The term "moth-eaten" is used in the Bible to describe the destructive and corrupting influence of moths on material possessions, symbolizing the transient and perishable nature of earthly wealth and treasures. This imagery is employed to convey spiritual truths about the futility of placing trust in material goods and the importance of seeking eternal values.

In the Old Testament, the imagery of moths is often associated with decay and destruction. For instance, in Job 13:28, Job laments his condition, saying, "So man wastes away like something rotten, like a garment eaten by moths." Here, the moth-eaten garment serves as a metaphor for human frailty and the inevitable decline of life, emphasizing the temporary nature of human existence.

The prophet Isaiah also uses this imagery to illustrate the fate of those who oppose God. In Isaiah 50:9, it is written, "Behold, the Lord GOD helps Me; who is he who will condemn Me? Indeed, they will all wear out like a garment; a moth will devour them." This passage underscores the ultimate triumph of God's purposes over human opposition, likening the enemies of God to garments that are destined to be consumed by moths.

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ employs the concept of moth-eaten treasures to teach about the impermanence of earthly wealth. In the Sermon on the Mount, He instructs His followers, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal" (Matthew 6:19). This admonition highlights the vulnerability of material possessions to decay and theft, urging believers to prioritize heavenly treasures that are imperishable and secure.

James, the brother of Jesus, echoes this sentiment in his epistle, warning the rich about the fleeting nature of their wealth: "Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes" (James 5:2). This stark imagery serves as a reminder of the judgment awaiting those who hoard wealth without regard for righteousness and justice.

The concept of being "moth-eaten" thus serves as a powerful biblical metaphor for the ephemeral nature of worldly possessions and the folly of placing one's trust in them. It calls believers to a life of faithfulness, urging them to seek treasures that endure beyond the temporal realm and align with the eternal purposes of God.4598. setobrotos -- moth-eaten
... motheaten. From ses and a derivative of bibrosko; moth-eaten -- motheaten. see GREEK
ses. see GREEK bibrosko. (setobrota) -- 1 Occurrence. 4597, 4598. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4598.htm - 6k6211. ash -- a moth
... Word Origin from ashesh Definition a moth NASB Word Usage moth (5), moth-eaten*
(1). moth. From ashesh; a moth -- moth. See also Ayish. see HEBREW ashesh. ...
/hebrew/6211.htm - 6k

398. akal -- to eat
... entirely consumed (1), feast (1), fed (8), feed (10), food (4), give him to eat
(1), had (2), has enough (1), lived off (1), meal* (1), moth-eaten* (1), plenty ...
/hebrew/398.htm - 6k

The Heart with the Treasure.
... heart which haunts the treasure-house where the moth and rust corrupt, will be exposed
to the same ravages as the treasure, will itself be rusted and moth-eaten ...
/.../macdonald/unspoken sermons/the heart with the treasure.htm

Letters to Olympias.
... For the railings, and insults, and reproaches, and gibes inflicted by enemies, and
their plots are compared to a worn-out garment, and moth-eaten wool when God ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chrysostom/on the priesthood/letters to olympias.htm

The Sins of the Elect and of the Penitent are of Many Kinds, but ...
... From some he received the branches withered and moth-eaten; those who returned branches
in that state the angel of the Lord ordered to stand apart. ...
/.../pastor/the pastor books first second third/similitude eighth the sins of.htm

Introductory Notice to the Early Liturgies.
... The specimens here given are like cloth of gold (Psalm 45:13), moth-eaten and patched,
and spangled over with tinsel; and the true artist has only the one ...
/.../various/early liturgies/introductory notice to the early.htm

Preface. What is Sanctification?
... What does holiness mean?" They are demanding of the pulpit and of the church editor
something more than the time-worn and moth-eaten excuses for not teaching a ...
/.../rees/the heart-cry of jesus/preface what is sanctification.htm

James v. 1-6
... Your riches are corrupted and your garments moth-eaten: Your gold and silver is
cankered, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat ...
/.../neander/the epistle of james practically explained/james v 6-jan.htm

The Conflict Between Capital and Labor.
... "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth eaten. ...
/.../pink/the redeemers return/7 the conflict between capital.htm

October the First a Wonderful Unbelief
... And yet what is the quality of our faith? It is often weak and reluctant,
riddled with timidities, or moth-eaten with worldly ease. ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/october the first a wonderful.htm

To what the Soul May be Compared which is a Prey to the Attacks of ...
... For the garment that is moth-eaten has no longer any commercial value or good use
to which it can be put; and in the same way [954] the wood that is worm-eaten ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter iii to what the.htm

Job was not Without Sin.
... Thou hast watched all my works, and hast inspected the soles of my feet,
which wax old like a bottle, or like a moth-eaten garment. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 14 name was not.htm

Motheaten (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Motheaten (1 Occurrence). James 5:2 Your riches
are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. (KJV). ...
/m/motheaten.htm - 6k

Moth-eaten (2 Occurrences)
Moth-eaten. Motheaten, Moth-eaten. Mother . Multi-Version Concordance ... (WEB JPS
ASV WBS NAS RSV). Motheaten, Moth-eaten. Mother . Reference Bible.
/m/moth-eaten.htm - 6k

Moth (10 Occurrences)
... Hebrews `ash, from a root meaning "to fall away," as moth-eaten garments fall
to pieces (Job 4:19; 13:28; Isaiah 50:9; 51:8; Hosea 5:12). Gr. ...
/m/moth.htm - 13k

Rotten (9 Occurrences)
... James 5:2 Your wealth is become rotten, and your garments moth-eaten. ... Job 13:28 though
I am decaying like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten. ...
/r/rotten.htm - 9k

Moths (3 Occurrences)
... (n.) Plural of Moth. Multi-Version Concordance Moths (3 Occurrences). James 5:2
your riches have rotted, and your garments have become moth-eaten; (See NIV). ...
/m/moths.htm - 7k

Mother (2641 Occurrences)

/m/mother.htm - 17k

Wastes (33 Occurrences)
... for themselves. (YLT). Job 13:28 though I am decaying like a rotten thing,
like a garment that is moth-eaten. (See RSV NIV). Job 14 ...
/w/wastes.htm - 16k

Wine-skin (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Wine-skin (2 Occurrences). Job 13:28 Though I am like
a rotten thing that consumeth, Like a garment that is moth-eaten. (See JPS). ...
/w/wine-skin.htm - 6k

Treasures (77 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). James 5:2 Your treasures have
rotted, and your piles of clothing are moth-eaten; (WEY). ...
/t/treasures.htm - 31k

Rotted (4 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Rotted (4 Occurrences). James 5:2 Your treasures have
rotted, and your piles of clothing are moth-eaten; (WEY YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/r/rotted.htm - 7k

Why is so much of the world still unevangelized? | GotQuestions.org

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