Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5200 Human civilisation  »  5418 monotony

The sameness that arises through dull and wearisome routines, and which cause individuals to feel bored. Scripture often portrays monotony as a cause of sin, in that individuals, in seeking excitement, often fall into sinful practices.

Monotony can give rise to sin

Discontent in the desert

Numbers 11:4-6 See also Exodus 16:2-3,35; Numbers 14:33 The monotony of 40 years in the desert was a judgment on Israel's unbelief.

At Sinai impatience leads to idolatry

Exodus 32:1 See also Exodus 32:23; Acts 7:40

Situations which give rise to monotony

Desert

Psalm 107:4-5 See also Deuteronomy 1:19; Isaiah 40:30; Mark 1:12-13

Prison

Psalm 107:10 See also Judges 16:21; Psalm 66:11; Jeremiah 38:6; Matthew 4:12; Revelation 2:10

Illness

Psalm 107:17-18 See also Leviticus 26:15-16; Job 30:16-17; Psalm 6:3; Luke 13:11; John 5:5

Storm at sea

Psalm 107:25-26 See also Jonah 2:3; Acts 27:27

Darkness

Psalm 143:3 See also Exodus 10:22; Psalm 130:6; Mark 15:33; Luke 2:8

Work

Genesis 3:17-19 See also Job 7:2; Ecclesiastes 2:11; Galatians 6:9; Revelation 2:2-3

Siege

2 Kings 6:25 See also 2 Kings 25:2; Isaiah 36:12

Slavery

Exodus 2:23 See also Job 7:2; 1 Timothy 6:1; 1 Peter 2:18

Sleeplessness

Job 7:4 See also Esther 6:1; Job 30:17; Ecclesiastes 5:12; Daniel 6:18; Hebrews 12:3

Monotony arising from difficult human relations

A nagging wife

Proverbs 19:13 See also Proverbs 27:15

Unhelpful counsellors

Job 6:6 This refers to the useless advice of Job's friends. See also Colossians 4:6 This, by contrast, is how the conversation of Christians is to be characterised.

See also

2575  Christ, temptation
5297  disease
5537  sleeplessness
5628  work
7221  exodus, the