Topical Bible: Closed

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In biblical literature, the concept of "closed" can refer to various physical, spiritual, and metaphorical states. The term is used to describe situations where access is restricted, opportunities are limited, or divine actions are concealed from human understanding.

Closed Doors and Gates

In the Bible, closed doors and gates often symbolize protection, privacy, or divine intervention. In Genesis 7:16, God closes the door of Noah's ark, signifying divine protection and the finality of judgment: "The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD shut him in." This act of closing the door underscores God's sovereignty and the separation between the saved and the judged.

Similarly, in the New Testament, closed doors can represent opportunities that are no longer available. In Matthew 25:10, the parable of the ten virgins illustrates the importance of readiness for the Kingdom of Heaven: "But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut." Here, the closed door signifies the finality of judgment and the urgency of spiritual preparedness.

Closed Minds and Hearts

The Bible also speaks of closed minds and hearts, often in the context of spiritual blindness or resistance to God's message. In Isaiah 6:10, the prophet is instructed to deliver a message that will harden the hearts of the people: "Make the heart of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed." This closing is a form of judgment, reflecting the people's persistent disobedience and rejection of God's word.

In the New Testament, Jesus encounters closed hearts among the Pharisees and religious leaders who refuse to accept His teachings. In John 12:40, the apostle quotes Isaiah to explain their unbelief: "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them." This passage highlights the spiritual consequences of rejecting divine truth.

Closed Books and Scrolls

The imagery of closed books or scrolls is used in apocalyptic literature to signify hidden or sealed knowledge. In Daniel 12:4, the prophet is instructed to "close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge." The closed scroll represents divine mysteries that are not yet revealed, emphasizing God's control over the unfolding of history.

In the Book of Revelation, the opening of the sealed scroll by the Lamb (Revelation 5:1-5) marks the revelation of God's ultimate plan for redemption and judgment. The initial closure of the scroll signifies the hidden nature of God's purposes, which are revealed in His perfect timing.

Closed Wombs

The Bible also uses the concept of a closed womb to describe situations where God temporarily withholds the blessing of children. In Genesis 20:18, God closes the wombs of Abimelech's household as a consequence of taking Sarah, Abraham's wife: "For the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah." This act demonstrates God's direct involvement in human affairs and His ability to open or close wombs according to His will.

In 1 Samuel 1:5-6, Hannah's closed womb is a source of deep personal anguish, yet it ultimately leads to her fervent prayer and the birth of Samuel: "But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb. Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her and taunt her viciously." This narrative illustrates how God can use closed circumstances to bring about His greater purposes.

In summary, the concept of "closed" in the Bible encompasses a range of meanings, from physical barriers to spiritual conditions, each reflecting aspects of God's sovereignty, judgment, and the unfolding of His divine plan.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(imp. & p. p.) of Close.

Greek

2808. kleio -- to shut
... Word Origin of uncertain origin Definition to shut NASB Word Usage close (1),
closed (1), closes (1), locked (1), shut (11), shuts (1). shut. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2808.htm - 7k

4440. pulon -- a porch, gateway
... Cognate: 4440 (a masculine noun) -- "properly, 'the passage which led from the street
through the front part of the house to the inner court,' closed by a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4440.htm - 7k

4729. stenochoreo -- to be made narrow, to compress
... Cognate: 4729 (from 4728 , "narrow" and 5566, "an area, space") -- properly, to
restrict, keep in a closed space; , severely cramp; (figuratively) for someone ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4729.htm - 7k

5420. phrasso -- to fence in, to stop
... hand"). Word Origin from a root phrag- Definition to fence in, to stop
NASB Word Usage closed (1), shut (1), stopped (1). stop. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5420.htm - 6k

4428. ptusso -- to fold, ie roll up
... up (as a scroll). Word Origin a prim. verb Definition to fold, ie roll up NASB
Word Usage closed (1). close. Probably akin to petannumi ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4428.htm - 6k

2576. kammuo -- to shut the eyes
... Word Origin contr. of the comp. of kata and muo (to shut the eyes) Definition
to shut the eyes NASB Word Usage closed (2). close the eyes. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2576.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

