In the Bible, the concept of "stench" is often used metaphorically to describe the repugnant nature of sin, corruption, and divine judgment. The term is employed to convey the idea of something offensive and detestable in the sight of God and man.

Old Testament References

1. Moral and Spiritual Corruption: In the Old Testament, stench is frequently associated with moral decay and spiritual corruption. For instance, in Isaiah 3:24, the prophet Isaiah warns the people of Judah about the consequences of their pride and vanity: "Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty." Here, the stench symbolizes the shame and degradation that will result from their sinful behavior.

2. Divine Judgment: The imagery of stench is also used to depict the severity of God's judgment. In Exodus 7:18, during the first plague in Egypt, the Nile River is turned to blood, causing the fish to die and the river to stink: "The fish in the Nile will die, the river will stink, and the Egyptians will be unable to drink its water." This stench serves as a physical manifestation of God's displeasure and a warning to the Egyptians.

3. Decay and Death: In the context of decay and death, stench is used to describe the physical reality of decomposition. In the account of the death of Lazarus, Martha expresses concern about the odor after four days in the tomb: "Lord, by now he stinks. It has already been four days" (John 11:39). This highlights the natural process of decay, which is often used as a metaphor for the spiritual decay resulting from sin.

New Testament References

1. Spiritual Death: The New Testament continues to use the imagery of stench to describe spiritual death and separation from God. In 2 Corinthians 2:15-16, Paul contrasts the aroma of Christ with the stench of death: "For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one, we are an odor of death and demise; to the other, a fragrance that brings life." Here, the stench represents the rejection of the Gospel and the resulting spiritual death.

2. Hypocrisy and False Teaching: The stench of hypocrisy and false teaching is another theme in the New Testament. In Revelation 3:16, the church in Laodicea is warned about their lukewarm faith: "So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth." Although the term "stench" is not explicitly used, the imagery of being vomited out conveys a similar sense of repulsion and rejection.

Symbolism and Theological Implications

The use of stench in the Bible serves as a powerful symbol of the consequences of sin and the reality of divine judgment. It underscores the idea that sin is not only offensive to God but also leads to spiritual decay and death. The imagery of stench calls believers to repentance and a renewed commitment to holiness, reminding them of the sweet aroma of a life lived in obedience to God.1. (v. t.) To stanch.

2. (n.) A smell; an odor.

3. (n.) An ill smell; an offensive odor; a stink.

4. (n.) To cause to emit a disagreeable odor; to cause to stink.

3605. ozo -- to (emit a) smell
... stink, am offensive. Word Origin a prim. verb Definition to (emit a) smell
NASB Word Usage stench (1). to smell, stink. A primary ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3605.htm - 6k

946. bdelugma -- a detestable thing
... 946 (from 948 , derived from , "to reek with stench") -- properly, what emits a
foul odor and hence is (); (figuratively) as a (like when people refuse to hear ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/946.htm - 7k

889. beosh -- stench
... stench. Transliteration: beosh Phonetic Spelling: (be-oshe') Short Definition: stench.
Word Origin from baash Definition stench NASB Word Usage stench (3). stink ...
/hebrew/889.htm - 5k

2186b. zanach -- to stink, emit a stench
... to stink, emit a stench. Transliteration: zanach Short Definition: stench. ... root
Definition to stink, emit a stench NASB Word Usage emit a stench (1). ...
/hebrew/2186b.htm - 5k

6709. tsachanah -- a stench
... a stench. Transliteration: tsachanah Phonetic Spelling: (tsakh-an-aw') Short Definition:
smell. ... From an unused root meaning to putrefy; stench -- ill savour. ...
/hebrew/6709.htm - 5k

"I was Delivered from the Enemy by the virtue of Christ's Passion"
... AFTER this the Fiend came again with his heat and with his stench, and gave me much
ado, [285] the stench was so vile and so painful, and also dreadful and ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter lxix i was delivered.htm

Then, after all These Things, the Heavens Will not Give their Dew. ...
... will not give their dew, the clouds will not give their rain, the earth will refuse
to yield its fruits, the sea shall be filled with stench, the rivers shall ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/piece xxvii then after all.htm

An Exhortation to Mourning and Confession of Sins for Christ is ...
... 58. If you have confessed at the call of Christ the bars will be broken, and every
chain loosed, even the stench of the bodily corruption be grievous. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter vii an exhortation to.htm

In Urging Repentance St. ...
... Thus did that woman in the Gospel, and wiped out the stench of her sin; thus did
she wash away her fault, when washing the feet of Jesus with her tears. 67. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter viii in urging repentance.htm

"All was Closed, and I Saw no More. " "For the Folly of Feeling a ...
... And anon a light smoke came in the door, with a great heat and a foul stench. ...
I asked them that were with me if they felt any stench. ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter lxvi all was closed.htm

How one in the Province of the Northumbrians, Rose from the Dead ...
... depths below. Moreover, a stench, foul beyond compare, burst forth with the
vapours, and filled all those dark places. "Having stood ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xii how one in.htm

About the Young Man who Killed the Maiden.
... hateful in appearance, all black, and his clothing exceedingly filthy; and he led
me away to a place where there were many chasms, and a great stench and most ...
/.../unknown/acts of the holy apostle thomas/about the young man who.htm

To Gregory xi
... For, breathing the stench of the life of many rulers whom you know yourself to be
incarnate demons, they fell into the worst of fears, so that they did like ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to gregory xi 2.htm

The Avenging of the Saviour.
... Then there was a great stench in that city from the corpses of those dead
men. And their kings feared with a very great fear even ...
/.../unknown/the avenging of the saviour/the avenging of the saviour.htm

Pythagoras Taught, Accordingly, that He had Himself Been ...
... may agree with your gentleness and innocence; for you can draw forth from the dung
heap within your breast alike the odour of roses and the stench of corpses ...
/.../40 pythagoras taught accordingly that.htm

Stench (12 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Stench (12 Occurrences). ... 2 Corinthians 2:16 to the one
a stench from death to death; to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. ...
/s/stench.htm - 10k

Nostrils (22 Occurrences)
... Text would have to be considered as tiqqun copherim (a correction of the scribes)
for 'appi, "my face." Or read "They cause their stench (zemoratham) to come ...
/n/nostrils.htm - 17k

Stems (31 Occurrences)

/s/stems.htm - 15k

Step (41 Occurrences)

/s/step.htm - 19k

Odious (9 Occurrences)
... Exodus 5:21 and they said to them, "May Yahweh look at you, and judge, because you
have made us a stench to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes ...
/o/odious.htm - 9k

Offensive (15 Occurrences)
... Exodus 5:21 and they said to them, "May Yahweh look at you, and judge, because you
have made us a stench to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes ...
/o/offensive.htm - 11k

Odor (46 Occurrences)
... John 11:39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was
dead, said to him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead ...
/o/odor.htm - 22k

Officials (229 Occurrences)
... Exodus 5:21 and they said to them, "May Yahweh look at you, and judge, because you
have made us a stench to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes ...
/o/officials.htm - 36k

Task (37 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 2 Corinthians 2:16 to the one a stench from death to death; to the other
a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? (See NIV). ...
/t/task.htm - 17k

Remove (173 Occurrences)
... John 11:39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was
dead, said to him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead ...
/r/remove.htm - 38k

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