Definition and Usage:
In biblical terms, "stirring" often refers to the act of arousing, awakening, or inciting emotions, actions, or spiritual awareness. It can denote both positive and negative connotations depending on the context in which it is used. The concept of stirring is frequently associated with the movement of the Holy Spirit, the awakening of faith, or the incitement to action, whether for good or ill.

Old Testament References:

1. Stirring by God:
In the Old Testament, God often stirs the hearts of individuals or nations to fulfill His divine purposes. For example, in the book of Ezra, God stirs the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia, to make a proclamation allowing the Israelites to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Ezra 1:1 states, "In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing."

2. Stirring to Action:
The stirring of the spirit is also seen in the context of motivating individuals to take action. In Judges 13:25 , the Spirit of the LORD begins to stir Samson, preparing him for the role he would play in delivering Israel from the Philistines: "And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol."

New Testament References:

1. Stirring of the Holy Spirit:
In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in stirring the hearts of believers. The Spirit's work is evident in the early church, where believers are moved to speak boldly and act in faith. Acts 4:31 describes such an event: "After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."

2. Stirring Up Spiritual Gifts:
The Apostle Paul encourages believers to stir up the spiritual gifts within them. In 2 Timothy 1:6 , Paul writes to Timothy, "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands." This stirring is an exhortation to actively engage and develop the gifts given by God for the edification of the church and the advancement of the Gospel.

Theological Implications:

1. Divine Initiative:
The concept of stirring underscores the divine initiative in human affairs. Whether it is God stirring the heart of a pagan king or the Holy Spirit moving within the church, it highlights God's sovereignty and active involvement in guiding history and individual lives according to His will.

2. Human Responsibility:
While God initiates the stirring, there is an element of human responsibility to respond. Believers are called to be attentive to the Spirit's prompting and to act in obedience. This dynamic interaction between divine stirring and human response is central to the life of faith.

3. Spiritual Awakening:
Stirring is often associated with spiritual awakening and revival. It signifies a renewed awareness of God's presence and a call to return to Him with fervor and commitment. This awakening can lead to personal transformation and communal renewal, as seen in various biblical revivals.

Practical Application:

Believers are encouraged to remain sensitive to the stirring of the Holy Spirit in their lives. This involves regular prayer, engagement with Scripture, and openness to the Spirit's leading. By doing so, they can discern God's will and be empowered to act in ways that align with His purposes. Additionally, believers are called to encourage one another, stirring up love and good deeds within the community of faith, as exhorted in Hebrews 10:24 : "And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds."1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Stir.

2. (a.) Putting in motion, or being in motion; active; active in business; habitually employed in some kind of business; accustomed to a busy life.

5016. tarache -- a disturbance, stirring up
... a disturbance, stirring up. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: tarache
Phonetic Spelling: (tar-akh-ay') Short Definition: a disturbance, tumult ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5016.htm - 6k

2796. kinesis -- a moving
... a moving. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: kinesis Phonetic Spelling:
(kin'-ay-sis) Short Definition: a moving, stirring Definition: a moving ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2796.htm - 5k

1326. diegeiro -- to arouse completely
... Word Origin from dia and egeiro Definition to arouse completely NASB Word Usage
got (2), stir (1), stirred (1), stirring (1), woke (1). awake, raise, stir up. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1326.htm - 6k

5015. tarasso -- to stir up, to trouble
... root tarach- Definition to stir up, to trouble NASB Word Usage disturbed (1),
disturbing (2), stirred (3), stirring (1), terrified (2), troubled (9). trouble. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5015.htm - 7k

1519. giach -- to break forth
... 1518, 1519. giach. 1520 . to break forth. Transliteration: giach Phonetic
Spelling: (ghee'-akh) Short Definition: stirring. Word ...
/hebrew/1519.htm - 6k

6696a. tsur -- to confine, bind, besiege
... besieged (1), besieged* (10), besieging* (5), bind (2), bound (1), enclosed (1),
laid siege (1), lay siege (1), laying siege (1), set (1), stirring (1), tied (1 ...
/hebrew/6696a.htm - 5k

Stirring the Eagle's Nest.
... STIRRING THE EAGLE'S NEST. "As an eagle ... again. That is how God deals with
you and me. Has he been stirring up your nest? Has he ...
/.../food for the lambs or helps for young christians/stirring the eagles nest.htm

