In the biblical context, the term "captors" refers to those who have taken others into captivity, often as a result of war or conquest. The concept of captivity is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures, reflecting both physical and spiritual dimensions.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament frequently addresses the theme of captivity, particularly in relation to the Israelites. The most notable instance is the Babylonian Exile, where the people of Judah were taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar and exiled to Babylon. This event is chronicled in several books, including 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and the prophetic writings of Jeremiah and Ezekiel. In 2 Kings 24:14 , it is recorded, "He carried into exile all Jerusalem: all the commanders and mighty men of valor, all the craftsmen and metalsmiths—ten thousand captives in all. Only the poorest people of the land remained."

The experience of captivity was often seen as a consequence of Israel's disobedience to God. In Deuteronomy 28, Moses warns the Israelites of the curses that would befall them if they turned away from the Lord, including being taken captive by their enemies (Deuteronomy 28:41): "You will father sons and daughters, but they will not remain yours, for they will go into captivity."

Despite the harsh reality of captivity, the Old Testament also offers hope for deliverance and restoration. The prophets frequently spoke of God's promise to bring His people back from captivity. Jeremiah 29:14 declares, "I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore you from captivity and gather you from all the nations and places to which I have banished you, declares the LORD. I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of captivity takes on a more spiritual dimension. The Apostle Paul speaks of spiritual captivity in terms of being enslaved to sin. In Romans 7:23 , he writes, "But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me."

However, the New Testament also proclaims the victory over spiritual captors through Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 4:8 , Paul quotes Psalm 68:18, saying, "When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men." This passage is often interpreted as Christ's triumph over sin and death, liberating those who were held captive by these spiritual forces.

Theological Implications

The theme of captors and captivity in the Bible underscores the consequences of sin and disobedience, as well as the hope of redemption and freedom through God's intervention. It serves as a reminder of the physical and spiritual bondage that humanity faces and the deliverance that is available through faith in God. The narrative of captivity and liberation is central to the biblical message, illustrating God's justice, mercy, and faithfulness to His covenant people.7617. shabah -- to take captive
... root Definition to take captive NASB Word Usage captives (2), captors (2), captors
captive (1), captured (4), carried (4), carried away captive (1), carried ...
/hebrew/7617.htm - 6k

Christ and his Captors
... CHRIST AND HIS CAPTORS. 'As soon then as He had said unto them, I am He, they went
backward, and fell to the ground. Then asked He them again, Whom seek ye? ...
/.../christ and his captors.htm

The Captive Christ and the Circle Round Him
... Christianity. Christ, in His persecuted confessors, puts the same question to
the persecutors which Christ in the flesh put to His captors. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the captive christ and the.htm

Miracles of Destruction.
... on them. He had astonished and terrified his captors to gain of them his
sole request"that his friends should go unhurt. There ...
/.../macdonald/miracles of our lord/x miracles of destruction.htm

The Retreat from Scythia.
... to sea. The Amazons rose upon their captors and threw them overboard, and
thus obtained possession of the ships. They immediately ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/darius the great/chapter ix the retreat from.htm

The Arrest.
... steps to the front and asks, "Whom seek ye?" Jesus, in order that He might screen
His disciples, wished at once to be identified by His captors themselves as ...
/.../dods/the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol ii/xvii the arrest.htm

San Josef
... He could not comprehend that his new captors liberated him: he had been over reached
and trepanned by one set of white men, and he naturally looked on his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter ix san josef.htm

The Arrest
... It is not necessary to suppose that there was anything preternatural, though part
of the terror of His captors may have been the dread lest He should destroy ...
/.../stalker/the trial and death of jesus christ/chapter i the arrest.htm

Letter cxi. (November, AD 409. )
... 7. Most calamitous, and much to be bewailed, is the captivity of chaste and holy
women; but their God is not in the power of their captors, nor does He forsake ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter cxi november a d 409.htm

Sacrifice.
... Even when the city had fallen and her captors hearing of his counsel offered him
security and a position in Babylonia, he chose instead to share the fortunes ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/3 sacrifice.htm

Christ the Deliverer.
... "Release to the captives" and "liberty to the bruised""ill-treated by their
captors"was to them a precious proclamation, looked forward to with great ...
/.../vii christ the deliverer.htm

Captors (9 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Captors (9 Occurrences). 1 Kings 8:47 and they
have turned 'it' back unto their heart in the land whither ...
/c/captors.htm - 9k

Mercies (62 Occurrences)
... have sinned against Thee, even all their transgressions which they have transgressed
against Thee, and hast given them mercies before their captors, and they ...
/m/mercies.htm - 25k

Inherited (23 Occurrences)
... their place, And the house of Israel have inherited them, On the land of Jehovah,
For men-servants and for maid-servants, And they have been captors of their ...
/i/inherited.htm - 13k

Exactors (8 Occurrences)
... their place, And the house of Israel have inherited them, On the land of Jehovah,
For men-servants and for maid-servants, And they have been captors of their ...
/e/exactors.htm - 9k

Menservants (19 Occurrences)
... their place, And the house of Israel have inherited them, On the land of Jehovah,
For men-servants and for maid-servants, And they have been captors of their ...
/m/menservants.htm - 12k

Maid-servants (25 Occurrences)
... their place, And the house of Israel have inherited them, On the land of Jehovah,
For men-servants and for maid-servants, And they have been captors of their ...
/m/maid-servants.htm - 14k

Ruled (84 Occurrences)
... their place, And the house of Israel have inherited them, On the land of Jehovah,
For men-servants and for maid-servants, And they have been captors of their ...
/r/ruled.htm - 31k

Refusing (21 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 50:33 Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: Oppressed are the sons of Israel, And
the sons of Judah together, And all their captors have kept hold on them, They ...
/r/refusing.htm - 12k

Malchus (1 Occurrence)
... The words of Jesus, "Suffer ye thus far," may have been addressed either to the
disciples, ie "Suffer ye that I thus far show kindness to my captors," or to ...
/m/malchus.htm - 8k

Spoilers (19 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Psalms 137:3 For there our captors asked us the words of a song, And
our spoilers -- joy: 'Sing ye to us of a song of Zion.' (YLT). ...
/s/spoilers.htm - 12k

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