In the context of the Bible, the term "shrivels" is often associated with the imagery of withering or drying up, symbolizing spiritual decay, judgment, or the consequences of sin. The concept of shriveling is used metaphorically to describe the effects of disobedience to God, the fleeting nature of life, and the judgment that comes upon those who turn away from divine commandments.

Biblical References:

1. Psalm 102:11 : "My days are like lengthening shadows, and I wither away like grass." This verse uses the imagery of withering grass to express the psalmist's sense of frailty and the brevity of life. The comparison to grass that shrivels under the sun highlights the transient nature of human existence and the need for reliance on God.

2. Isaiah 40:7-8 : "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 prophet Isaiah contrasts the temporary nature of human life with the eternal and unchanging word of God. The shriveling of grass serves as a reminder of human mortality and the enduring truth of God's promises.

3. Ezekiel 17:9-10 : "Say, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: Will it thrive? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it shrivels? All its new growth will wither. It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by the roots. Even if it is transplanted, will it thrive? Will it not wither completely when the east wind strikes it? It will wither in the garden plot where it grew.’" In this passage, the shriveling of a vine symbolizes the judgment and downfall of a nation that has turned away from God. The imagery of withering under the east wind signifies the inevitable consequences of rebellion against divine authority.

4. Mark 11:20-21 : "As they were walking back in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from its roots. Peter remembered it and said, 'Look, Rabbi! The fig tree You cursed has withered.'" Jesus' cursing of the fig tree, which subsequently shrivels, serves as a powerful illustration of the judgment that befalls those who appear fruitful but are spiritually barren. This act underscores the importance of genuine faith and the dangers of hypocrisy.

Theological Implications:

The concept of shriveling in the Bible often serves as a metaphor for spiritual decline and the consequences of sin. It is a vivid reminder of the importance of remaining rooted in faith and obedience to God. The imagery of withering and shriveling underscores the transient nature of earthly life and the enduring nature of God's word and promises. It calls believers to examine their spiritual condition and to seek renewal and growth through a relationship with God.

Practical Application:

For believers, the imagery of shriveling serves as a call to spiritual vigilance and renewal. It encourages individuals to remain steadfast in their faith, to seek nourishment from the word of God, and to avoid the spiritual decay that comes from neglecting one's relationship with the Lord. By understanding the consequences of spiritual shriveling, Christians are urged to cultivate a vibrant and fruitful spiritual life, rooted in the truth and grace of God.

'Love Buildeth Up'
... up things are swollen by wind only, and the more they are inflated the hollower
and emptier they are; and such a sharp point as Paul's saying shrivels them. ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/love buildeth up.htm

An Example Showing How one is Hindered in this Exercise
... So greatly does the torment increase that the man withers and shrivels in his bodily
nature, even as the trees in hot countries; and he dies in the fury of love ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter xxv an example showing.htm

A Last Merciful Warning
... off. But at last he will collapse altogether, like the same ball when a
slit is cut in it, and it shrivels into a shapeless lump. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/a last merciful warning.htm

The Poor Rich and the Rich Poor
... would pale into darkness. And if you cut the connection between God and the
creature, the creature shrivels into nothing. By Him the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the poor rich and the.htm

The Government of Nature.
... say we ought to receive nothing of which we have no experience; I answer, there
is in me a necessity, a desire before which all my experience shrivels into a ...
/.../macdonald/miracles of our lord/ix the government of nature.htm

The Saint among Sinners
... walk together, except they be agreed?' 'What communion hath light with darkness?'
The delicate bond which unites us in happy communion with God shrivels up, as ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the saint among sinners.htm

The Red Shoes
... gleaming. "Thou shalt dance!" he said""dance on thy red shoes, till thou
art pale and cold, and till thy body shrivels to a skeleton. ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the red shoes.htm

Partakers of the Divine Nature
... Cut off the sunbeam from the sun and it dies, and the house is dark; cut off the
life from the root and it withers, and the creature shrivels. ...
/.../partakers of the divine nature.htm

The Last Pleading of Love
... cold hearts. I suppose that it can be so nipped by frosts, so constantly
checked in blossoming, that it shrivels and dies. I suppose ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the last pleading of love.htm

The True Branches of the True vine
... turn to dust, and all that was blossom will droop, and there will be no more fruit
any more for ever.' Separate from Christ, the individual shrivels, and the ...
/.../the true branches of the.htm

Shrivels (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Shrivels (1 Occurrence). Joel 1:17 The grains shrivel
under their hoes; the garners are laid desolate, the ...
/s/shrivels.htm - 6k

Shrivel (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) 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 ...
/s/shrivel.htm - 7k

Shroud (6 Occurrences)

/s/shroud.htm - 9k

Shrivelled (6 Occurrences)

/s/shrivelled.htm - 8k

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