The term "shrivel" is not directly mentioned in the Bible; however, the concept of withering or drying up is present in various passages, often symbolizing judgment, spiritual barrenness, or the fleeting nature of life. In the biblical context, shriveling can be understood as a physical manifestation of spiritual realities or divine judgment.

Symbol of Judgment and Curse

In the Old Testament, the imagery of withering is frequently associated with divine judgment. For instance, in Isaiah 40:7-8 , the prophet declares, "The grass withers, the flowers fall when the breath of the LORD blows on them; indeed, the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." Here, the withering grass symbolizes the frailty and transience of human life in contrast to the enduring word of God.

Similarly, in the context of judgment, the prophet Jeremiah speaks of a parched land and withered plants as a consequence of disobedience: "They will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives" (Jeremiah 17:6). This imagery serves as a warning to those who turn away from the Lord.

Spiritual Barrenness

The New Testament also uses the concept of withering to illustrate spiritual truths. In the account of Jesus cursing the fig tree, found in Matthew 21:19 , "Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. 'May you never bear fruit again!' Immediately the tree withered." This act serves as a metaphor for spiritual barrenness and the judgment that comes upon those who appear fruitful outwardly but lack genuine spiritual vitality.

The Fleeting Nature of Life

The Psalms often reflect on the brevity and fragility of human life using the imagery of withering. Psalm 102:11 states, "My days are like lengthening shadows, and I wither away like grass." This verse captures the transient nature of human existence, urging believers to place their trust in the eternal God rather than in the fleeting things of this world.

Hope and Restoration

Despite the negative connotations of shriveling, the Bible also offers hope and restoration. In Ezekiel 37, the vision of the dry bones coming to life symbolizes the restoration of Israel. God promises to breathe life into the withered bones, demonstrating His power to revive and restore. This vision serves as a powerful reminder of God's ability to bring life and vitality to what is spiritually dead or barren.

In summary, while the Bible does not explicitly use the term "shrivel," the concept is woven throughout Scripture, illustrating themes of judgment, spiritual barrenness, and the transient nature of life, while also pointing to the hope of restoration through God's power.1. (v. i.) To draw, or be drawn, into wrinkles; to shrink, and form corrugations; as, a leaf shrivels in the hot sun; the skin shrivels with age; -- often with up.

2. (v. t.) To cause to shrivel or contract; to cause to shrink onto corruptions.

5351. phtheiro -- to destroy, corrupt, spoil
... Probably strengthened from phthio (to pine or waste); properly, to shrivel or wither,
ie To spoil (by any process) or (generally) to ruin (especially ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5351.htm - 7k

3583. xeraino -- to dry up, waste away
... dry up, wither away. From xeros; to desiccate; by implication, to shrivel, to mature --
dry up, pine away, be ripe, wither (away). see GREEK xeros. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3583.htm - 6k

5685. abash -- to shrivel
... abash. 5686 . to shrivel. Transliteration: abash Phonetic Spelling: (aw-bash')
Short Definition: shrivel. ... root Definition to shrivel NASB Word Usage shrivel (1 ...
/hebrew/5685.htm - 5k

6784. tsamaq -- to dry up, shrivel
... to dry up, shrivel. Transliteration: tsamaq Phonetic Spelling: (tsaw-mak') Short
Definition: dry. ... root Definition to dry up, shrivel NASB Word Usage dry (1). dry ...
/hebrew/6784.htm - 5k

6915. qadad -- to bow down
... bow down the head, stoop. A primitive root; to shrivel up, ie Contract or bend the
body (or neck) in deference -- bow (down) (the) head, stoop. 6914, 6915. ...
/hebrew/6915.htm - 6k

3648. kamar -- to grow warm and tender, to be or grow hot
... A primitive root; properly, to intertwine or contract, ie (by implication) to shrivel
(as with heat); figuratively, to be deeply affected with passion (love or ...
/hebrew/3648.htm - 6k

section 3
... Why is it that the leaves which used to stand firm and fresh like those of
the flowering clover, have begun to shrivel and turn yellow? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/trotter/parables of the christ-life/section 3.htm

