Trim
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Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Usage:
The term "trim" in the context of the Bible generally refers to the act of making something neat, orderly, or prepared. It is often associated with the preparation and maintenance of lamps, as well as the adornment or arrangement of garments and other items. The concept of trimming can be both literal and metaphorical, symbolizing readiness, vigilance, and the maintenance of spiritual life.

Biblical References:

1. Parable of the Ten Virgins:
The most notable biblical reference to trimming is found in the Parable of the Ten Virgins in the Gospel of Matthew. In this parable, Jesus describes ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were wise and five were foolish. The wise virgins took oil in jars along with their lamps, while the foolish ones did not. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, a cry rang out that the bridegroom was coming. The virgins arose and "trimmed their lamps" (Matthew 25:7). The act of trimming the lamps signifies preparation and readiness for the coming of the bridegroom, a metaphor for Christ's return.

2. Symbolism of Readiness:
The trimming of lamps in the parable symbolizes spiritual vigilance and preparedness. Just as the virgins needed to ensure their lamps were ready to provide light, believers are called to maintain their spiritual lives, keeping their faith and actions aligned with God's will. The wise virgins' preparedness contrasts with the foolish virgins' lack of foresight, highlighting the importance of being spiritually ready for the return of Christ.

3. Old Testament References:
While the specific term "trim" is not frequently used in the Old Testament, the concept can be seen in various practices related to the maintenance and preparation of sacred items. For example, the priests were responsible for maintaining the lamps in the Tabernacle, ensuring they were kept burning continually (Exodus 27:20-21). This duty required regular trimming and replenishing of oil, symbolizing the ongoing need for spiritual diligence and care.

4. Metaphorical Application:
Beyond its literal application, trimming can also be understood metaphorically in the context of spiritual life. Believers are encouraged to "trim" their lives by removing sin and distractions, thereby allowing their faith to shine brightly. This involves regular self-examination, repentance, and adherence to God's commandments, ensuring that one's life is in order and ready for the Lord's return.

Theological Implications:
The concept of trimming, particularly in the Parable of the Ten Virgins, carries significant theological implications. It underscores the necessity of spiritual preparedness and the importance of living a life that reflects readiness for Christ's second coming. The parable serves as a warning to believers to remain vigilant and to actively cultivate their relationship with God, ensuring that they are not caught unprepared when the time comes.

In summary, the biblical notion of trimming, while seemingly simple, carries profound spiritual significance. It calls believers to a life of readiness, vigilance, and ongoing spiritual maintenance, reflecting a heart prepared for the return of the Savior.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (v. t.) To make trim; to put in due order for any purpose; to make right, neat, or pleasing; to adjust.

2. (v. t.) To dress; to decorate; to adorn; to invest; to embellish; as, to trim a hat.

3. (v. t.) To make ready or right by cutting or shortening; to clip or lop; to curtail; as, to trim the hair; to trim a tree.

4. (v. t.) To dress, as timber; to make smooth.

5. (v. t.) To adjust, as a ship, by arranging the cargo, or disposing the weight of persons or goods, so equally on each side of the center and at each end, that she shall sit well on the water and sail well; as, to trim a ship, or a boat.

6. (v. t.) To arrange in due order for sailing; as, to trim the sails.

7. (v. t.) To rebuke; to reprove; also, to beat.

8. (v. i.) To balance; to fluctuate between parties, so as to appear to favor each.

9. (n.) Dress; gear; ornaments.

10. (n.) Order; disposition; condition; as, to be in good trim.

11. (n.) The state of a ship or her cargo, ballast, masts, etc., by which she is well prepared for sailing.

12. (n.) The lighter woodwork in the interior of a building; especially, that used around openings, generally in the form of a molded architrave, to protect the plastering at those points.

13. (v. t.) Fitly adjusted; being in good order., or made ready for service or use; firm; compact; snug; neat; fair; as, the ship is trim, or trim built; everything about the man is trim; a person is trim when his body is well shaped and firm; his dress is trim when it fits closely to his body, and appears tight and snug; a man or a soldier is trim when he stands erect.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
TRIM

The only non-modern use is in Jeremiah 2:33, "How trimmest thou thy way to seek love!" used for yatabh, "to make good," here "to study out," and the whole phrase means "to walk in an artificial manner," "like a courtesan."

