Topical Bible: The Eye: The Jews: Cast, on the Ground in Humiliation

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In biblical literature, the eye often symbolizes perception, understanding, and judgment. Within the context of the Jewish people, the imagery of the eye being cast on the ground in humiliation is a powerful metaphor for divine judgment and the consequences of disobedience to God's covenant.

The concept of the eye being cast down is rooted in the broader biblical theme of humility and the consequences of sin. In the Old Testament, the Jewish people are repeatedly reminded of the importance of obedience to God's laws and the repercussions of turning away from His commandments. When the Israelites strayed from their covenantal obligations, they often faced divine retribution, which was sometimes depicted through vivid imagery, including the casting down of the eye.

One of the most poignant examples of this theme is found in the prophetic literature, where the prophets warned Israel and Judah of impending judgment due to their unfaithfulness. The imagery of the eye being cast down can be seen as a metaphor for the loss of divine favor and the resulting shame and humiliation. This is particularly evident in the writings of the prophet Isaiah, who frequently called the people to repentance and warned of the dire consequences of their actions.

In Isaiah 3:16-17 , the prophet speaks against the pride and haughtiness of the daughters of Zion, saying, "The LORD also says: 'Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, walking with heads held high and wanton eyes, prancing and skipping as they go, jingling their bracelets, the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will make their foreheads bare.'" Here, the "wanton eyes" symbolize arrogance and self-reliance, which are met with divine judgment, resulting in humiliation.

The theme of the eye being cast down is also evident in the historical narratives of the Old Testament, where the Jewish people experienced periods of exile and subjugation due to their disobedience. The Babylonian exile, for instance, is a significant event where the Israelites faced the ultimate humiliation of being removed from their land and subjected to foreign rule. This period of exile is often interpreted as a time when the Jewish people were forced to confront their spiritual blindness and the consequences of their actions.

In the New Testament, the theme of spiritual blindness and the need for humility continues. Jesus frequently addressed the spiritual leaders of His time, criticizing their inability to see the truth and their reliance on outward appearances rather than genuine faith. In Matthew 23:26 , Jesus admonishes the Pharisees, saying, "Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well." Here, the emphasis is on the need for inner transformation and humility before God.

The imagery of the eye being cast down serves as a reminder of the importance of humility, repentance, and the need to seek God's guidance. It underscores the biblical principle that true understanding and wisdom come from acknowledging one's dependence on God and aligning one's life with His will.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 18:13
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but smote on his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

New Teaching in Parables' - the Parables to the People by the Lake ...
... to land, prove fit only to be cast away, into the ... of endless punishment was the common
belief of the Jews. ... the generation which seeth, blessed the eye which is ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxiii new teaching in.htm

H. The Crucifixion. Ch. 23:26-38
... And parting his garments among them, they cast lots.35 ... and hailing him as "King of
the Jews." This last ... In place of this superscription the eye of faith sees ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/h the crucifixion ch 23 26-38.htm

Psalm XLIV.
... day there are not wanting enemies of Christ (those very Jews themselves), against ...
of the blind man, he does not see the eye-salve in ... "Arise, and cast us not ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xliv.htm

Sermons on Selected Lessons of the Gospels.
... Harvest, two kinds of, one among Jews, the other amongst Gentiles, [1290]422; we ...
inveterate anger, [1292]286 sq.; the beam in the eye to be cast out, [1293 ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of.htm

The Jewish War and the Destruction of Jerusalem. AD 70
... Jewish war was written by him as eye-witness about ad ... Coins were cast with the legend
Judaea capta, Judaea ... of the temple furniture borne by captive Jews on the ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 38 the jewish war.htm

A Little Sanctuary
... The Jews excited much prejudice, for, as their great adversary ... who rested not till
they had cast him into a ... shrine to which the Hebrew turned his eye: he prayed ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 34 1888/a little sanctuary.htm

The Seventh Book
... words of the Divine Scripture addressed to the Jews who trusted ... of the multitude
of thine iniquities have I cast thee to ... For the church of God is like an eye. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/salvian/on the government of god/the seventh book.htm

The Sacrifice of the Body
... which was familiar to Romans as well as Jews, and the ... our activities done by means
of brain and eye and tongue ... upwards'; how is the beast to be 'cast out'; how ...
/.../romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/the sacrifice of the body.htm

The Healing of the Man Born Blind.
... formal question now put to him by the Jews was as ... as regards saliva, its application
to the eye is expressly ... If he died, stones were cast on his coffin, nor ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ix the healing of.htm

Calvary
... While the leading Jews deny Him, and even the disciples ... No eye could pierce the gloom
that surrounded the cross ... were broken open, and the dead were cast out of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 78 calvary.htm