Definition and Context: The term "tossing" in the biblical context often refers to being thrown about or unsettled, both physically and metaphorically. It is used to describe the instability and lack of direction that can occur in the life of a believer who is not firmly grounded in faith and doctrine.

Biblical References:

1. Ephesians 4:14: "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming." This verse highlights the spiritual danger of being easily swayed by false teachings and the importance of maturity in faith. The imagery of being "tossed about by the waves" underscores the instability and confusion that can arise from a lack of solid doctrinal foundation.

2. James 1:6: "But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." Here, the act of tossing is used to describe the state of a person who prays without faith. Such a person is compared to a wave, unstable and driven by external forces, emphasizing the necessity of unwavering faith in prayer.

3. Isaiah 57:20: "But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud." This passage uses the imagery of a restless, tossing sea to describe the state of the wicked. The constant motion and inability to find peace reflect the turmoil and lack of rest that characterize a life apart from God.

Theological Implications: Tossing, as depicted in these scriptures, serves as a metaphor for spiritual instability and vulnerability. It warns believers of the dangers of being swayed by false doctrines and the importance of grounding oneself in the truth of God's Word. The imagery of tossing also conveys the inner turmoil and lack of peace that can result from a life not anchored in faith.

Practical Application: Believers are encouraged to seek spiritual maturity and stability through diligent study of the Scriptures and adherence to sound doctrine. By doing so, they can avoid being "tossed about" by false teachings and maintain a steadfast faith. Additionally, the call to pray with unwavering faith, as highlighted in James, serves as a reminder of the power and necessity of trust in God.

Related Concepts: Stability, Faith, Doctrine, Maturity, Peace, False Teaching, Spiritual Growth.

In summary, the concept of "tossing" in the Bible serves as a powerful metaphor for the spiritual challenges faced by believers. It underscores the importance of a firm foundation in faith and doctrine to withstand the trials and false teachings that may come their way.1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Toss.

2. (n.) The act of throwing upward; a rising and falling suddenly; a rolling and tumbling.

3. (n.) A process which consists in washing ores by violent agitation in water, in order to separate the lighter particles; -- called also tozing, and treloobing, in Cornwall.

4. (n.) A process for refining tin by dropping it through the air while melted.

4535. salos -- a tossing, spec. the swell (of the sea)
... 4534, 4535. salos. 4536 . a tossing, spec. ... Word Origin a prim. word Definition
a tossing, spec. the swell (of the sea) NASB Word Usage waves (1). wave. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4535.htm - 6k

906. ballo -- to throw, cast
... 1), lying (3), lying sick (1), place (1), poured (4), put (22), puts (2), putting
(4), rushed (1), swung (2), threw (12), throw (16), thrown (27), tossing (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/906.htm - 10k

5076. nadud -- a tossing (of sleeplessness)
... 5075, 5076. nadud or nedud. 5077 . a tossing (of sleeplessness). Transliteration:
nadud or nedud Phonetic Spelling: (naw-dood') Short Definition: tossing. ...
/hebrew/5076.htm - 6k

5289. naar -- a shaking, scattering
... young one. From na'ar in its derivative sense of tossing about; a wanderer -- young
one. see HEBREW na'ar. 5288, 5289. naar. 5290 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5289.htm - 6k

5110. nud -- to move to and fro, wander, flutter, show grief
... root; to nod, ie Waver; figuratively, to wander, flee, disappear; also (from shaking
the head in sympathy), to console, deplore, or (from tossing the head in ...
/hebrew/5110.htm - 6k

1644. garash -- to drive out, cast out
... driven (6), driven it away (1), driving (1), drove (8), drove them away (1), evict
(1), expelled (1), surely drive (1), toss (1), tossed about (1), tossing (1 ...
/hebrew/1644.htm - 6k

"He is More Honored than Jupiter These Days," the Philosopher was ...
... legend of this coin. It has the power to show one if he be loved.". "By tossing?".
"By tossing. Head, yes; the reverse, no.". "Let me try ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bacheller/vergilius/chapter 3 he is more.htm

