The term "tortuous" is often used to describe something that is full of twists and turns, both literally and metaphorically. In a biblical context, it can refer to the complexity and deceitfulness of human behavior or the winding paths of life that deviate from God's righteous ways. The concept of tortuousness is frequently associated with moral and spiritual deviation from the straight and narrow path prescribed by God.

Biblical References:

1. Proverbs 2:15 : "whose paths are crooked and whose ways are devious." This verse highlights the nature of those who choose to walk in ways that are not aligned with God's commandments. The "crooked" and "devious" paths are synonymous with tortuous ways that lead away from righteousness.

2. Isaiah 59:8 : "The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their tracks. They have turned them into crooked paths; no one who treads on them will know peace." Here, the prophet Isaiah speaks of the people who have abandoned the path of peace and justice, opting instead for tortuous paths that result in turmoil and unrest.

3. Psalm 125:5 : "But those who turn aside to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel." This verse serves as a warning that those who choose tortuous paths, deviating from God's law, will face divine judgment alongside the wicked.

Theological Implications:

In Scripture, the concept of tortuous paths is often used to illustrate the consequences of sin and disobedience. The Bible frequently contrasts the straight and narrow path of righteousness with the winding, tortuous paths of sin. The straight path is associated with God's truth, justice, and peace, while the tortuous path leads to confusion, injustice, and ultimately, separation from God.

The tortuous nature of sin is also reflected in the deceitfulness of the human heart. Jeremiah 17:9 states, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" This verse underscores the inherent complexity and deceptiveness of human nature, which can lead individuals away from God's truth.

Moral and Ethical Considerations:

From a moral and ethical standpoint, the Bible encourages believers to avoid tortuous paths by adhering to God's commandments and seeking His wisdom. Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, "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 emphasizes the importance of relying on God's guidance to navigate the complexities of life and avoid the pitfalls of tortuous ways.

Practical Application:

In practical terms, Christians are called to examine their lives for any tortuous paths they may be following and to realign themselves with God's will. This involves repentance, seeking forgiveness, and committing to a life of obedience and faithfulness. By doing so, believers can experience the peace and fulfillment that come from walking in the straight paths of God's righteousness.1. (a.) Bent in different directions; wreathed; twisted; winding; as, a tortuous path.

2. (a.) Fig.: Deviating from rectitude; indirect; erroneous; deceitful.

3. (a.) Injurious: tortuous.

4. (a.) Oblique; -- applied to the six signs of the zodiac (from Capricorn to Gemini) which ascend most rapidly and obliquely.

4646. skolios -- curved, winding, hence crooked
... Transliteration: skolios Phonetic Spelling: (skol-ee-os') Short Definition: crooked,
perverse, unfair Definition: crooked, perverse, unfair, curved, tortuous. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4646.htm - 7k6618. pethaltol -- tortuous
... tortuous. Transliteration: pethaltol Phonetic Spelling: (peth-al-tole') Short
Definition: crooked. ... crooked. From pathal; tortuous (ie Crafty) -- crooked. ...
/hebrew/6618.htm - 6k

6130. Aqan -- a descendant of Esau
... of Esau NASB Word Usage Akan (1). Akan. From an unused root meaning to twist; tortuous;
Akan, an Idummaean -- Akan. Compare Ya'aqan. see HEBREW Ya'aqan. ...
/hebrew/6130.htm - 6k

6617. pathal -- to twist
... A primitive root; to twine, ie (literally) to struggle or (figuratively) be (morally)
tortuous -- (shew self) froward, shew self unsavoury, wrestle. ...
/hebrew/6617.htm - 6k

6129. aqallathon -- crooked
... Word Origin from aqal Definition crooked NASB Word Usage twisted (1). crooked. From
aqal; tortuous -- crooked. see HEBREW aqal. 6128, 6129. aqallathon. 6130 ...
/hebrew/6129.htm - 6k

The Manich??ans are Reduced to the Choice of a Tortuous, or Curved ...
... Fundamental. Chapter 26. "The Manich??ans are Reduced to the Choice of
a Tortuous, or Curved, or Straight Line of Junction. The ...
/.../chapter 26 name manichaeans are.htm

