The term "extinguish" in the biblical context often refers to the act of quenching, putting out, or suppressing something, typically fire or light. It is used both literally and metaphorically throughout the Scriptures to convey the cessation of a force or influence.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, the concept of extinguishing is frequently associated with fire, which is a common symbol of God's presence, judgment, and purification. For example, in Isaiah 43:17, God speaks of extinguishing the power of enemies: "who brings out the chariot and horse, the army and the mighty man (they will lie down together, they will not rise again; they have been extinguished, quenched like a wick)." Here, the imagery of extinguishing a wick underscores the total and irreversible defeat of adversaries by divine intervention.

The idea of extinguishing is also present in the context of God's judgment. In Ezekiel 32:7, God declares, "When I extinguish you, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light." This passage uses the imagery of extinguishing celestial bodies to describe the comprehensive nature of God's judgment against Egypt.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, the concept of extinguishing is often used metaphorically, particularly in relation to the Holy Spirit and spiritual fervor. In 1 Thessalonians 5:19, the Apostle Paul exhorts believers, "Do not extinguish the Spirit." This command highlights the importance of maintaining sensitivity and responsiveness to the Holy Spirit's guidance and work in the life of a believer. The metaphor of extinguishing suggests that the Spirit's influence can be suppressed or stifled by neglect, disobedience, or sin.

The imagery of extinguishing is also used in the context of spiritual warfare. In Ephesians 6:16, Paul instructs believers to take up "the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Here, the act of extinguishing refers to the defensive power of faith to nullify and render ineffective the attacks and temptations of Satan.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the concept of extinguishing carries significant implications for understanding the nature of God's power, judgment, and the believer's spiritual life. The ability of God to extinguish signifies His sovereignty and ultimate authority over creation and history. It serves as a reminder of the finality of His judgments and the futility of opposing His will.

For believers, the exhortation not to extinguish the Spirit underscores the necessity of cultivating a vibrant and active relationship with God. It calls for vigilance against anything that might dampen spiritual zeal or hinder the work of the Holy Spirit. The metaphor of extinguishing in spiritual warfare emphasizes the protective and overcoming power of faith, encouraging believers to rely on God's strength in the face of spiritual challenges.

In summary, the biblical use of "extinguish" encompasses both the literal and metaphorical, illustrating God's power to overcome and the believer's responsibility to maintain spiritual vitality.1. (v. t.) To quench; to put out, as a light or fire; to stifle; to cause to die out; to put an end to; to destroy; as, to extinguish a flame, or life, or love, or hope, a pretense or a right.

2. (v. t.) To obscure; to eclipse, as by superior splendor.

4570. sbennumi -- to quench
... to quench. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sbennumi Phonetic Spelling:
(sben'-noo-mee) Short Definition: I extinguish, suppress Definition: (a) I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4570.htm - 6k

3133. maraino -- to quench, waste away
... fade away. Of uncertain affinity; to extinguish (as fire), ie (figuratively and
passively) to pass away -- fade away. (maranthesetai) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3133.htm - 6k

4717. stauroo -- to fence with stakes, to crucify
... crucify. From stauros; to impale on the cross; figuratively, to extinguish
(subdue) passion or selfishness -- crucify. see GREEK stauros. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4717.htm - 8k

2193. zaak -- to extinguish
... to extinguish. Transliteration: zaak Phonetic Spelling: (zaw-ak') Short Definition:
extinguished. ... root Definition to extinguish NASB Word Usage extinguished (1). ...
/hebrew/2193.htm - 5k

3518. kabah -- to be quenched or extinguished, to go out
... root Definition to be quenched or extinguished, to go out NASB Word Usage extinguish
(5), go (3), goes (1), gone (1), put (1), quench (4), quenched (8 ...
/hebrew/3518.htm - 6k

1 Thessalonians v. 19-22
... Suffer not a violent blast of wickedness to fall upon these, since it would extinguish
the lamp, but close them up with the fear of God. The mouth is the door. ...
/.../homily xi 1 thessalonians v.htm

