In biblical contexts, the term "thrashed" refers to the process of threshing, an agricultural practice used to separate grain from the chaff. This process is frequently mentioned in the Bible, both in literal and metaphorical senses, illustrating themes of judgment, purification, and divine discipline.

Old Testament References

Threshing is a common agricultural activity in the ancient Near East, and the Bible often uses it to describe God's judgment and purification of His people. In Isaiah 41:15-16 , God promises Israel, "Behold, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff. You will winnow them, and a wind will carry them away; a gale will scatter them." Here, the imagery of threshing is used to convey the power and effectiveness of God's people in overcoming obstacles and enemies.

The book of Micah also uses threshing imagery to describe the future triumph of Israel over its foes: "Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion, for I will give you horns of iron; I will give you hooves of bronze, and you will break to pieces many peoples" (Micah 4:13). This passage highlights the strength and victory that God will grant His people.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, threshing continues to symbolize judgment and separation. John the Baptist uses this imagery to describe the coming ministry of Jesus Christ: "His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire" (Matthew 3:12). This metaphor emphasizes the discerning and purifying work of Christ, who will separate the righteous from the wicked.

Theological Significance

Threshing, as depicted in the Bible, serves as a powerful metaphor for divine judgment and purification. It underscores the idea that God will separate the faithful from the unfaithful, rewarding the former and punishing the latter. This process is not only about judgment but also about refining and purifying God's people, preparing them for His purposes.

The imagery of threshing also conveys the notion of divine empowerment. As seen in the Old Testament, God equips His people to overcome their adversaries, symbolized by the act of threshing. This empowerment is a recurring theme, reflecting God's sovereignty and His active role in the lives of His people.

Cultural and Historical Context

Threshing in biblical times involved spreading harvested grain on a threshing floor and using tools or animals to separate the edible grain from the husks. This labor-intensive process was essential for food production and is frequently mentioned in the context of harvests and agricultural life in ancient Israel.

The use of threshing imagery in the Bible would have been readily understood by its original audience, who were familiar with the agricultural practices of their time. This familiarity allowed biblical authors to effectively communicate spiritual truths through everyday experiences.

In summary, the concept of being "thrashed" in the Bible is rich with meaning, encompassing themes of judgment, purification, and divine empowerment. Through this imagery, Scripture communicates the seriousness of God's judgment and the hope of His refining work in the lives of His people.(imp. & p. p.) of Thresh.

The First Games
... Like most of those who eventually become great men, he was no good as a pupil.
He was often punished, thrashed"and cruelly thrashed. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/iv the first games.htm

Down the Islands
... delicate loveliness. Under a cloudless sky, upon a sea, lively yet not
unpleasantly rough, we thrashed and leaped along. Ahead of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter ii down the islands.htm

How the Midianites and Other Nations Fought against the Israelites ...
... 2. Gideon also, the son of Joash, one of the principal persons of the tribe of Manasseh,
brought his sheaves of corn privately, and thrashed them at the wine ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 how the midianites.htm

Special Efforts
... fowls. A sower sowed the seed; there was standing corn. This was reaped,
and the grain thrashed, ground, and baked on the spot. All ...
/.../carpenter/the angel adjutant of twice born men/vi special efforts.htm

Gideon's Brave Band
... already in your power that we should give bread to your men who are weary?'" Then
he took desert thorns and briers, and with these he thrashed the leading men ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/gideons brave band.htm

The Youth of Count Zinzendorf, 1700-1722.
... Crisenius thrashed him to such good purpose that he never dared to complain again;
and his mother still held that he needed drastic medicine. ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter i the youth of.htm

Justice and the Reason of Effects
... Why! He will have me thrashed, if I do not salute him. This custom is a farce. It
is the same with a horse in fine trappings in comparison with another! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pascal/pensees/section v justice and the.htm

The Foreign Missions and their Influence.
... If a Hottentot proved a trifle unruly, he was thrashed, while his master, looking
on with a gluttonous eye, smoked a fixed number of pipes; and the wreathing ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter vi the foreign missions.htm

Mr. HG Wells and the Giants
... The moment Robin Hood becomes a sort of Superman, that moment the chivalrous chronicler
shows us Robin thrashed by a poor tinker whom he thought to thrust aside ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/heretics/v mr h g wells and.htm

The Life of S. Hilarion.
... One of their leaders was hidden by Antony to stand still while he thrashed the animal's
sides with a stick and wanted to know why they devoured what they had ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/the life of s hilarion.htm

Thrashed (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Thresh. Multi-Version Concordance
Thrashed (1 Occurrence). Judges 6:11 And there came an ...
/t/thrashed.htm - 6k

Granary (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) A storehouse or repository for grain after it is
thrashed or husked; a cornbouse; also (Fig.), a region fertile in grain. Int. ...
/g/granary.htm - 8k

Wine-press (11 Occurrences)
... 11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah,
that pertained to Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon thrashed wheat by ...
/w/wine-press.htm - 11k

Thrash (1 Occurrence)

/t/thrash.htm - 6k

Thrashing (2 Occurrences)

/t/thrashing.htm - 7k

Muzzle (4 Occurrences)
... Grain in the East is usually thrashed by the sheaves being spread out on a floor,
over which oxen and cattle are driven to and fro, till the grain is trodden ...
/m/muzzle.htm - 9k

Abi-ezrite (2 Occurrences)
... 11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah,
that pertained to Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon thrashed wheat by ...
/a/abi-ezrite.htm - 7k

Straw (21 Occurrences)
... and peas. 3. (n.) The gathered and thrashed stalks of certain species of
grain, etc.; as, a bundle, or a load, of rye straw. 4. (n ...
/s/straw.htm - 15k

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