In biblical terminology, the concept of "narrowed" often relates to the idea of restriction, limitation, or a path that is less traveled. This concept is most prominently featured in the teachings of Jesus Christ, particularly in the context of the path to salvation and righteousness.

The Narrow Path

The most direct reference to the concept of "narrowed" is found in the teachings of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. In Matthew 7:13-14 , Jesus states, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Here, the "narrow gate" symbolizes the challenging and disciplined path of following Christ, which requires commitment, sacrifice, and adherence to His teachings.

Spiritual Implications

The narrow path is often interpreted as the way of true discipleship. It implies a life of obedience to God's commandments, a commitment to holiness, and a rejection of worldly temptations. The narrowness of the path suggests that it is not the popular or easy choice, but it is the one that leads to eternal life. This teaching emphasizes the importance of discernment and the need to choose the path of righteousness over the more appealing but ultimately destructive ways of the world.

Old Testament Parallels

While the specific term "narrowed" is not frequently used in the Old Testament, the concept can be seen in the call to holiness and the covenant relationship between God and Israel. For instance, in Deuteronomy 30:19-20 , Moses exhorts the Israelites to "choose life, so that you and your descendants may live, and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him." This choice between life and death, blessing and curse, reflects the narrowed path of obedience and faithfulness to God.

Theological Reflections

Theologically, the narrow path is often associated with the doctrine of sanctification, where believers are called to grow in holiness and Christlikeness. It underscores the necessity of grace, as the ability to walk the narrow path is not achieved through human effort alone but through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. The narrow path also highlights the counter-cultural nature of the Christian faith, which often stands in contrast to societal norms and values.

Practical Application

For believers, the call to enter through the narrow gate is a daily challenge. It involves making choices that align with biblical principles, engaging in spiritual disciplines such as prayer, study of Scripture, and fellowship with other believers. It also requires a willingness to endure persecution or hardship for the sake of the Gospel, as Jesus warned that following Him would not be without cost (Matthew 16:24-25).

In summary, the concept of "narrowed" in the biblical context serves as a powerful metaphor for the Christian journey. It calls believers to a life of intentionality, commitment, and reliance on God's grace as they seek to follow the path that leads to eternal life.(imp. & p. p.) of Narrow.4052. migraah -- a recess, ledge
... Word Origin from gara Definition a recess, ledge NASB Word Usage offsets (1). narrowed
rest. From gara'; a ledge or offset -- narrowed rest. see HEBREW gara'. ...
/hebrew/4052.htm - 6k

As God, So Worshipper
... practical idolaters. They are narrowed and lowered to correspond with
their gods. Low ideals can never lead to lofty lives. The ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/as god so worshipper.htm

Jesus' Conditions of Friendship.
... They were broad enough to include all men; yet by their conditions they were
so narrowed down that only a few seemed able to accept them. ...
/.../miller/personal friendships of jesus/chapter iv jesus conditions of.htm

On the Interpretation of Scripture
... Different individuals or bodies of Christians have a different point of view,
to which their interpretation is narrowed or made to conform. ...
/.../on the interpretation of scripture.htm

Archaisms in the Hymns
... Glossary, p.186). It was only gradually that the sense of the word was
narrowed to express angry feeling alone. The earlier and ...
/.../iii archaisms in the hymns.htm

Introduction
... striking feature. The subject, even thus narrowed, will give us more than
can be satisfactorily treated in a few pages. First, I ...
/.../lawlor/st bernard of clairvauxs life of st malachy of armagh/introduction.htm

The King --Continued.
... can he be set forth as the king of Israel; now the width of the promise which at
first had embraced the seed of the woman, and then had been narrowed to the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/xii the kingcontinued.htm

The Dramatic Element in Speaking
... It is to be feared, however, that this prejudice has narrowed many preachers
down to a pulpit style almost devoid of warmth and action. ...
/.../kleiser/talks on talking/the dramatic element in speaking.htm

General Review of the Question: Summary of the Evidence; and ...
... This discussion narrowed to a single issue (p.244)."That S. Mark's Gospel was imperfect
from the very first, a thing altogether incredible (p.246):"But ...
/.../chapter xii general review of.htm

General Review of the Question: Summary of the Evidence; and ...
... This discussion narrowed to a single issue (p.244)."That S. Mark's Gospel was imperfect
from the very first, a thing altogether incredible (p.246):"But ...
/.../chapter xii general review of.htm

The Conversion of Paul.
... Young in years, he discovered no symptom of that generous spirit, and that tenderness
of feeling, which are expected before the heart is narrowed and hardened ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xii the conversion of.htm

Narrowed (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Narrow. Multi-Version Concordance
Narrowed (1 Occurrence). 1 Kings 6:6 The nethermost chamber ...
/n/narrowed.htm - 6k

Narrow (21 Occurrences)

/n/narrow.htm - 14k

Voice (651 Occurrences)
... 11. (vt) To utter with sonant or vocal tone; to pronounce with a narrowed glottis
and rapid vibrations of the vocal cords; to speak above a whisper. 12. ...
/v/voice.htm - 38k

Narrower (3 Occurrences)

/n/narrower.htm - 7k

Narrowing (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) The act of contracting, or of making or becoming less in breadth or extent.
3. (n.) The part of a stocking which is narrowed. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/n/narrowing.htm - 7k

Open (586 Occurrences)
... in say. 11. (a.) Uttered, as a consonant, with the oral passage simply
narrowed without closure, as in uttering s. 12. (a.) Not ...
/o/open.htm - 41k

Gad (78 Occurrences)
... Jabbok. It thus included the whole of the Jordan valley as far north as
to the Sea of Galilee, where it narrowed almost to a point. ...
/g/gad.htm - 49k

Fishing (4 Occurrences)
... to form a bottom. The compass of the net is then narrowed, and the fish
are emptied from the net into the boat. Sometimes the net ...
/f/fishing.htm - 13k

Truth (380 Occurrences)
... An example is Ephesians 4:15, where the original meaning "being true," ie in all
respects, is narrowed to "speaking the truth." II. General View. ...
/t/truth.htm - 57k

Rests (25 Occurrences)
... five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven
cubits broad: for without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests round ...
/r/rests.htm - 13k

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