The term "swelled" in the Bible often refers to physical swelling, pride, or arrogance. It is used both literally and metaphorically to describe conditions of the body or attitudes of the heart.

Physical Swelling:

In the context of physical ailments, swelling is mentioned in the Old Testament as a condition that could render a person ceremonially unclean. Leviticus 13:2-3 provides instructions for the priests to examine skin diseases: "When a man has a swelling or a rash or a bright spot on his skin that could become an infectious skin disease, he must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons who is a priest. The priest is to examine the sore on his skin, and if the hair in the sore has turned white and the sore appears to be more than skin deep, it is an infectious skin disease. When the priest examines him, he shall pronounce him ceremonially unclean."

This passage highlights the importance of ritual purity in the Israelite community and the role of the priesthood in maintaining the health and holiness of the people.

Metaphorical Swelling:

Metaphorically, swelling is often associated with pride or arrogance. The imagery of being "swelled" with pride is used to describe individuals or nations that have become haughty and self-reliant, often leading to their downfall. In 1 Timothy 3:6 , Paul warns against appointing a new convert to a position of leadership, "He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil."

This warning underscores the danger of pride and the need for humility, especially in positions of spiritual authority. The metaphor of swelling here is used to caution against the inflation of one's ego, which can lead to spiritual ruin.

Pride and Judgment:

The Bible frequently associates swelling with pride and the subsequent judgment that follows. In Isaiah 2:12 , the prophet declares, "For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted—it will be humbled." This passage reflects the biblical theme that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).

The imagery of swelling is thus a powerful reminder of the consequences of pride and the importance of maintaining a humble heart before God. Throughout Scripture, those who are "swelled" with pride are often brought low, illustrating the biblical principle that humility precedes honor (Proverbs 18:12).

Conclusion:

The concept of swelling in the Bible serves as a multifaceted symbol, representing both physical conditions and spiritual attitudes. Whether referring to literal ailments or metaphorical pride, the biblical use of "swelled" underscores the need for purity, humility, and reliance on God.1. (imp.) of Swell.

2. (p. p.) of Swell.

5448. phusioo -- to puff or blow up
... 5448 (from , "air-bellows") -- properly, inflate by blowing; (figuratively) swelled
up, like an egotistical person spuing out arrogant ("puffed-up") thoughts. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5448.htm - 7k

About the Dragon and the Young Man.
... out of it. And in a short time the skin of the young man, which was like
purple, grew white, and the dragon swelled. And when the ...
/.../unknown/acts of the holy apostle thomas/about the dragon and the.htm

The Symbols of the Republic.
... brightened the roll of fame; or from its memorable battle-fields, on rude heath
and in mountain defile; or from its achievements which have swelled the tides ...
/.../chapin/humanity in the city/discourse iv the symbols of.htm

Herodotus and Xenophon.
... It swelled up among the populations of Asia, between the Persian Gulf and the Caspian
Sea, about five hundred years before Christ, and rolled on in ...
/.../abbott/cyrus the great/chapter i herodotus and xenophon.htm

Jabez
... It swelled them immeasurably in self-importance if they could trace their lineage
back in unbroken line to one of the twelve patriarchs, or to one of those who ...
//christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/jabez.htm

Wherefore this in the First Place You Ought to Know...
... For hence, specially, the heresies of the Cataphryges and of the Novatians swelled,
which Tertullian also, inflated with cheeks full of sound not of wisdom ...
/.../augustine/on the good of widowhood /section 6 wherefore this in.htm

Recommendation.
... of the unction, which is the high import of that blessed and glorious name called
upon thee, thine eye must affect thy heart, and a soul swelled with godly ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/recommendation.htm

The Prison-House.
... Whilst many a Christian's heart must have swelled with emotion as the fettered hands
were lifted in earnest exhortation, and the blessing was given amid the ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon lii the prison-house.htm

Egypt.
... dreadful drought, if every year, when the snow melts upon the mountains far south,
where is the source of the stream, it did not become so much swelled as to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson iii egypt.htm

Babylon.
... As this river rose in the mountains of Armenia, it used to overflow in the spring,
when the snows melted and swelled the stream; but to prevent mischief, the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xi babylon.htm

The Literature
... Corinth. But the second century saw an increasing literary activity among
Christians, which swelled to a flood toward its end. To ...
//christianbookshelf.org/richardson/early christian fathers/the literature.htm

Swelled (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Swelled (5 Occurrences). ... Deuteronomy 8:4 Thy raiment hath
not become old upon thee, neither hath thy foot swelled these forty years. ...
/s/swelled.htm - 8k

Swell (9 Occurrences)
... 13. (vt) To aggravate; to heighten. 14. (vt) To raise to arrogance; to puff up;
to inflate; as, to be swelled with pride or haughtiness. 15. ...
/s/swell.htm - 13k

Worn (29 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Deuteronomy 8:4 Thy raiment hath not worn out from off thee, and thy
foot hath not swelled these forty years, (YLT). Deuteronomy ...
/w/worn.htm - 14k

Swelling (14 Occurrences)

/s/swelling.htm - 13k

Nourished (29 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 9:21 and forty years Thou hast nourished them in a wilderness; they have
not lacked; their garments have not worn out, and their feet have not swelled...
/n/nourished.htm - 15k

Israel (27466 Occurrences)
... And when Judah itself was carried off to Babylon, many of the exiled Israelites
joined them from Assyria, and swelled that immense population which made ...
/i/israel.htm - 101k

Execration (9 Occurrences)
... and doth commit a trespass against her husband, that the waters which cause the
curse have gone into her for bitter things, and her belly hath swelled, and her ...
/e/execration.htm - 10k

Protuberance (1 Occurrence)
... (n.) That which is swelled beyond the surrounding surface; a swelling or tumor
on the body; a prominence; a bunch or knob; an elevation. ...
/p/protuberance.htm - 7k

Bias (1 Occurrence)
... 4. (n.) A slant; a diagonal; as, to cut cloth on the bias. 5. (a.) Inclined to one
side; swelled on one side. 6. (a.) Cut slanting or diagonally, as cloth. ...
/b/bias.htm - 7k

Waxed (57 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 9:21 Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that
they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not. ...
/w/waxed.htm - 23k

Swelled: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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