7062. qomets -- closed hand, fist
... 7061, 7062. qomets. 7063 . closed hand, fist. Transliteration: qomets
Phonetic Spelling: (ko'mets) Short Definition: handful. Word ...
/hebrew/7062.htm - 6k

5640. satham -- to stop up, shut up, keep close
... root Definition to stop up, shut up, keep close NASB Word Usage closed (1), conceal
(1), concealed (1), cut off (1), hidden part (1), keep the secret (1 ...
/hebrew/5640.htm - 6k

5534a. sakar -- to shut up, stop up
... to shut up, stop up. Transliteration: sakar Short Definition: closed. ... root Definition
to shut up, stop up NASB Word Usage closed (1), deliver (1), stopped (1). ...
/hebrew/5534a.htm - 5k

3680. kasah -- to cover
... root Definition to cover NASB Word Usage closed (2), clothed (1), conceal (1), conceals
(8), cover (50), covered (51), covering (4), covers (20), engulfed (3 ...
/hebrew/3680.htm - 6k

6113. atsar -- to restrain, retain
... root Definition to restrain, retain NASB Word Usage able* (2), bond (5), checked
(3), closed fast (1), confined (3), could (1), detain (2), detained (1), held ...
/hebrew/6113.htm - 6k

6189. arel -- having foreskin (uncircumcised)
... Word Origin from the same as orlah Definition having foreskin (uncircumcised) NASB
Word Usage closed (1), forbidden (1), uncircumcised (31), unskilled (2). ...
/hebrew/6189.htm - 6k

1480. guphah -- a body, corpse
... Word Origin from guph Definition a body, corpse NASB Word Usage bodies (1), body
(1). body. From guwph; a corpse (as closed to sense) -- body. see HEBREW guwph. ...
/hebrew/1480.htm - 6k

3027. yad -- hand
... A primitive word; a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
in distinction from kaph, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) In a ...
/hebrew/3027.htm - 8k

5362b. naqaph -- to go around
... root Definition to go around NASB Word Usage circling (2), closed around (1), completed
cycle (1), encircling (1), encompassed (3), go around (1), gone around ...
/hebrew/5362b.htm - 5k

5462. sagar -- to shut, close
... root Definition to shut, close NASB Word Usage battle-axe (1), close (2), closed
(9), confined (1), deliver (5), delivered (6), gave over (2), given (1), given ...
/hebrew/5462.htm - 6k

Library

Closed Gates
... CLOSED GATES. If any of you boys and girls, while riding through a great
city on an express train, ever chance to put your head out ...
/.../chidley/fifty-two story talks to boys and girls/closed gates.htm

"All was Closed, and I Saw no More. " "For the Folly of Feeling a ...
... THE FIFTEENTH REVELATION CHAPTER LXVI "All was closed, and I saw no more." "For
the folly of feeling a little bodily pain I unwisely lost for the time the ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter lxvi all was closed.htm

I Closed Her Eyes; and There Flowed Withal a Mighty Sorrow into My ...
... Book IX Chapter XII I closed her eyes; and there flowed withal a mighty
sorrow into my heart? I closed her eyes; and there flowed ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter xii i closed her.htm

Not a Few Things, Too, are Closed against us and Obscured by ...
... Not a few things, too, are closed against us and obscured by ignorance of? ... Not a
few things, too, are closed against us and obscured by ignorance of music. ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 26 not a few.htm

That Thy Resurrection Might be Believed among the Gainsayers, they ...
... But they went away because they had shut Thy sepulchre and sealed it, and
closed up their own mouths. Yea they closed it, and when ...
/.../hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn viii that thy resurrection.htm

Concerning Our Lord, and Concerning Death and Satan
... Jonah emerged, after three days and came up; but Legion yea not after a long season,
for the depth of the sea closed upon him at the command. ...
/.../hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn xxxv concerning our lord.htm

Summary of the Subject.
... During the sixth and following centuries, it cannot be said that the canon of the
Greek Church was definitely closed, notwithstanding the decrees of councils ...
/.../davidson/the canon of the bible/chapter ix summary of the.htm

Communion Again Broken --Restoration
... And more than this, the door of her chamber was not only closed, but barred; an
evidence that His return was neither eagerly desired nor expected. ...
/.../taylor/union and communion/section iv communion again brokenrestoration.htm

