The term "shorter" in the context of the Bible can refer to various aspects, including the brevity of life, the shortening of days, or the reduction of time for specific events or purposes. This entry explores these themes as they appear in the Scriptures, providing insight into the biblical understanding of time and divine intervention.

Brevity of Life

The Bible frequently addresses the transient nature of human life, emphasizing its brevity and the importance of living wisely. In Psalm 39:4-5 , David prays, "Show me, O LORD, my end and the measure of my days. Let me know how fleeting my life is. You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath." This passage highlights the shortness of human existence and the need for humility and reliance on God.

Similarly, James 4:14 states, "You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." This New Testament reference reinforces the idea that life is temporary and uncertain, urging believers to trust in God's eternal plan.

Shortening of Days

The concept of God shortening days is mentioned in the context of divine intervention and mercy. In Matthew 24:22 , Jesus speaks of the end times, saying, "If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened." This passage suggests that God, in His sovereignty, may choose to shorten periods of tribulation to protect His people and fulfill His purposes.

Reduction of Time for Specific Purposes

In the Old Testament, the shortening of time can also be seen in the context of judgment and deliverance. For instance, in Isaiah 38:5 , God extends King Hezekiah's life by fifteen years, effectively altering the expected course of events. This divine intervention demonstrates God's control over time and His ability to change circumstances according to His will.

Symbolic and Prophetic Significance

The shortening of time can carry symbolic and prophetic significance, often pointing to the urgency of repentance and readiness for God's kingdom. In Revelation 12:12 , the devil's time is described as short: "Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea; with great fury the devil has come down to you, knowing he has only a short time." This passage underscores the limited duration of evil's influence and the imminent fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.

Practical Implications for Believers

For believers, the concept of "shorter" serves as a reminder to live with an eternal perspective, prioritizing spiritual growth and readiness for Christ's return. Ephesians 5:15-16 advises, "Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." This exhortation encourages Christians to make the most of their time, understanding its value in light of eternity.

In summary, the theme of "shorter" in the Bible encompasses the brevity of life, the divine shortening of days, and the symbolic significance of time in God's redemptive plan. These elements call believers to live wisely, trust in God's sovereignty, and remain vigilant in their faith.3156. Matthaios -- Matthew.
... Matthew. A shorter form of machomai; Matthaeus (ie Matthitjah), an Israelite and
a Christian -- Matthew. see GREEK machomai. (maththaion) -- 3 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3156.htm - 6k

2811. kleos -- fame
... glory. From a shorter form of kaleo; renown (as if being called) -- glory. see GREEK
kaleo. (kleos) -- 1 Occurrence. 2810, 2811. kleos. 2812 . Strong's Numbers
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2811.htm - 6k

3633. oiomai and oimai -- to suppose, expect
... suppose, think. Or (shorter) oimai (oy'-mahee) middle voice apparently from hoios;
to make like (oneself), ie Imagine (be of the opinion) -- suppose, think. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3633.htm - 6k

3165. me -- I, me, my.
... Word Origin a form of eme, qv. I, me, my. A shorter (and probably originally) from
of eme; me -- I, me, my. see GREEK eme. (me) -- 291 Occurrences. 3164, 3165 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3165.htm - 5k

2821. klesis -- a calling
... calling. From a shorter form of kaleo; an invitation (figuratively) -- calling.
see GREEK kaleo. (klesei) -- 2 Occurrences. (kleseos) -- 6 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2821.htm - 7k

7967. Shallum -- the name of a number of Isr.
... Shallum. Or (shorter) Shallum {shal-loom'}; the same as shilluwm; Shallum, the name
of fourteen Israelites -- Shallum. see HEBREW shilluwm. 7966, 7967. ...
/hebrew/7967.htm - 6k

7386. req -- empty, vain
... emptied, vain fellow, man. Or (shorter) req {rake}; from ruwq; empty; figuratively,
worthless -- emptied(-ty), vain (fellow, man). see HEBREW ruwq. ...
/hebrew/7386.htm - 6k

26. Abigayil -- "my father is joy," two Israelite women
... Abigal. Or shorter Abiygal {ab-ee-gal'}; from 'ab and giyl; father (ie Source) of
joy; Abigail or Abigal, the name of two Israelitesses -- Abigal. ...
/hebrew/26.htm - 6k

7417. Rimmown -- a Syrian god
... Or (shorter) Rimmon {rim-mone'}; or Rimmownow (1 Chronicles 6:62; 1 Chronicles
6:77) {rim-mo-no'}; the same as rimmown; Rimmon, the name of a Syrian deity ...
/hebrew/7417.htm - 6k

5208. nichoach -- soothing, tranquilizing
... sweet odor, savor. (Aramaic) or (shorter) niychoach (Aramaic) {nee-kho'-akh};
corresponding to nichowach; pleasure -- sweet odour (savour). see HEBREW nichowach ...
/hebrew/5208.htm - 6k

6100. Etsyon Geber -- a city on the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba
... Ezion-geber. (shorter) {Etsyon Geber, from atseh and geber; backbone-like of a man;
Etsjon-Geber, a place on the Red Sea -- Ezion-geber. see HEBREW atseh. ...
/hebrew/6100.htm - 6k