The True Branches of the True vine
... ever see a hawthorn bough that children bring home from the woods, and stick in
the grate; how in a day or two the little fresh green leaves all shrivel up and ...
/.../the true branches of the.htm

Death to Self is the Way Out into a Life of Sacrifice.
... love. May God shew us every witholding thread of self that needs breaking
still, and may His own touch shrivel it into death. See ...
//christianbookshelf.org/trotter/parables of the cross/death to self is the.htm

1 to Pray Does not Imply that Without Prayer God Would not Give us ...
... Others are like the sensitive plant; during worship, affected by the teaching and
presence of the Holy Spirit, they shrivel up, as it were, and bowing their ...
//christianbookshelf.org/singh/at the masters feet/section ii 1 to pray.htm

The High Woods
... more delicate child of the moon, the Ipomoea, Bona-nox, whose snow-white patines,
as broad as the hand, open at nightfall on every hedge, and shrivel up with ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter vii the high woods.htm

The Story of an Opium Smoker
... It will eat out your minds, It will rot away your vitals, It will shrivel up your
bowels, It will make you walk as a leper, It will cast you into prison, It ...
/.../cable/the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter x the story of.htm

Of the Assumption of Our Lady
... things, whoever they may be, and whatever may be the cares which oppress them, would
find, if they only knew it, what would make their hearts shrivel up in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tauler/the inner way/sermon xvii of the assumption.htm

The Death of the Christian
... When it has come to somewhat of maturity, how greatly has he feared lest
the mildew and blast should shrivel up the precious ears. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the death of the christian.htm

Secret Sins
... Only let the law be revealed to a man; let him know how strict the law is, and how
infinitely just, and his self-righteousness will shrivel into nothing"it ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/secret sins.htm

The Vengeance of Heaven
... Providence that we can watch. God's terrible and fiery finger. Shrivel the
falsehood from the souls of men. The apparent prosperity of the ...
/.../chapter lx the vengeance of.htm

Shrivel (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To cause to shrivel or contract; to cause to shrink onto corruptions.
Multi-Version Concordance Shrivel (3 Occurrences). ...
/s/shrivel.htm - 7k

Shriveled (8 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Shrivel. ... Joel 1:17 The grains shrivel under their hoes; the garners
are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered. ...
/s/shriveled.htm - 8k

Wither (30 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) To fade; to lose freshness; to become sapless;
to become sapless; to dry or shrivel up. 2. (n.) To ...
/w/wither.htm - 15k

Rottenness (9 Occurrences)
... rot, rot'-'-n-nes (verb raqebh, noun raqabh (riqqabhon, Job 41:27), with maq, "decay"
(Isaiah 5:24), and `abhash, "shrivel" (so Joel 1:17 the Revised Version ...
/r/rottenness.htm - 10k

Rot (15 Occurrences)
... rot, rot'-'-n-nes (verb raqebh, noun raqabh (riqqabhon, Job 41:27), with maq, "decay"
(Isaiah 5:24), and `abhash, "shrivel" (so Joel 1:17 the Revised Version ...
/r/rot.htm - 13k

Dry (217 Occurrences)
... dries, or dries up. 13. (vi) To shrivel or wither; to lose vitality.
Multi-Version Concordance Dry (217 Occurrences). Matthew 12:43 ...
/d/dry.htm - 37k

Blast (28 Occurrences)
... as by a noxious wind; to cause to wither; to stop or check the growth of, and prevent
from fruit-bearing, by some pernicious influence; to blight; to shrivel. ...
/b/blast.htm - 20k

Clod (1 Occurrence)
... him," "The clods cleave fast together." In Joel 1:17 (meghraphah, "a furrow,"
"something thrown off" (by the spade)), "The seeds rot (m "shrivel") under their ...
/c/clod.htm - 8k

Shrinks (2 Occurrences)

/s/shrinks.htm - 6k

Scorch (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To burn superficially; to parch, or shrivel, the surface of, by heat; to
subject to so much heat as changes color and texture without consuming; as, to ...
/s/scorch.htm - 7k

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