In the context of the Bible, the term "shreds" is not directly mentioned in most translations, including the Berean Standard Bible . However, the concept of tearing or ripping into shreds can be inferred from various passages that describe destruction, judgment, or the tearing of garments as a sign of mourning or repentance.

Symbolism of Tearing

The act of tearing or shredding is often symbolic in the Scriptures. It can represent deep sorrow, repentance, or the judgment of God. For instance, the tearing of garments is a common biblical expression of grief or distress. In Genesis 37:29, when Reuben returned to the pit and found Joseph gone, he tore his clothes in anguish. Similarly, in 2 Samuel 13:19, Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the ornate robe she was wearing, a sign of her deep distress and mourning.

Judgment and Destruction

The imagery of something being torn to shreds can also be associated with divine judgment. In Isaiah 64:6, the prophet laments the sinful state of humanity, saying, "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind, our sins sweep us away." While the term "shreds" is not used, the imagery of being swept away or destroyed is akin to being torn apart.

Repentance and Humility

The tearing of garments as a sign of repentance is seen in the account of King Josiah. In 2 Kings 22:11, upon hearing the words of the Book of the Law, Josiah tore his clothes, demonstrating his humility and repentance before God. This act of tearing is a physical manifestation of an inner contrition and a desire to return to God's ways.

Metaphorical Use

In a metaphorical sense, the concept of being torn to shreds can be applied to the spiritual state of individuals or nations that have turned away from God. The prophets often spoke of the consequences of sin and the resulting judgment that would come upon the people. In Hosea 13:8, God describes His judgment on Israel, saying, "Like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will attack them and rip them open." This vivid imagery conveys the severity of divine judgment.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the tearing of the temple veil at the moment of Jesus' death is a significant event. Matthew 27:51 states, "At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split." This tearing signifies the end of the old covenant and the establishment of a new covenant through Christ, granting believers direct access to God.

Conclusion

While the specific term "shreds" may not appear frequently in biblical texts, the concept of tearing or ripping is rich with symbolic meaning. It serves as a powerful representation of sorrow, repentance, judgment, and the transformative work of God in the lives of His people.

Profanations of Good and Truth
... becomes like a brute animal, continually delirious, and carried hither and thither
by fantasy like a dragon in the air, and in his fantasy shreds and specks ...
/.../spiritual life and the word of god/part thirdprofanations of good and.htm

"Jesus or Barabbas. "
... Ye see him decked with purple shreds, They laugh and jeer and shake their heads,
Is this the royal robe of state? Ah! what a man! Where is the trace of deity? ...
/.../stead/king of the jews/chapter viii jesus or barabbas.htm

Greek-Amerikan-Christian-Association
... holiest sacreds, pure maidens slain after being used in the most beastly way, mothers
put to death after their children were torn off into shreds of flesh ...
/.../chapter x greek-amerikan-christian-association.htm

Going to the Father
... lead us really to examine ourselves, everything is indefinite, hazy, unsatisfactory,
and all that we have for the Christian life are the shreds perhaps of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/drummond/the ideal life/going to the father.htm

Discourse viii. The Help of Religion.
... alive to all objects within their sphere; but their eyes are close to the surface,
and their experience comes in shocks of sensation, and shreds of perception. ...
/.../chapin/humanity in the city/discourse viii the help of.htm

The Groups Round the Cross
... city to look down at the spectacle; and, within a yard of His sacred Person, the
soldiers, in absolute apathy, gambling for these poor shreds of clothing! ...
/.../stalker/the trial and death of jesus christ/chapter xiii the groups round.htm

Goes to Housekeeping. Discussions with Mr. Maddox. Attends Meeting ...
... now let us test that." Then he would very calmly and pleasantly pick the
thing all to pieces, till I could see nothing but shreds. ...
/.../chapter vi goes to housekeeping.htm

Tauler and Mysticism
... Impulse and Reason, Freedom and Control -. So men, unraveling God's harmonious whole,.
Rend in a thousand shreds this life of ours. Vain labour! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tauler/the inner way/iv tauler and mysticism.htm

Driven Forth
... of murder had been frustrated; it might happen that truth and righteousness would
still triumph, and so their dark webs of lies and bribery be torn to shreds. ...
/.../chapter li driven forth.htm

S. Theophanes
... occur in the Menaea: hence tautology, repeated till it becomes almost sickening;
the merest commonplace, again and again decked in the tawdry shreds of tragic ...
//christianbookshelf.org/neale/hymns of the eastern church/s theophanes.htm

Shreds (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Shreds (2 Occurrences). Jeremiah 38:11 And
Ebed-melech took the men under his order, and went into the ...
/s/shreds.htm - 7k

Fray (4 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To rub; to wear off, or wear into shreds, by rubbing; to fret, as
cloth; as, a deer is said to fray her head. 5. (vi) To rub. ...
/f/fray.htm - 8k

Shrewd (14 Occurrences)

/s/shrewd.htm - 10k

Hell (53 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) A gambling house. 6. (n.) A place into which a tailor throws his shreds,
or a printer his broken type. 7. (vt) To overwhelm. Int. ...
/h/hell.htm - 29k

Shred (1 Occurrence)

/s/shred.htm - 7k

Genealogy (29 Occurrences)
... It involves a view of the mental and moral equipment and point of view of the
Chronicler in particular, which would not seem to leave him many shreds of either ...
/g/genealogy.htm - 70k

Elisha (70 Occurrences)
... what they can find. One of them finds some wild gourds (paqqu`oth), shreds
them into the pot and they are cooked. The men have no ...
/e/elisha.htm - 61k

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