A Short Stirring to Meekness, and to the Work of this Book.
... HERE BEGINNETH THE SECOND CHAPTER A short stirring to meekness, and to the work
of this book. A short stirring to meekness, and to the work of this book. ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the second chapter.htm

That a Man Should Weigh Each Thought and Each Stirring after that ...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER That a man should weigh each thought and each
stirring after that it is, and always eschew recklessness in venial sin. ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the eleventh chapter.htm

Showing How the Spirit Goes Out through the Divine Stirring
... THE SECOND BOOK CHAPTER LII. SHOWING HOW THE SPIRIT GOES OUT THROUGH THE DIVINE
STIRRING. Now, through this touch, Christ says inwardly ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter lii showing how the.htm

In his Other Psalms He Proceedeth to Speak of the Works of God ...
... THE THIRD CENTURY 92 In his other psalms he proceedeth to speak of the works of
God over and over again: sometimes stirring up all creatures to praise God for ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/92 in his other psalms.htm

That a Man Shall not Take Ensample at the Bodily Ascension of ...
... in the work of this book, that although they read "lift up" or "go in," although
all that the work of this book be called a stirring, nevertheless yet them ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the nine and 4.htm

Of the Shortness of this Word, and How it May not be Come to by ...
... And reasonable thing it is that thou give account of it: for it is neither longer
nor shorter, but even according to one only stirring that is within the ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the fourth chapter.htm

How God Will be Served Both with Body and with Soul, and Reward ...
... And why is that? Surely for the cause of this comfort; that is to say, the
devout stirring of love, the which dwelleth in pure spirit. ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the eight and 3.htm

Of Some Certain Tokens by the which a Man May Prove Whether He be ...
... in this reading or hearing think it a good and liking thing, be never the rather
called of God to work in this work, only for this liking stirring that they ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the five and 6.htm

On Grace.
... these two, no man can do thoroughly what he ought, that should help him to health
of his soul; for neither free-will, without this grace stirring, nor this ...
/.../rolle/the form of perfect living and other prose treatises/on grace.htm

Stirring (20 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Stirring (20 Occurrences). ... Whoever stepped in first after
the stirring of the water was made whole of whatever disease he had. ...
/s/stirring.htm - 12k

Stir (57 Occurrences)
... 8. (vi) To rise, or be up, in the morning. 9. (n.) The act or result of stirring;
agitation; tumult; bustle; noise or various movements. 10. ...
/s/stir.htm - 25k

Mix (10 Occurrences)
... of, as of two or more substances with each other, or of one substance with others;
to unite or blend into one mass or compound, as by stirring together; to ...
/m/mix.htm - 9k

Stirreth (16 Occurrences)

/s/stirreth.htm - 10k

Yahweh (6653 Occurrences)
... of these captive Jews in Babylonia which is reflected and they who are addressed
at the waning of the long night of captivity by the stirring message recorded ...
/y/yahweh.htm - 39k

Kneading (7 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Hosea 7:4 They are all adulterers. They are burning like an oven that the
baker stops stirring, from the kneading of the dough, until it is leavened. ...
/k/kneading.htm - 8k

Jehovah (20094 Occurrences)
... of these captive Jews in Babylonia which is reflected and they who are addressed
at the waning of the long night of captivity by the stirring message recorded ...
/j/jehovah.htm - 38k

Leavened (16 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). Hosea 7:4 They are all adulterers. They are burning like an oven that
the baker stops stirring, from the kneading of the dough, until it is leavened. ...
/l/leavened.htm - 12k

Leavening (1 Occurrence)
... Hosea 7:4 All of them 'are' adulterers, Like a burning oven of a baker, He ceaseth
from stirring up after kneading the dough, till its leavening. (YLT). ...
/l/leavening.htm - 7k

Ga'al (8 Occurrences)
... 9:31 And he sent messengers to Abim'elech at Aru'mah, saying, "Behold, Ga'al the
son of Ebed and his kinsmen have come to Shechem, and they are stirring up the ...
/g/ga'al.htm - 8k

What happened at the Pool of Bethesda? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about sedition? | GotQuestions.org

How can I know if I am being called to preach? | GotQuestions.org

Stirring: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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