Stillness in Storm
... after 'what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink' or after more refined forms of
earthly good, brings with it the penalty and misery of 'for ever tossing on the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/stillness in storm.htm

The Cure of Simon's Wife's Mother.
... Bare as the narrative is, the event it records has elements which might have been
moulded with artistic effect"on the one side the woman tossing in the folds ...
/.../macdonald/miracles of our lord/iii the cure of simons.htm

Satisfied from Self
... No man is satisfied with himself until he has subjugated himself. What makes men
restless and discontented is their tossing, anarchical desires. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/satisfied from self.htm

The Beach and the Sea
... And not seldom to us, if we will learn and practise that lesson, as to these poor
men in the tossing fisherman's boat, the accustomed and daily duties will be ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture st john chaps xv to xxi/the beach and the sea.htm

Acts of Andrew and Matthias
... Then Jesus said to Andrew: Rise up, brother, with thy friends; partake of
food, that you may be strong to bear the tossing of the sea. ...
/.../unknown/acts of andrew and matthias/acts of andrew and matthias.htm

Those Days it was Near Twelve O'Clock by the Great Dial of History ...
... And one might tell by tossing it in the air and noting its fall, if he were loved
or hated by the first one he should see after learning its answer. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bacheller/vergilius/chapter 2 those days it.htm

Andromeda
... Onward they came in their joy, more white than the foam which they scattered, Laughing
and singing, and tossing and twining, while eager, the Tritons Blinded ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/andromeda and other poems/andromeda.htm

The Peculiar Sleep of the Beloved
... While luxurious effeminacy cannot rest, tossing itself from side to side upon a
bed of eider down, the hard-working labourer, with his strong and powerful limbs ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the peculiar sleep of the.htm

1875-1877. Mrs. Way's Sewing --Class for Jewesses --Bible Flower ...
... limbs than a heap of shavings on the hard floor of a room filled with noisy children,
and disorderly men and women; to other sufferers tossing feverishly in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lowe/gods answers/chapter vi 1875-1877 mrs ways.htm

Tossing (4 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) A process for refining tin by dropping it through the air while
melted. Multi-Version Concordance Tossing (4 Occurrences). ...
/t/tossing.htm - 7k

Toss (13 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) Hence, to try; to harass. 6. (vt) To keep in play; to tumble over;
as, to spend four years in tossing the rules of grammar. ...
/t/toss.htm - 10k

Labor (181 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) Any pang or distress. 6. (n.) The pitching or tossing of a vessel
which results in the straining of timbers and rigging. ...
/l/labor.htm - 38k

Threshingfloor (18 Occurrences)
... lauch eddiras; (2) the fan (fork), mizreh, Arabic midra, for separating straw from
wheat; (3) shovel, meghraphah, Arabic mirfashat, for tossing the wheat into ...
/t/threshingfloor.htm - 15k

Tossings (2 Occurrences)

/t/tossings.htm - 6k

Threshing-floor (36 Occurrences)
... lauch eddiras; (2) the fan (fork), mizreh, Arabic midra, for separating straw from
wheat; (3) shovel, meghraphah, Arabic mirfashat, for tossing the wheat into ...
/t/threshing-floor.htm - 21k

Tossest (1 Occurrence)

/t/tossest.htm - 6k

Dust (182 Occurrences)
... So the crowd which Paul addressed at Jerusalem manifested their wrath against him
by tossing about their garments and casting dust into the air (Acts 22:23). ...
/d/dust.htm - 43k

Agriculture
... This mixture of chaff and grain must now be winnowed. This is done by tossing it
into the air so that the wind may blow away the chaff (see WINNOWING). ...
/a/agriculture.htm - 27k

Galilee (73 Occurrences)
... The position of the lake makes it liable to sudden storms, the cool air from the
uplands rushing down the gorges with great violence and tossing the waters in ...
/g/galilee.htm - 67k

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