religion
... And are we not all of us accustomed, when we think a good thing is at a distance,
to try if we can shorten the time between us and it. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/a present religion.htm

Jesus the Resurrection and Life.
... day?" That is to say: Has not every man his allotted time to work, his day of light,
in which he can walk and work, and which no danger nor calamity can shorten ...
/.../xxiii jesus the resurrection and.htm

"Keep Step. "
... all form in line, close ranks, and move out to a world conquest, and"keep step."
That command of His will make a winning force so great as to shorten up the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks with world winners/keep step.htm

Letter vii. --A Holy Community.
... Impressed by their great austerities I asked them one day if such a hard
life did not affect their health and shorten their lives. ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/letter vii a holy community.htm

A Preservative against Unsettled Notions, and Want of Principles ...
... A good man whose goodness shortens his life, and bad man whose iniquity lengthens
his life, or at least is not excessive enough to shorten the thread of it. ...
/.../a preservative against unsettled notions.htm

Volume iii. From the Year 1816 to the Year 1828.
... this intention, without such an abridgment as would either compel me to omit some
important transactions and edifying incidents, or so to shorten them as to ...
/.../volume iii from the year.htm

Preface
... men, which our amiable and condescending religion teaches us; and I have been
particularly obliged to my worthy patron for what he hath done to shorten some of ...
/.../doddridge/the rise and progress of religion in the soul/preface.htm

Thy Rod and Thy Staff they Comfort Me.
... But although we know the source of our sorrows and feel the guilt of our sins, this
does not make our burden lighter or shorten the path of our pilgrimage. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/callan/the shepherd of my soul/viii thy rod and thy.htm

Innocent iii
... He showed his power of self-control at once by doing nothing to shorten the canonical
time before his consecration as priest and bishop; while the magnificence ...
/.../medley/the church and the empire/chapter ix innocent iii.htm

The Big Road
... The journey from Taiyueanfu to Hwochow is accomplished in five stages, and nothing
will induce the carter to shorten or change them, though hours may have been ...
/.../cable/the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter ii the big road.htm

Shorten (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (v.) To make short or shorter in measure, extent, or time; as, to shorten
distance; to shorten a road; to shorten days of calamity. ...
/s/shorten.htm - 8k

Upset (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To set up; to put upright. 2. (vt) To thicken
and shorten, as a heated piece of iron, by hammering on the end. ...
/u/upset.htm - 9k

Tuck (3 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To draw up; to shorten; to fold under; to press into a narrower compass;
as, to tuck the bedclothes in; to tuck up one's sleeves. ...
/t/tuck.htm - 8k

Contract (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) To draw together or nearer; to reduce to a less compass; to shorten,
narrow, or lessen; as, to contract one's sphere of action. ...
/c/contract.htm - 8k

Shortened (11 Occurrences)

/s/shortened.htm - 9k

Choose (116 Occurrences)
... Mark 13:20 and if the Lord did not shorten the days, no flesh had been saved; but
because of the chosen, whom He did choose to Himself, He did shorten the days ...
/c/choose.htm - 54k

Quicken (16 Occurrences)
... 3. (v.) To shorten the radius of (a curve); to make (a curve) sharper; as, to
quicken the sheer, that is, to make its curve more pronounced. ...
/q/quicken.htm - 13k

Leg (24 Occurrences)
... We know from Roman and Greek authors that this was done as a coup de grace to
shorten the miseries of criminals condemned to die on the cross. ...
/l/leg.htm - 19k

Retract (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To take back; as to retract a statement; to draw
up or shorten; as, the cat can retract its claws; to retract a muscle. ...
/r/retract.htm - 7k

Mown (2 Occurrences)
... The term "mower" (qatsar, "to dock off," "shorten") in Psalm 129:7 the King James
Version is rendered "reaper" in the Revised Version (British and American ...
/m/mown.htm - 8k

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