The Body of Our Lord Placed in the Sepulchre.
... Joseph. Cassius and the soldiers closed the procession. ... The entrance of the
grotto was closed by a gate made of branches twined together. ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter lii the body of.htm

The Feeding of the Four Thousand - to Dalmanutha - the Sign from ...
... The Galilean Ministry had closed with the feeding of the five thousand, the guests
being mostly from Capernaum and the towns around, as far as Bethsaida (Julias ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxxvi the feeding of.htm

Thesaurus

Closed (47 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Close. Multi-Version Concordance Closed (47 Occurrences). ... Luke 4:20
He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. ...
/c/closed.htm - 20k

Open (586 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Free of access; not shut up; not closed; affording unobstructed ingress
or egress; not impeding or preventing passage; not locked up or covered over ...
/o/open.htm - 41k

Shut (237 Occurrences)
... book. 6. (vi) To close itself; to become closed; as, the door shuts; it
shuts hard. 7. (a.) Closed or fastened; as, a shut door. 8 ...
/s/shut.htm - 39k

Close (186 Occurrences)
... 6. (vi) To end, terminate, or come to a period; as, the debate closed at six
o'clock. ... 16. (vt) Shut fast; closed; tight; as, a close box. 17. ...
/c/close.htm - 39k

Proper (62 Occurrences)
... the loss of a pretonic vowel, as is indicated by the suspended letter in Jedidiah,
"beloved of Yahweh"; requires a short vowel in a closed unaccented syllable ...
/p/proper.htm - 57k

Lampstand (38 Occurrences)
... The open bowl was gradually closed in, first at the spout, where the rim of one
side was lapped over the other, and finally the whole surface was closed with ...
/l/lampstand.htm - 24k

Grown (77 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:15 for this people's heart has grown callous, their ears are dull of
hearing, they have closed their eyes; or else perhaps they might perceive with ...
/g/grown.htm - 30k

Gross (12 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of
hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see ...
/g/gross.htm - 11k

Window (24 Occurrences)
... Properly only an opening in a house for the admission of light and air, covered
with lattice-work, which might be opened or closed (2 Kings 1:2; Acts 20:9 ...
/w/window.htm - 16k

Waxed (57 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of
hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see ...
/w/waxed.htm - 23k

Resources

The closed canon'what are the implications? | GotQuestions.org

Should communion be open or closed? | GotQuestions.org

Is God giving people in closed countries dreams and visions to bring them to faith in Christ? | GotQuestions.org

Closed: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Closed (47 Occurrences)

Matthew 13:15
for this people's heart has grown callous, their ears are dull of hearing, they have closed their eyes; or else perhaps they might perceive with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and should turn again; and I would heal them.'
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 4:20
He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Luke 12:3
Whatever therefore you have said in the dark, will be heard in the light; and what you have whispered within closed doors will be proclaimed from the house-tops.
(WEY)

John 18:12
So the battalion and their tribune and the Jewish police closed in, and took Jesus and bound Him.
(WEY)

Acts 21:30
The excitement spread through the whole city, and the people rushed in crowds to the Temple, and there laid hold of Paul and began to drag him out; and the Temple gates were immediately closed.
(WEY)

Acts 28:27
For this people's heart has grown callous. Their ears are dull of hearing. Their eyes they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again, and I would heal them.'
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Romans 3:19
Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.
(WEB NAS)

Revelation 20:3
He closed the entrance and put a seal upon him in order that he might be unable to lead the nations astray any more until the thousand years were at an end. Afterwards he is to be set at liberty for a short time.
(WEY)

Revelation 21:25
Its gates will in no way be shut by day (for there will be no night there),
(See NAS)

Genesis 2:21
Yahweh God caused a deep sleep to fall on the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 7:16
and they that are coming in, male and female of all flesh, have come in as God hath commanded him, and Jehovah doth close 'it' for him.
(See NAS)

Genesis 8:2
And the fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were closed, and the pour of rain from heaven was stopped.
(DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 20:18
For Yahweh had closed up tight all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 14:46
"Moreover he who goes into the house while it is shut up shall be unclean until the evening.
(See NIV)

