Dampness, as a concept, is not directly addressed in the Bible; however, it can be understood through its association with water, moisture, and the effects of weather, which are frequently mentioned in Scripture. In biblical times, the climate and weather patterns played a significant role in the daily lives of the people, influencing agriculture, health, and living conditions.

Symbolism and Imagery

Dampness, through its association with water, can symbolize both life and destruction. Water is a vital element for sustaining life, as seen in the necessity of rain for crops and the provision of water for drinking. In Isaiah 55:10 , it is written, "For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat." Here, the beneficial aspect of moisture is highlighted as a divine provision for growth and sustenance.

Conversely, excessive dampness or water can also represent judgment and destruction. The Great Flood in Genesis 7 is a prime example, where God used the waters to cleanse the earth of its wickedness. Genesis 7:11-12 states, "On that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And the rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights." This event underscores the dual nature of water as both a life-giving and a purifying force.

Health and Living Conditions

In the context of health and living conditions, dampness can be associated with challenges and discomfort. The ancient Israelites, like many ancient peoples, would have been familiar with the effects of dampness on their homes and health. Leviticus 14:34-35 addresses the issue of mildew in houses, "When you enter the land of Canaan that I am giving you as a possession, and I put a mildew contamination in a house in the land you possess, the owner of the house shall come and tell the priest, ‘Something like mildew has appeared in my house.’" This passage indicates an awareness of the problems associated with dampness and the need for cleanliness and purification.

Spiritual Lessons

Dampness, through its connection to water, can also serve as a metaphor for spiritual truths. In John 4:14 , Jesus speaks of the living water, "But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life." Here, the life-giving aspect of water is used to illustrate the spiritual nourishment and eternal life offered through Christ.

Furthermore, the presence of moisture or dampness can remind believers of the need for spiritual renewal and cleansing. Just as physical dampness can lead to decay if unchecked, spiritual neglect can lead to moral and spiritual decay. Ephesians 5:26 speaks of Christ's desire to sanctify the church, "to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word." This emphasizes the importance of regular spiritual cleansing and renewal through the Word of God.

In summary, while dampness itself is not a primary focus in the Bible, its associations with water and moisture provide rich symbolism and practical lessons for understanding God's provision, judgment, and the need for spiritual renewal.(n.) Moderate humidity; moisture; fogginess; moistness.2429. ikmas -- moisture
... word Definition moisture NASB Word Usage moisture (1). moisture. Of uncertain affinity;
dampness -- moisture. (ikmada) -- 1 Occurrence. 2428, 2429. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2429.htm - 6k

The Prince Returns
... The sheep, indeed, would not have flourished in that dampness, rich as it was in
young grass, but, more than that, there was no shelter for the wounded man who ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter xii the prince returns.htm

The Last Smile of the Muse
... up his post. The dampness of the climate had given him a sort of chronic
bronchitis which the summer had not cured. He had difficulty ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/i the last smile of.htm

Death of Jovian; the Life of Valentinian, and his Confidence in ...
... [1439] Some say that his death was occasioned by eating too plentiful a supper;
others attribute it to the dampness of the chamber in which he slept; for it ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/chapter vi death of jovian the.htm

May the Thirteenth Commonplace Fidelities
... Our discourtesies to one another impair our worship of God. The neglect of the
"pointing" of a house may lead to dampness and fatal disease. ...
/.../may the thirteenth commonplace fidelities.htm

Christian Churches.
... It soon became evident that edifices sunk in such awkward places could hardly answer
their purpose, on account of dampness and the want of air and light. ...
/.../lanciani/pagan and christian rome/chapter iii christian churches.htm

Chapter twenty-three
... The Bishop sat in a deep, easy chair before the open fire. There was just enough
dampness in the early spring of the year to make an open fire pleasant. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter twenty-three.htm

The Way of Transgressors.
... And from frequently taking cold, through imprudence, the susceptibility had become
so great, that the slightest dampness of the feet or the exposure to a light ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arthur/words for the wise/the way of transgressors.htm

The Scaffolding Left in the Body
... the tide was out, and finally, as the struggle for life grew keen, it pushed further
and further inland, continuing its migration so long as dampness was to be ...
/.../the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter ii the scaffolding left.htm

The Life of Malchus, the Captive Monk.
... One party, in view of approaching winter, and wishing to prevent their store from
being converted into grass through the dampness of the ground, were cutting ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/the life of malchus the.htm

Eighth Tractate. On the Nature and Source of Evil.
... would admit contrariety if it were not for their common element, the Matter, about
which are gathered the warmth and dryness of one and the dampness and cold ...
/.../plotinus/the six enneads/eighth tractate on the nature.htm

Dampness (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Dampness (1 Occurrence). Song of Songs 5:2 I
was asleep, but my heart was awake. It is the voice of my ...
/d/dampness.htm - 6k

Damp (1 Occurrence)
... voice of my beloved who knocks: "Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled;
for my head is filled with dew, and my hair with the dampness of the ...
/d/damp.htm - 7k

Knocks (5 Occurrences)
... voice of my beloved who knocks: "Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled;
for my head is filled with dew, and my hair with the dampness of the ...
/k/knocks.htm - 7k

Undefiled (7 Occurrences)
... voice of my beloved who knocks: "Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled;
for my head is filled with dew, and my hair with the dampness of the ...
/u/undefiled.htm - 9k

Dams (2 Occurrences)

/d/dams.htm - 6k

Cold (25 Occurrences)
... 13. (n.) A morbid state of the animal system produced by exposure to cold or dampness;
a catarrh. 14. (vi) To become cold. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/c/cold.htm - 18k

Air (74 Occurrences)
... 20. (n.) To expose to heat, for the purpose of expelling dampness, or of warming;
as, to air linen; to air liquors. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. AIR. ...
/a/air.htm - 34k

Cloud (119 Occurrences)
... on the seacoast there is apt to blow up from the South a considerable number of
low cirro-stratus clouds which seem to fill the air with dampness, making more ...
/c/cloud.htm - 51k

Asleep (50 Occurrences)
... voice of my beloved who knocks: "Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled;
for my head is filled with dew, and my hair with the dampness of the ...
/a/asleep.htm - 23k

Dampness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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