1010. Beth Baal Meon -- "house of Baal of (the) habitation," a ...
... From bayith and Ba'al and ma'own; house of Baal of (the) habitation of (apparently
by transposition); or (shorter) Beyth M own {bayth me-own'}; house of ...
/hebrew/1010.htm - 6k

52. Abishay -- "my father is Jesse," an Israelite name
... Abishai. Or (shorter) Abshay {ab-shah'ee}; from 'ab and shay; father of a gift
(ie Probably generous); Abishai, an Israelite -- Abishai. see HEBREW 'ab. ...
/hebrew/52.htm - 6k

459. illen -- these
... from el Definition these NASB Word Usage these (5). the, these. (Aramaic) or shorter
oillen {il-lane'}; prolonged from 'el; these -- the, these. see HEBREW 'el. ...
/hebrew/459.htm - 6k

6872. tsrowr -- a bundle, parcel, pouch, bag
... Or (shorter) tsror {tser-ore'}; from tsarar; a parcel (as packed up); also a kernel
or particle (as if a package) -- bag, X bendeth, bundle, least grain, small ...
/hebrew/6872.htm - 5k

The Westminster Shorter Catechism
The Westminster Shorter Catechism. <. The Westminster Shorter Catechism
Anonymous. Table of Contents. Title Page. Qeastion ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/the westminster shorter catechism/

Another Shorter Evening Prayer.
... THE PRACTICE OF PIETY. Another shorter Evening Prayer. O eternal God and
heavenly Father, if I were not taught and assured by the ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/another shorter evening prayer.htm

The Westminster Shorter Catechism. AD 1647.
... THE WESTMINSTER SHORTER CATECHISM. AD 1647. Catechismus Westmonasteriensis Minor.
[This ... Appendix.]. The Shorter Catechism. Catechismus Minor. ...
/.../the westminster shorter catechism a d.htm

We Measure Longer Events by Shorter in Time.
... Chapter XXVI."We Measure Longer Events by Shorter in Time. ... Or do we by a shorter
time measure a longer, as by the space of a cubit the space of a crossbeam? ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter xxvi we measure longer events.htm

The Westminster Shorter Catechism
The Westminster Shorter Catechism. <. The Westminster Shorter Catechism
Anonymous. Title Page. The Westminster Shorter Catechism Anon. ...
/.../anonymous/the westminster shorter catechism/title page.htm

The First Epistle to the Thessalonians the Shorter Epistles ...
... Paul's epistles... Chapter XV."The First Epistle to the Thessalonians The
Shorter Epistles Pungent in Sense and Very Valuable. St. ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xv the first epistle to.htm

The Testament of Abraham. Introduction.
... Paris ms. written 1315, and the principal ms. of the shorter recension
(also in Paris) belongs to the fifteenth century. There are ...
/.../unknown/the testament of abraham/the testament of abraham introduction.htm

The Westminster Catechisms.
... The Shorter Catechism appeared under the same title (except Shorter for Larger)
a little later [after Nov.25, 1647], by order of Parliament. ...
/.../ 96 the westminster catechisms.htm

Introductory Note to the Epistles of Ignatius
... It is a great thing to present them in a single volume with the shorter and longer
Epistles duly compared, and with the Curetonian version besides. ...
/.../the epistle of ignatius to the ephesians/introductory note to the epistles.htm

The Westminster Standards in America.
... The most popular is the Shorter Catechism, which has undergone no change except
a very slight one among the Cumberland Presbyterians. [1552] ...
/.../ 98 the westminster standards.htm

Shorter (4 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Shorter (4 Occurrences). Exodus 13:17 It happened,
when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God didn't ...
/s/shorter.htm - 7k

Luke (4 Occurrences)
... Blass, Philology of the Gospels (1898), has advanced theory of two recensions of
this Gospel (a longer and a shorter), such as he holds to be true of Acts. ...
/l/luke.htm - 55k

Narrower (3 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 28:20 For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and
the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it. (KJV ASV WBS YLT). ...
/n/narrower.htm - 7k

Godhead (5 Occurrences)
... the unity of this Godhead, there be three persons" (compare the Irish Articles of
1615, and the Westminster Confession, II, 3); Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q ...
/g/godhead.htm - 22k

Cubit (51 Occurrences)
... The ordinary cubit of commerce was shorter, and has been variously estimated at
between 16 and 18 or more inches, but the evidence of the Siloam inscription ...
/c/cubit.htm - 26k

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

Apostles'
... The creed exists in two forms-a shorter and a longer; the former, known as the Old
Roman Form, going back certainly as early as the middle of the 2nd century ...
/a/apostles'.htm - 20k

Creed
... The creed exists in two forms-a shorter and a longer; the former, known as the Old
Roman Form, going back certainly as early as the middle of the 2nd century ...
/c/creed.htm - 43k

Shortened (11 Occurrences)

/s/shortened.htm - 9k

Punishment (417 Occurrences)
... in this article that Scripture teaches the survival of the soul after death, the
reality of retribution and of judgment to come, and a shorter or longer period ...
/p/punishment.htm - 62k

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