Greek
2885. kosmeo -- to order, arrange
... adorn, garnish, trim. From kosmos; to put in proper order, ie Decorate (literally
or figuratively); specially, to snuff (a wick) -- adorn, garnish, trim. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2885.htm - 7k

2899. kraspedon -- a border, tassel
... edge, corner, tassel. 2899 -- the hem (border, trim) of a garment. 2899 ()
refers to the of a garment, especially with . Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2899.htm - 6k

4938. suntrimma -- a fracture, fig. a calamity
... a calamity. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: suntrimma Phonetic Spelling:
(soon-trim'-mah) Short Definition: crushing, destruction Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4938.htm - 6k

5150. trimenon -- of three months
... of three months. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: trimenon Phonetic Spelling:
(trim'-ay-non) Short Definition: lasting three months Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5150.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew
2168. zamar -- to trim, prune
... 2167, 2168. zamar. 2169 . to trim, prune. Transliteration: zamar Phonetic Spelling:
(zaw-mar') Short Definition: prune. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/2168.htm - 6k

3697. kasam -- to shear, clip
... to shear, clip. Transliteration: kasam Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-sam') Short Definition:
trim. ... root Definition to shear, clip NASB Word Usage only trim (1). ...
/hebrew/3697.htm - 6k

6213. asah -- do, make
... to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, X sacrifice,
serve, set, shew, X sin, spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very ...
/hebrew/6213.htm - 6k

6213a. asah -- do, make
... 16), showed (6), showing (2), shown (9), shows (3), spend (1), surely show (1),
take action (6), thoroughly deal (1), treat (3), tried (1), trim (1), trimmed (1 ...
/hebrew/6213a.htm - 8k

3190. yatab -- to be good, well, glad, or pleasing
... be, make) good((-ness)), be (make) merry, please (+ well), shew more (kindness),
skilfully, X very small, surely, make sweet, thoroughly, tire, trim, very, be ...
/hebrew/3190.htm - 7k

Library

Love's Complaining
... IT WAS the work of the priest to go into the holy place and to trim the seven-branched
lamp of gold: see how our Great High Priest walketh in the midst of the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 32 1886/loves complaining.htm

As Regards Our Reverend Friend Epiphanius, this is Strange ...
... word as dearest' which ought to have been honourable!' But what is all this to you
who can control all events by your prudent methods, and can trim your path ...
/.../23 as regards our reverend.htm

Behold the Bridegroom Cometh
... Then live, O soul, aright,. And watch the hour, and trim thy lamp. ... And for grief
and anguish cry; Take thy lamp, with oil, and trim it,. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the greek church/behold the bridegroom cometh.htm

I Beware when Slumber Binds Thee
... Then live, O soul, aright,. And watch the hour, and trim thy lamp,. ... And for
grief and anguish cry; Take thy lamp, with oil, and trim it,. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the russian church/i beware when slumber binds.htm

The Equipment of the Servants
... Do you want your lights to blaze? You trim them"though it is a strange mixture
of metaphor"you trim them when you gird your loins. III. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the equipment of the servants.htm

The Welcome visitor
... And that hair of hers, I doubt not all dishevelled"might she not have arranged that
a little, and prepared her dress, and made herself trim for the Lord? Ah! ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 61 1915/the welcome visitor.htm

Book Eleven the Eternal Creator and the Creation in Time. ...
... for us. Trim away from my lips, inwardly and outwardly, all rashness and
lying. Let thy Scriptures be my chaste delight. Let me ...
/.../augustine/confessions and enchiridion/book eleven the eternal creator.htm

Hymns, Festival and Occasional.
... Nature in awe of Him Had doffed her gaudy trim With her great Master so to sympathize. *
* * *. No war nor battle sound Was heard the world around. ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter xiii hymns festival and.htm