Manich??an Blasphemies Concerning the Nature of God.
... to God. But God wished to extinguish it, as Manich??us most openly raves forth
in his epistle of the ruinous Foundation. For forgetting ...
/.../chapter 42 name blasphemies concerning.htm

Ephesians iv. 25-27
... as there are many things in the daytime to banish it, thou art free to indulge it;
but as soon as ever the evening comes on, be reconciled, extinguish the evil ...
/.../homily xiv ephesians iv 25-27.htm

The Necessity of Divine Influences. [*Continued]
... And yet, guilt is the very essence of sin. Extinguish the criminality, and
you extinguish the inmost core and heart of moral evil. ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/the necessity of divine influences 2.htm

The Fourth Trumpet.
... v.7, the same paraphrast turns that passage concerning Pharaoh""And when I shall
extinguish thee, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the fourth trumpet.htm

"And the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son Cleanseth us from all Sin. ...
... And this alone can quench and extinguish the flames and furies of a tormented
soul, that is burned up with the apprehension of his anger. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xv and the blood.htm

The Old and the New Birth.
... in what way they may escape evil, and in what way tend to future blessings; and
how, being regenerate in water, they may by good works extinguish the fire of ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter vii the old and the.htm

Concerning the Sacrament of Baptism
... Yet, though Satan has not been able to extinguish the virtue of baptism in the case
of little children, still he has had power to extinguish it in all adults ...
/.../first principles of the reformation/concerning the sacrament of baptism.htm

The Ship on Fire --A Voice of Warning
... The fire-engine was brought out upon the deck of the burning ship; attempts were
made to extinguish the fire; but the mischief was far too much in power to be ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/the ship on firea voice.htm

Proposition Though the Necessity and Indispensableness of all the ...
... But now nature has given us only some small sparks of right reason, which we so
quickly extinguish with corrupt opinions and evil practices, that the true ...
/.../v proposition v though the.htm

Extinguish (6 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To quench; to put out, as a light or fire; to stifle; to cause to die out;
to put an end to; to destroy; as, to extinguish a flame, or life, or love ...
/e/extinguish.htm - 8k

Quench (14 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To extinguish; to overwhelm; to make an end of; -- said of flame and fire,
of things burning, and figuratively of sensations and emotions; as, to ...
/q/quench.htm - 12k

Extinguished (14 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Extinguish. Multi-Version Concordance
Extinguished (14 Occurrences). Leviticus 6:12 And ...
/e/extinguished.htm - 10k

Throw (135 Occurrences)
... an engine; to propel; to send; as, to throw stones or dust with the hand; a cannon
throws a ball; a fire engine throws a stream of water to extinguish flames. ...
/t/throw.htm - 38k

Extinction (4 Occurrences)

/e/extinction.htm - 7k

Expiate (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (vt) To make complete satisfaction for; to atone for; to make amends for; to
extinguish the guilt of by sufferance of penalty or some equivalent; to make ...
/e/expiate.htm - 7k

Eclipse
... 4. (vt) To obscure, darken, or extinguish the beauty, luster, honor, etc., of;
to sully; to cloud; to throw into the shade by surpassing. ...
/e/eclipse.htm - 8k

Drown (5 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To deprive of life by immersion in water or other liquid. 4. (vt) To overpower;
to overcome; to extinguish; -- said especially of sound. ...
/d/drown.htm - 8k

Discourage (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To extinguish the courage of; to dishearten; to depress the spirits of;
to deprive of confidence; to deject; -- the opposite of encourage; as, he was ...
/d/discourage.htm - 7k

Death (1610 Occurrences)
... here to the dreadful punishment of the ancients of chaining the living body to a
corpse, that the constant corruption of death might extinguish the life of the ...
/d/death.htm - 68k

What is the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16)? | GotQuestions.org

What is the full armor of God? | GotQuestions.org

What is the breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14)? | GotQuestions.org

Extinguish: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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