Leviticus 15:3
And this shall be his uncleanness in his flux: whether his flesh run with his flux, or his flesh be closed from his flux, it is his uncleanness.
(DBY)

Numbers 16:33
So they, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into Sheol: and the earth closed on them, and they perished from among the assembly.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 24:3
He took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says;
(WEB ASV)

Numbers 24:15
He took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says;
(WEB ASV)

Joshua 2:5
and it came to pass when the gate had to be closed, at dark, that the men went out: I know not whither the men have gone. Pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.
(DBY RSV)

Joshua 2:7
And the men pursued after them the way to the Jordan, to the fords; and when they who pursued after them had gone out, they closed the gate.
(DBY)

Judges 3:22
and the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed on the blade, for he didn't draw the sword out of his body; and it came out behind.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 3:23
Then Ehud went out into the vestibule, and closed the doors of the roof chamber upon him, and locked them.
(DBY RSV)

1 Samuel 1:5
but to Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but Yahweh had shut up her womb.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 1:6
Her rival provoked her sore, to make her fret, because Yahweh had shut up her womb.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 6:4
And for the house he made closed windows with fixed lattices.
(DBY)

1 Kings 11:27
This was the reason why he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breach of the city of David his father.
(See NAS RSV)

2 Chronicles 28:24
And Ahaz gathered the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and closed the doors of the house of Jehovah, and he made for himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
(DBY NAS)

2 Chronicles 32:30
This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper spring of the waters of Gihon, and brought them straight down on the west side of the city of David. Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
(See RSV)

Nehemiah 4:7
But it happened that when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very angry;
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Job 17:4
For you have hidden their heart from understanding, Therefore you shall not exalt them.
(See RSV NIV)

Job 19:6
know now that God has subverted me, and has surrounded me with his net.
(See NAS RSV)

Psalms 17:10
They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
(Root in KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Ecclesiastes 12:4
When the doors are shut in the street, and the sound of the crushing is low, and the voice of the bird is soft, and the daughters of music will be made low;
(See NIV)

Isaiah 1:6
From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it: wounds, welts, and open sores. They haven't been closed, neither bandaged, neither soothed with oil.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

Isaiah 29:10
For Yahweh has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, the prophets; and he has covered your heads, the seers.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Isaiah 32:3
And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken.
(See JPS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 44:18
They have no knowledge or wisdom; for he has put a veil over their eyes, so that they may not see; and on their hearts, so that they may not give attention.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 60:11
Your doors will be open at all times; they will not be shut day or night; so that men may come into you with the wealth of the nations, with their kings at their head.
(See NAS)

Jeremiah 6:10
To whom am I to give word, witnessing so that they may take note? see, their ears are stopped, and they are not able to give attention: see, the word of the Lord has been a cause of shame to them, they have no delight in it.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Lamentations 3:54
Waters flowed over my head; I said, I am cut off.
(See RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 31:15
Thus says the Lord Yahweh: In the day when he went down to Sheol I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained its rivers; and the great waters were stayed; and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him.
(See NAS)

Ezekiel 40:16
There were closed windows to the lodges, and to their posts within the gate all around, and likewise to the arches; and windows were around inward; and on each post were palm trees.
(WEB ASV DBY)

Ezekiel 41:16
the thresholds, and the closed windows, and the galleries around on their three stories, over against the threshold, with wood ceilings all around, and from the ground up to the windows, (now the windows were covered),
(WEB ASV DBY)

Ezekiel 41:26
There were closed windows and palm trees on the one side and on the other side, on the sides of the porch: thus were the side chambers of the house, and the thresholds.
(WEB ASV DBY)

Daniel 12:9
And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
(KJV DBY WBS NIV)

Jonah 2:5
The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.
(KJV WBS RSV)

Jonah 2:6
I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed upon me for ever: Yet hast thou brought up my life from the pit, O Jehovah my God.
(ASV DBY JPS RSV)

Subtopics

Closed

Closed Minds

Related Terms

Open (586 Occurrences)

Shut (237 Occurrences)

Close (186 Occurrences)

Proper (62 Occurrences)

Lampstand (38 Occurrences)

Grown (77 Occurrences)

Gross (12 Occurrences)

Window (24 Occurrences)