The term "stagger" in the Bible often conveys a sense of instability, wavering, or uncertainty, both in a physical and spiritual context. It is used to describe the physical act of stumbling or losing balance, as well as the spiritual state of doubt or lack of faith.

Physical Staggering:

In a literal sense, "stagger" is used to describe the physical act of stumbling or losing one's balance. This can be due to intoxication, weakness, or exhaustion. For example, in Isaiah 29:9 , the prophet describes a state of spiritual blindness and confusion among the people: "Stop and be astonished; blind yourselves and be sightless; be drunk, but not with wine; stagger, but not from strong drink." Here, the physical act of staggering is used metaphorically to describe a deeper spiritual disorientation.

Spiritual Staggering:

Spiritually, "stagger" is often used to describe a lack of faith or trust in God's promises. In Romans 4:20 , the Apostle Paul speaks of Abraham's unwavering faith: "Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God." The term "waver" here is akin to staggering, indicating a spiritual steadiness and confidence in God's word.

Prophetic Imagery:

The prophets frequently use the imagery of staggering to depict the judgment and disobedience of Israel. In Isaiah 51:17 , the prophet calls Jerusalem to awaken from its spiritual stupor: "Awake, awake! Rise up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of His wrath, you who have drained to its dregs the goblet that makes men stagger." This passage uses the imagery of staggering to illustrate the consequences of divine judgment and the need for repentance.

Moral and Ethical Implications:

Staggering can also imply moral and ethical instability. In Psalm 107:27 , the psalmist describes those who are at their wits' end: "They reeled and staggered like drunkards, and all their skill was useless." This verse highlights the futility of human efforts without divine guidance, emphasizing the need for reliance on God.

Faith and Assurance:

Conversely, the absence of staggering is associated with faith and assurance in God's promises. In Hebrews 10:23 , believers are encouraged to hold fast to their hope: "Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful." This steadfastness contrasts with the notion of staggering, underscoring the importance of unwavering faith.

In summary, the concept of staggering in the Bible serves as a powerful metaphor for both physical and spiritual instability. It calls believers to examine their faith, trust in God's promises, and seek spiritual steadiness through reliance on divine guidance.1. (n.) To move to one side and the other, as if about to fall, in standing or walking; not to stand or walk with steadiness; to sway; to reel or totter.

2. (n.) To cease to stand firm; to begin to give way; to fail.

3. (n.) To begin to doubt and waver in purposes; to become less confident or determined; to hesitate.

4. (v. t.) To cause to reel or totter.

5. (v. t.) To cause to doubt and waver; to make to hesitate; to make less steady or confident; to shock.

6. (v. t.) To arrange (a series of parts) on each side of a median line alternately, as the spokes of a wheel or the rivets of a boiler seam.

7. (n.) An unsteady movement of the body in walking or standing, as if one were about to fall; a reeling motion; vertigo; -- often in the plural; as, the stagger of a drunken man.

8. (n.) A disease of horses and other animals, attended by reeling, unsteady gait or sudden falling; as, parasitic staggers; appopletic or sleepy staggers.

9. (n.) Bewilderment; perplexity.

1252. diakrino -- to distinguish, to judge
... to discriminate (by implication, decide), or (reflexively) hesitate -- contend,
make (to) differ(-ence), discern, doubt, judge, be partial, stagger, waver. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1252.htm - 9k3782. kashal -- to stumble, stagger, totter
... 3781, 3782. kashal. 3783 . to stumble, stagger, totter. Transliteration: kashal
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-shal') Short Definition: stumble. Word Origin a prim ...
/hebrew/3782.htm - 6k

5128. nua -- to quiver, wave, waver, tremble, totter
... tremble, totter NASB Word Usage disturb (1), moving (1), reels (1), scatter (1),
set trembling (1), shake (4), shaken (4), shook (1), stagger (3), staggered (1 ...
/hebrew/5128.htm - 6k

8582. taah -- to err
... leads them astray (1), leads to ruin (1), led my astray (2), led them astray (3),
led...astray (2), misled (1), reels (1), seduced (1), stagger (3), staggers (1 ...
/hebrew/8582.htm - 6k

8653. tarelah -- a reeling
... Word Origin from raal Definition a reeling NASB Word Usage reeling (2), stagger
(1). astonishment, trembling. From ra'al; reeling -- astonishment, trembling. ...
/hebrew/8653.htm - 6k