The Lawful and Unlawful Use of Law.
... You know that he will not trim, and balance, and hang doubtful, or become a partisan;
but that he will seize some great principle which lies at the root of the ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/xix the lawful and unlawful.htm

Liii. The Contemplation of Death.
... The trim gardens blazing with hollyhocks and large white lilies, and the orchards
with the apples shewing their rosy cheeks to the sun. ...
/.../liii the contemplation of death.htm

Thesaurus
Trim (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To make trim; to put in due order for
any purpose; to make right, neat, or pleasing; to adjust. ...
/t/trim.htm - 9k

Trimmed (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Trim. Multi-Version Concordance
Trimmed (7 Occurrences). Matthew 25:7 Then all those virgins ...
/t/trimmed.htm - 8k

Barber
... Judges 16:19. Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) One whose occupation it is to shave
or trim the beard, and to cut and dress the hair of his patrons. ...
/b/barber.htm - 11k

Trigon (3 Occurrences)

/t/trigon.htm - 7k

Lip (20 Occurrences)
... 7. (vt) To touch with the lips; to put the lips to; hence, to kiss. 8. (vt) To utter;
to speak. 9. (vt) To clip; to trim. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. LIP. ...
/l/lip.htm - 18k

Fill (126 Occurrences)
... 7. (v.) To press and dilate, as a sail; as, the wind filled the sails. 8. (v.) To
trim (a yard) so that the wind shall blow on the after side of the sails. ...
/f/fill.htm - 36k

Prime (3 Occurrences)
... mischief. 18. (v.) To trim or prune, as trees. 19. (v.) To mark with a prime
mark. 20. (vi) To be renewed, or as at first. 21. (vi ...
/p/prime.htm - 9k

Pick (37 Occurrences)
... stones; to pick up information. 9. (v.) To trim. 10. (vi) To eat slowly,
sparingly, or by morsels; to nibble. 11. (vi) To do anything ...
/p/pick.htm - 18k

Plough (11 Occurrences)
... through, as in sailing. 10. (vt) To trim, or shave off the edges of, as a
book or paper, with a plow. See Plow, n., 5. 11. (n.) To cut ...
/p/plough.htm - 11k

Prune (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To lop or cut off the superfluous parts, branches, or shoots of; to clear
of useless material; to shape or smooth by trimming; to trim: as, to prune ...
/p/prune.htm - 7k

Resources
Why do men have nipples? | GotQuestions.org

Trim: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Trim (4 Occurrences)

Deuteronomy 21:12
then you shall bring her home to your house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails;
(See NAS NIV)

Jeremiah 2:33
Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.
(Root in KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Ezekiel 44:20
Neither shall they shave their heads, nor allow their locks to grow long; they shall only cut off the hair of their heads.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 4:14
He cried aloud, and said thus, Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the animals get away from under it, and the fowls from its branches.
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Trim

Related Terms

Beard (23 Occurrences)

Mephibosheth (13 Occurrences)

Trim (4 Occurrences)

Trimmers (8 Occurrences)

Virgins (33 Occurrences)

Lamps (45 Occurrences)

Grandson (14 Occurrences)

Garnish (1 Occurrence)

Woke (10 Occurrences)

Themselves (911 Occurrences)

Torches (18 Occurrences)

Raw (10 Occurrences)

Roused (24 Occurrences)

Mephib'osheth (13 Occurrences)

Maidens (40 Occurrences)

Mustache (3 Occurrences)

Bridesmaids (4 Occurrences)

Bearing (150 Occurrences)

Candlestick (34 Occurrences)

Shook (33 Occurrences)

Snuffers (8 Occurrences)

Snuffdishes (3 Occurrences)

Rose (279 Occurrences)

Safety (72 Occurrences)

Safely (83 Occurrences)

Dressed (77 Occurrences)

Fortified (79 Occurrences)

Fort (8 Occurrences)

Fortress (75 Occurrences)

Fortification (5 Occurrences)

Washed (113 Occurrences)

Cities (427 Occurrences)

Trigon
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