In biblical literature, the term "snatches" is often associated with sudden or forceful actions, typically involving the removal or taking away of something or someone. This concept can be found in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, illustrating both divine intervention and human actions.

Old Testament References

1. Divine Protection and Deliverance: The idea of God "snatching" His people from danger is a recurring theme. In Psalm 18:16, David praises God for His deliverance: "He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters." This imagery conveys God's swift and powerful intervention to rescue His faithful from peril.

2. Judgment and Consequence: The prophets often use the concept of snatching to describe God's judgment. In Hosea 5:14, God declares, "For I will be like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry them off, and no one will rescue them." Here, the act of snatching is a metaphor for the impending judgment and exile of the people due to their unfaithfulness.

New Testament References

1. Spiritual Warfare: In the New Testament, the concept of snatching is used in the context of spiritual warfare. In John 10:28-29, Jesus assures His followers of their security in Him: "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand." This passage emphasizes the believer's eternal security and the impossibility of being forcibly removed from God's protection.

2. Parables and Teachings of Jesus: Jesus uses the imagery of snatching in His parables to illustrate spiritual truths. In the Parable of the Sower, found in Matthew 13:19, Jesus explains, "When anyone hears the message of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart." This highlights the spiritual battle for the hearts and minds of individuals, where the enemy seeks to prevent the Word of God from taking root.

3. The Rapture: The concept of being "snatched away" is also associated with eschatological events, particularly the rapture of the church. In 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Paul describes the event: "After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord." The term "caught up" is often understood as a sudden and forceful removal of believers from the earth to meet Christ.

Theological Implications

The theme of snatching in the Bible underscores the power and sovereignty of God in both judgment and salvation. It reflects the urgency and decisiveness of divine actions, whether in delivering the faithful, executing judgment, or securing the eternal destiny of believers. The imagery serves as a reminder of the spiritual realities that govern the lives of individuals and the ultimate authority of God over all creation.726. harpazo -- to seize, catch up, snatch away
... root harp- Definition to seize, catch up, snatch away NASB Word Usage carry off
(1), caught (4), snatch (2), snatched...away (1), snatches (1), snatches away (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/726.htm - 7k5337. natsal -- to strip, plunder, deliver oneself, be delivered ...
... 1), preserved (1), recover (1), recovered (2), rescue (11), rescued (5), saves
(1), separate (1), snatched (1), snatched away (1), snatches (1), spared (3 ...
/hebrew/5337.htm - 6k

Wagner -- I am a Voice
... John is little known. Of him there remain only a few traits of physiognomy
and a few snatches of discourse. But these snatches are ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume 10/wagner i am a.htm

The Ten virgins.
... the night wears on, the conversation that had at first been animated, gradually
dies away, and one by one the wearied damsels drop over into snatches of slumber ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/xiii the ten virgins.htm

But we Need no Longer Show in this Narrow Way the Drawback of this ...
... But the larger owner of this possession is never envied; he who snatches the lion's
share does no damage to him who claims equal participation; as each is ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/chapter iv but we need.htm

First Part of the Book.
... The third that snatches a reward from a good deed is boasting by him that does the
good deed, as the Pharisee did, of whom GOD said to the folk that stood ...
/.../the form of perfect living and other prose treatises/first part of the book.htm

Introduction.
... We get snatches of their inspired lyrics in the song of Moses and Miriam, the song
of Deborah and Barak, and the song of Hannah (sometimes called "the Old ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/introduction.htm

Plans of Marriage
... farther away from it. Such are God's secret paces, Who snatches souls like
a thief: He drops on them without warning. Till the very ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/iv plans of marriage.htm

Psalms
... the dead. The labour of drawing water, of reaping the fields or gathering
the vintage, was relieved by snatches of song. There was ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/psalms.htm

The Next Morning, Diamond's Mother Said to his Father...
... Diamond resumed his singing. For some time he carolled snatches of everything or
anything; but at last it settled down into something like what follows. ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 33 the next morning.htm

Argument: nor Can it be Said that the Christians Conceal what they ...
... supplicates God; he who cultivates justice makes offerings to God; he who abstains
from fraudulent practices propitiates God; he who snatches man from danger ...
/.../felix/the octavius of minucius felix/chapter xxxii argument nor can it.htm

The He-Said Girl
... THE HE-SAID GIRL. Sometimes, when I am walking along the street, I catch snatches
of conversation as I pass by a group of little girls. ...
/.../chidley/fifty-two story talks to boys and girls/the he-said girl.htm

Snatches (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Snatches (5 Occurrences). ... The wolf snatches the sheep,
and scatters them. (WEB NAS RSV). Job 9:12 Behold, he snatches away. ...
/s/snatches.htm - 7k

Snatched (15 Occurrences)

/s/snatched.htm - 10k

Doesn't (300 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom, and doesn't understand
it, the evil one comes, and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart ...
/d/doesn't.htm - 34k

Understand (208 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom, and doesn't understand
it, the evil one comes, and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart ...
/u/understand.htm - 36k

Leaves (55 Occurrences)
... coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep, and scatters
them. (WEB WEY DBY NAS RSV). 1 Corinthians 7:15 But ...
/l/leaves.htm - 24k

Flock (242 Occurrences)
... and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep, and scatters them. (See NIV). John
10:16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I ...
/f/flock.htm - 39k

Flees (19 Occurrences)
... The wolf snatches the sheep, and scatters them. (WEB DBY NAS RSV). John 10:13 The
hired hand flees because he is a hired hand, and doesn't care for the sheep. ...
/f/flees.htm - 11k

Roadside (9 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom, and doesn't understand
it, the evil one comes, and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart ...
/r/roadside.htm - 9k

Restrain (31 Occurrences)
... soul. (DBY WBS NAS RSV). Job 9:12 Behold, he snatches away. Who can hinder
him? Who will ask him,'What are you doing?' (See NAS). ...
/r/restrain.htm - 15k

Road (155 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom, and doesn't understand
it, the evil one comes, and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart ...
/r/road.htm - 37k

What is the rapture of the church? | GotQuestions.org

What is an evangelist? | GotQuestions.org

What are the definitions of some common theological terms? | GotQuestions.org

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