1607. gaash -- to shake, quake
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to shake, quake NASB Word Usage shaken (3),
shook (2), stagger (1), surge (2), toss (1). move, shake, toss, trouble. ...
/hebrew/1607.htm - 6k

1 Cor. Ii. 1, 2
... Now he sheweth that both the thing itself which was preached, and the manner of
preaching it, were enough to stagger people; and yet did not stagger them. ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily vi 1 cor ii.htm

Entire Sanctification
... Many stagger at the term perfection in Christianity; because they think that what
is implied in it is inconsistent with a state of probation, and savors of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/clarke/entire sanctification/entire sanctification.htm

The Needle of the Compass of Need.
... I might add that there are a billion people in these two-thirds. But that figure
is so big as only to stagger the mind in an attempt to take it in. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks with world winners/the needle of the compass.htm

Hebrews xi. 17-19
... He enjoined things that were in contradiction to the promises, and yet not even
so did the righteous man stagger, nor say he had been deceived. ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxv hebrews xi 17-19.htm

The Prophecies
... Is.29: "Be amazed and wonder, people of Israel; stagger and stumble, and be drunken,
but not with wine; stagger, but not with strong drink. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pascal/pensees/section xi the prophecies.htm

A Prince's Bride
... The old man shook his head and looked away to see a man-servant stagger out
under a load of splendid carpets. The old woman came close. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/miller/the city of delight/chapter i a princes bride.htm

On the Road
... staff in his hand, and with God's blessing upon him and His Eucharistic Presence
in his heart, stepped out cheerfully on a journey that would stagger most men. ...
/.../greater things the story of saint stanislaus kostka /chapter i on the road.htm

Praying Charlie.
... "Alas!" said he, "I know not what to say, being a child: for these pains may stagger
a strong man; but I will strive to endure the best I can." Upon this he ...
/.../wesley/stories of boys and girls who loved the saviour/praying charlie.htm

Truth Hidden when not Sought After.
... they are told that able men are ranged on contrary sides in religious questions,
they either hastily deny the fact, or they are startled, and stagger in their ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon xiii truth hidden when.htm

How to Make Use of Christ, as Truth, for Comfort, when Truth is ...
... This is a very trying dispensation, as we see it was to the holy penman of Psalm
73.for it made him to stagger, so that his feet were almost gone, and his ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter xiv how to make.htm

Stagger (20 Occurrences)
... An unsteady movement of the body in walking or standing, as if one were about to
fall; a reeling motion; vertigo; -- often in the plural; as, the stagger of a ...
/s/stagger.htm - 13k

Reel (6 Occurrences)
... 7. (vi) To incline, in walking, from one side to the other; to stagger. ... You
have made us drink the wine that makes us stagger. (See RSV). ...
/r/reel.htm - 9k

Drunken (38 Occurrences)
... He makes them stagger like a drunken man. ... Psalms 107:27 They reel back and forth,
and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. ...
/d/drunken.htm - 18k

Totter (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To shake so as to threaten a fall; to vacillate;
to be unsteady; to stagger; as, an old man totters with age. ...
/t/totter.htm - 8k

Swallowed (43 Occurrences)
... Psalms 107:27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at
their wits end. (See JPS YLT). ... They stagger with strong drink. ...
/s/swallowed.htm - 20k

Ceased (80 Occurrences)
... Judges 9:9 And the olive saith to them, Have I ceased from my fatness, by which
they honour gods and men, that I have gone to stagger over the trees? (YLT). ...
/c/ceased.htm - 29k

Visions (43 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 28:7 But these also reel through wine, and stagger through strong drink;
the priest and the prophet reel through strong drink, they are confused because ...
/v/visions.htm - 20k

Confused (13 Occurrences)
... (WEB). Isaiah 28:7 And even these reel with wine, and stagger with strong drink;
the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine ...
/c/confused.htm - 10k

Staggered (4 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Stagger. ... Psalms 107:27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a
drunken man, And are at their wits end. (See JPS NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/staggered.htm - 7k

Stumble (89 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To trip in walking or in moving in any way with the legs; to strike the
foot so as to fall, or to endanger a fall; to stagger because of a false step. ...
/s/stumble.htm - 34k

Summary of the Book of Ephesians - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

Stagger: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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