The Tomb of the Pharaoh
... water. Here the steep ramparts were divided by a tortuous cleft, which
wound back with many cross-fissures deep into the desert. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxiii the tomb of.htm

An Essay on the Scriptural Doctrine of Immortality.
... the serpent with reference to its form and movements, which convey the abstract
idea of subtlety on the same principle that the words "tortuous" and "twisting ...
/.../an essay on the scriptural.htm

The Unity of the Divine Essence in Three Persons Taught, in ...
... doctrine. These slippery snakes escape by their swift and tortuous windings,
if not strenuously pursued, and when caught, firmly held. ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 13 the unity of.htm

Twenty-Sixth Day. Guilelessness.
... school of the world (this "painted world"), how much is there of what is called
"policy," double-dealing!"accomplishing its ends by tortuous means; outward ...
/.../macduff/the mind of jesus/twenty-sixth day guilelessness.htm

The Ten virgins.
... a lamp, and the many separate lights dancing and crossing each other, and changing
places as the bearers advance on the undulating and tortuous path, impart ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/xiii the ten virgins.htm

And Then that Further Device of Theirs, if Words Can Express It...
... who says this arm himself against Holy Scripture's most manifest proclamations,
with counsel of outrageous impiety, and persevere in a tortuous path, and essay ...
/.../augustine/of the work of monks /section 40 and then that.htm

Christian Behavior
... dark, dreary road to misery temporal and eternal: but it also displays the antidote;
an infallible remedy against all the subtilties of this tortuous disease. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/christian behavior.htm

Christ Undoes the Work of the Demiurge; Docetic Account of the ...
... We, however, merely see lids of vision, while corners (of the eye), a tissue which
is broad, tortuous, [922] (and) exceedingly fibrous, a membrane of the cornea ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter iii christ undoes the work.htm

And, that we May Show You More Clearly and Distinctly what is the ...
... [3541] Let there not be one door, nor a direct entrance, but let it be approached
by tortuous windings, and let it never be thrown open unless when it is ...
/.../arnobius/the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/20 and that we may.htm

Tortuous (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Bent in different directions; wreathed; twisted;
winding; as, a tortuous path. ... 3. (a.) Injurious: tortuous. ...
/t/tortuous.htm - 7k

Torture (9 Occurrences)

/t/torture.htm - 9k

Tortoise (1 Occurrence)

/t/tortoise.htm - 9k

Nile (37 Occurrences)
... the headwaters of the Ragera River, a small stream on the other side of the lake,
3 degree South of the equator), and flows North in a tortuous channel, 1,400 ...
/n/nile.htm - 29k

Jordan (188 Occurrences)
... from 40 to 150 feet. Through it the Jordan flows in a rapid, rugged, tortuous
course down to the Dead Sea. The whole distance from ...
/j/jordan.htm - 70k

Tigris (2 Occurrences)
... After pursuing a tortuous southeasterly course for 150 miles, it is joined by
the east branch at Osman Kieui, some distance below Diarbekr. ...
/t/tigris.htm - 9k

Tikvath (1 Occurrence)
... After pursuing a tortuous southeasterly course for 150 miles, it is joined by
the east branch at Osman Kieui, some distance below Diarbekr. ...
/t/tikvath.htm - 9k

Tikvah (2 Occurrences)
... After pursuing a tortuous southeasterly course for 150 miles, it is joined by
the east branch at Osman Kieui, some distance below Diarbekr. ...
/t/tikvah.htm - 10k

Euphrates (36 Occurrences)
... After running respectively 400 and 270 miles in a westerly direction, they unite
near Keban Maaden, whence in a tortuous channel of about 300 miles, bearing ...
/e/euphrates.htm - 26k

Sycomore (3 Occurrences)
... The sycomore produces small, rounded figs, about an inch long, which grow upon tortuous,
leafless twigs springing from the trunk or the older branches; they ...
/s/sycomore.htm - 10k

What is the meaning of Hebrews 12:2? | GotQuestions.org

What is the history of crucifixion? What was crucifixion like? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Keswick movement, and is it biblical? | GotQuestions.org

Tortuous: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus