The term "slacken" generally refers to the act of becoming less active, intense, or firm. In a biblical context, it often relates to the idea of diminishing in diligence, fervor, or commitment, particularly in one's spiritual life or duties. The concept of slackening can be found in various passages throughout the Bible, where it serves as a warning against spiritual complacency and a call to maintain steadfastness in faith and obedience.

Biblical References:

1. Proverbs 18:9 : "Whoever is slack in his work is brother to him who destroys." This proverb highlights the dangers of slackness in one's responsibilities. It equates a lack of diligence with destructive behavior, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong work ethic and commitment to one's duties.

2. Hebrews 6:12 : "Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." Here, the author of Hebrews warns against spiritual sluggishness, urging believers to emulate the faith and perseverance of those who have gone before them. The passage underscores the necessity of active faith and patience in the Christian walk.

3. Ecclesiastes 10:18 : "Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks." This verse metaphorically illustrates the consequences of slackness and neglect. It serves as a reminder that spiritual and practical diligence is essential to prevent deterioration and maintain stability in one's life.

4. 2 Peter 3:9 : "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." While this verse speaks of God's patience rather than human slackness, it contrasts divine patience with human perceptions of delay. It reassures believers of God's faithfulness and encourages them to remain steadfast in anticipation of His promises.

Theological Implications:

In the biblical narrative, slackness is often associated with a lack of faithfulness and vigilance. It is seen as a spiritual danger that can lead to moral and ethical decay. The Bible consistently calls believers to be diligent in their faith, to persevere in good works, and to remain watchful against the temptations and distractions that can lead to spiritual slackening.

The concept of slackening also ties into the broader biblical theme of stewardship. Believers are called to be faithful stewards of the gifts, talents, and responsibilities entrusted to them by God. This includes maintaining a fervent spirit in serving the Lord (Romans 12:11) and being diligent in fulfilling one's calling and duties.

Practical Application:

For Christians, the admonition against slackening serves as a call to examine one's spiritual life and commitments. It encourages believers to remain vigilant in prayer, study of the Scriptures, and service to others. By doing so, they can guard against the complacency that can lead to spiritual decline.

In the context of the church, leaders and members alike are urged to encourage one another in love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25), fostering a community that is active and engaged in its mission. This collective diligence helps to build up the body of Christ and advance the Kingdom of God on earth.1. (v.) To become slack; to be made less tense, firm, or rigid; to decrease in tension; as, a wet cord slackens in dry weather.

2. (v.) To be remiss or backward; to be negligent.

3. (v.) To lose cohesion or solidity by a chemical combination with water; to slake; as, lime slacks.

4. (v.) To abate; to become less violent.

5. (v.) To lose rapidity; to become more slow; as, a current of water slackens.

6. (v.) To languish; to fail; to flag.

7. (v.) To end; to cease; to desist; to slake.

8. (v. t.) To render slack; to make less tense or firm; as, to slack a rope; to slacken a bandage.

9. (v. t.) To neglect; to be remiss in.

10. (v. t.) To deprive of cohesion by combining chemically with water; to slake; as, to slack lime.

11. (v. t.) To cause to become less eager; to repress; to make slow or less rapid; to retard; as, to slacken pursuit; to slacken industry.

12. (v. t.) To cause to become less intense; to mitigate; to abate; to ease.

13. (n.) A spongy, semivitrifled substance which miners or smelters mix with the ores of metals to prevent their fusion.

5465. chalao -- to slacken
... to slacken. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: chalao Phonetic Spelling:
(khal-ah'-o) Short Definition: I let down, lower Definition: I let down, lower ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5465.htm - 6k

3935. pariemi -- to pass by or over, to relax
... by or over, to relax. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: pariemi Phonetic Spelling:
(par-ee'-ay-mi) Short Definition: I neglect, omit, slacken Definition: (a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3935.htm - 6k

447. aniemi -- to send up, produce, send back
... forbear, give up, loosen. From ana and hiemi (to send); to let up, ie (literally)
slacken or (figuratively) desert, desist from -- forbear, leave, loose. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/447.htm - 7k

7503. raphah -- sink, relax
... A primitive root; to slacken (in many applications, literal or figurative) -- abate,
cease, consume, draw (toward evening), fail, (be) faint, be (wax) feeble ...
/hebrew/7503.htm - 6k

1809. dalal -- to hang, be low, languish
... A primitive root (compare dalah); to slacken or be feeble; figuratively, to be
oppressed -- bring low, dry up, be emptied, be not equal, fail, be impoverished ...
/hebrew/1809.htm - 6k

Of Blasphemy. One of St. Paul's Sayings.
... with idolaters and adulterers, and the other criminals, saying, "Otherwise ye would
go out from the world," [268] of course he does not so slacken those reins ...
/.../tertullian/on idolatry/chapter xiv of blasphemy one of.htm

The Unchangeableness of God
... hand of Saul.' What Christian can say he does not find a change in his graces; that
the bow of his faith never unbends, the strings of his viol never slacken? ...
/.../watson/a body of divinity/4 the unchangeableness of god.htm

To Monna Alessa Clothed with the Habit of Saint Dominic, when She ...
... I beg thee by the love of Jesus Christ crucified, dearest my daughter, do not slacken
in prayer: nay, redouble it"for I have greater need thereof than thou ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to monna alessa clothed with.htm

To Don Giovanni of the Cells of Vallombrosa
... to begin anew with me to lose ourselves, and to seek only the honour of God in the
salvation of souls, without any slavish fear: never to slacken our steps ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to don giovanni of the.htm

To Urban vi
... without the other would avail little, but would rather inspire us with wrath and
pride: and when it came to correcting our intimates it would slacken its pace ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to urban vi 2.htm

The Teaching of Contemplative Life in Praying, Meditating, Fasting ...
... scarcely taking the needs of the body, so that it may be burning in fulfilling these;
and, all feigning being cast out, it should not slacken day and night to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter ii the teaching of.htm

"True Love Teacheth us that we Should Hate Sin Only for Love. " " ...
... our sin, and then are we stirred of the Holy Ghost by contrition unto prayer and
desire for the amending of our life with all our mights, to slacken the wrath ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter xl true love teacheth.htm

"I Beheld the Property of Mercy, and I Beheld the Property of ...
... And when I saw all this, it behoved me needs to grant that the mercy of God and
the forgiveness is to slacken and waste our wrath. Footnotes: ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter xlviii i beheld the.htm

Unfruitful Works of Darkness
... But the difficulty of obedience does not affect the duty of obedience, nor
slacken in the smallest degree the stringency of a command. ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/unfruitful works of darkness.htm

An Unwalled City
... We can picture to ourselves some little garrison holding a lonely outpost against
lurking savages ready to attack if ever the defenders slacken their vigilance ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/an unwalled city.htm

Slacken (1 Occurrence)
... 8. (vt) To render slack; to make less tense or firm; as, to slack a rope; to slacken
a bandage. 9. (vt) To neglect; to be remiss in. 10. ...Slacken (1 Occurrence). ...
/s/slacken.htm - 7k

Surge (6 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) To let go or slacken suddenly, as a rope; as, to surge a hawser or messenger;
also, to slacken the rope about (a capstan). Multi-Version Concordance ...
/s/surge.htm - 8k

Slack (19 Occurrences)
... rope or of a sail. 9. (a.) Alt. of Slacken. 10. (vt) Alt. of Slacken.
Multi-Version Concordance Slack (19 Occurrences). 2 Peter 3:9 The ...
/s/slack.htm - 12k

Lag (1 Occurrence)
... 8. (n.) See Graylag. 9. (vi) To walk or more slowly; to stay or fall behind;
to linger or loiter. 10. (vt) To cause to lag; to slacken. 11. ...
/l/lag.htm - 7k

Guest-chamber (4 Occurrences)
... Kataluma is derived from kataluo, which means "to slacken," ie the ropes of the
beasts of burden, and hence, "to lodge." Kataluma has accordingly often the ...
/g/guest-chamber.htm - 8k

Guestchamber (2 Occurrences)
... Kataluma is derived from kataluo, which means "to slacken," ie the ropes of the
beasts of burden, and hence, "to lodge." Kataluma has accordingly often the ...
/g/guestchamber.htm - 8k

Relax (5 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) To make lax or loose; to make less close, firm, rigid, tense, or the like;
to slacken; to loosen; to open; as, to relax a rope or cord; to relax the ...
/r/relax.htm - 9k

Relent (15 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To slacken; to abate. 4. (vt) To soften; to dissolve. 5. (vt) To mollify ;
to cause to be less harsh or severe. 6. (n.) Stay; stop; delay. ...
/r/relent.htm - 11k

Slackened (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (pp) of Slacken. Multi-Version Concordance Slackened
(2 Occurrences). Nehemiah 6:9 For they all would have ...
/s/slackened.htm - 7k

Slow (43 Occurrences)
... dull. 9. (adv.) Slowly. 10. (vt) To render slow; to slacken the speed of;
to retard; to delay; as, to slow a steamer. 11. (vi) To ...
/s/slow.htm - 21k

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