The term "supple" is not directly found in the text of the Bible; however, the concept of suppleness, understood as flexibility, adaptability, and a willingness to yield or be molded, can be seen throughout Scripture in various contexts. In a biblical sense, suppleness can be associated with the spiritual qualities of humility, teachability, and responsiveness to God's will.

Biblical Context and Themes

1. Humility and Teachability: Suppleness in the spiritual life often manifests as humility and a willingness to be taught by God. Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages believers to "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." This passage highlights the importance of being open and flexible to God's guidance rather than rigidly adhering to one's own understanding.

2. Yielding to God's Will: The concept of being supple is closely related to yielding to God's will. Romans 12:1-2 exhorts believers to "offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." This transformation requires a supple spirit that is willing to be shaped and molded by God's Word and Spirit.

3. Adaptability in Service: The Apostle Paul exemplifies spiritual suppleness in his adaptability to different cultural contexts for the sake of the Gospel. In 1 Corinthians 9:22 , Paul states, "To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all possible means I might save some." Paul's flexibility in approach demonstrates a supple spirit that prioritizes the mission of God over personal preferences or cultural rigidity.

4. The Potter and the Clay: A vivid biblical metaphor for suppleness is found in the imagery of the potter and the clay. Isaiah 64:8 declares, "But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we all are the work of Your hand." This metaphor illustrates the believer's need to remain pliable in the hands of God, allowing Him to shape and direct their lives according to His purposes.

5. Spiritual Growth and Maturity: Suppleness is also essential for spiritual growth and maturity. Ephesians 4:14-15 encourages believers to "no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching... Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head." A supple spirit is open to growth and change, moving towards maturity in Christ.

Practical Implications

In practical terms, a supple spirit is one that is responsive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, open to correction, and willing to change course when necessary. It involves a heart posture that is soft and receptive to God's voice, whether through Scripture, prayer, or the counsel of other believers. This spiritual flexibility is crucial for navigating the complexities of life and maintaining a vibrant, dynamic relationship with God.1. (a.) Pliant; flexible; easily bent; as, supple joints; supple fingers.

2. (a.) Yielding compliant; not obstinate; submissive to guidance; as, a supple horse.

3. (a.) Bending to the humor of others; flattering; fawning; obsequious.

4. (v. t.) To make soft and pliant; to render flexible; as, to supple leather.

5. (v. t.) To make compliant, submissive, or obedient.

6. (v. i.) To become soft and pliant.

6339. pazaz -- to be supple or agile
... 6338, 6339. pazaz. 6340 . to be supple or agile. Transliteration: pazaz Phonetic
Spelling: (paw-zaz') Short Definition: agile. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/6339.htm - 6k

4935. mishi -- a cleansing
... cleansing (1). to supple. Probably from sha'ah; inspection -- to supple. see
HEBREW sha'ah. 4934, 4935. mishi. 4936 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/4935.htm - 6k

Meditation on God
... When those old athletes went out to wrestle, they always took care before they went
to oil themselves well"to make their joints supple and fit for labor. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 46 1900/meditation on god.htm

The Study of Words
... they receive their strength. They are fresh-colored, active, and supple,
neither too much nor too little in flesh. Paint and polish ...
/.../kleiser/the training of a public speaker/the study of words.htm

Climbing the Mountain
... Their limbs are supple, their muscles strong, and the marrow in their bones is as
yet not dried up. They laugh at difficulty and they defy danger. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/climbing the mountain.htm

Concerning "Perfect" and "One. "
... diminished, and that It contains all things beforehand in Itself and overflows in
one ceaseless, identical, [497] abundant and inexhaustible supple, whereby It ...
/.../rolt/dionysius the areopagite/chapter xiii concerning perfect and.htm

The First Games
... Is it surprising if this quick and supple intelligence, who mastered without effort,
and as if by instinct, the encyclopaedic knowledge of his age, who found ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/iv the first games.htm

Back to Memphis
... before. However, the accumulation of toil came upon him gradually and his
supple frame toughened as the demand upon it increased. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxxiii back to memphis.htm

Called to Reach a Higher Standard
... For one to have any hope of success in these trials of strength and speed, the muscles
must be strong and supple, and the nerves well under control. ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 30 called to reach.htm

The Presbyter
... But when the sweet gratification of personal revenge had taken him to Antioch, his
rival, the supple eunuch Eutropius, outwitted and undermined him. ...
/.../chapter xii the presbyter.htm

Of the Mortification of Our Natural Inclination to Liberty or ...
... in self-love, servile fear, yea oft in pride itself; whereas, if it be grounded
on our duty to God, the soul thereby will become so humble, supple, and pliable ...
/.../chapter xiv of the mortification.htm

The King's Highway
... that even an idiot could not help seeing it, so high above the land around that
the lion's spring falls far beneath it, and the supple tiger skulks baffled at ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the kings highway.htm

Supple (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Pliant; flexible; easily bent; as, supple joints; supple fingers. ... 4. (vt)
To make soft and pliant; to render flexible; as, to supple leather. ...
/s/supple.htm - 7k

Nativity (9 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 16:4 And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not
cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted ...
/n/nativity.htm - 11k

Anoint (59 Occurrences)
... The expression, "anoint the shield" (Isaiah 21:5), refers to the custom of rubbing
oil on the leather of the shield so as to make it supple and fit for use in ...
/a/anoint.htm - 31k

Supplants (1 Occurrence)

/s/supplants.htm - 6k

Supplement (1 Occurrence)

/s/supplement.htm - 7k

Abideth (66 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV WBS). Genesis 49:24 But his bow abideth firm, And the arms of his
hands are supple By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob. ...
/a/abideth.htm - 24k

Firm (111 Occurrences)
... YLT). Genesis 49:24 But his bow abideth firm, And the arms of his hands
are supple By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob. From ...
/f/firm.htm - 34k

Wast (84 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 16:4 And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not
cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted ...
/w/wast.htm - 33k

Sadducees (14 Occurrences)
... This want of manners is not a characteristic usually associated with an aristocracy,
or with supple diplomats, yet it suits what we find in the New Testament. ...
/s/sadducees.htm - 31k

Supple: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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