Untie
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Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "untie" in the Bible often symbolizes liberation, freedom, and the breaking of bonds, both physical and spiritual. The act of untying is frequently associated with the release from burdens, the loosening of constraints, and the granting of freedom, reflecting God's power to deliver His people from bondage.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the imagery of untying is often linked to the liberation of the Israelites from slavery and oppression. For instance, the Exodus narrative is a profound example of God untying the bonds of slavery that held the Israelites in Egypt. Although the specific term "untie" is not used, the concept is vividly illustrated in God's deliverance of His people.

Isaiah 58:6 speaks to the spiritual aspect of untying: "Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and tear off every yoke?" Here, untying is associated with justice, mercy, and the breaking of oppressive systems, emphasizing God's desire for His people to live in freedom and righteousness.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the act of untying is often seen in the context of Jesus' ministry and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. One notable instance is the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, where He instructs His disciples to untie a colt for Him to ride. In Mark 11:2 , Jesus says, "Go into the village ahead of you, and as soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here." This act symbolizes the fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9 and signifies Jesus' role as the Messiah who brings peace and liberation.

Furthermore, the concept of untying is metaphorically applied to the spiritual liberation that Jesus offers. In Luke 13:16 , Jesus heals a woman who had been crippled for eighteen years, saying, "Then should not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, be released from her bondage on the Sabbath day?" Here, untying is equated with healing and deliverance from spiritual oppression.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the act of untying in the Bible underscores God's redemptive work through Christ. It highlights the transition from bondage to freedom, from sin to salvation. The imagery of untying serves as a powerful reminder of the liberation that comes through faith in Jesus Christ, who unties the bonds of sin and death, offering eternal life to all who believe.

In a broader sense, untying represents the call for believers to participate in God's work of justice and mercy, to untie the cords of injustice, and to set the oppressed free. It is a call to live out the Gospel by embodying the freedom and liberation that Christ has secured for humanity.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (v. t.) To loosen, as something interlaced or knotted; to disengage the parts of; as, to untie a knot.

2. (v. t.) To free from fastening or from restraint; to let loose; to unbind.

3. (v. t.) To resolve; to unfold; to clear.

4. (v. i.) To become untied or loosed.

Greek
3089. luo -- to loose, to release, to dissolve
... to loose, to release, to dissolve. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: luo Phonetic
Spelling: (loo'-o) Short Definition: I loose, untie, release, destroy ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3089.htm - 9k
Strong's Hebrew
5425. nathar -- to spring or start up
... A primitive root; to jump, ie Be violently agitated; causatively, to terrify, shake
off, untie -- drive asunder, leap, (let) loose, X make, move, undo. ...
/hebrew/5425.htm - 5k
Library

How the Baptist Answers the Question of the Pharisees and Exalts ...
... Sixth Book. 15. How the Baptist Answers the Question of the Pharisees and Exalts
the Nature of Christ. Of the Shoe-Latchet Which He is Unable to Untie. ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/15 how the baptist answers.htm

Of the Testimony in Mark. What is Meant by the Saviour's Shoes and ...
... after me is mightier than I." There is a difference, however, in what follows,
"The latchets of His shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and untie." For it is ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/18 of the testimony in.htm

The Fourth Gospel Speaks of Only one Shoe, the Others of Both. The ...
... "I am not worthy," we read there, "to untie the latchet of His shoe." Perhaps he
was conquered by the grace of God, and received the gift of doing that which ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/21 the fourth gospel speaks.htm

A Greater than Solomon
... know how he settled the question between the two women concerning the child; many
other puzzles Solomon solved, and many other knots Solomon was able to untie. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 27 1881/a greater than solomon.htm

Book v. --General Reply to Sundry of Marcion's Heresies.
... 20 Expected long since, with the holy Seed. This fifth doth many twists
and knots untie,. Rolls wholly into sight what ills soe'er. ...
/.../book v general reply to sundry.htm

The Further Adventures of Saint George.
... England. Let, then, the priest of Hymen knit that gordian knot, the knot
of wedlock, which death alone has power to untie.". The ...
/.../the seven champions of christendom/chapter four the further adventures.htm

The Fasts of the Jews are not True Fasts, nor Acceptable to God.
... is the fast that I have chosen, saith the Lord, not that a man should humble his
soul, but that he should loose every band of iniquity, untie the fastenings of ...
/.../barnabas/the epistle of barnabas /chapter iii the fasts of the.htm

Going Home --A Christmas Sermon
... and would show forth what he has done for thee, upset that pitcher, eat the last
piece of thy bread, leave this dreary cave, wash thy face, untie thy hempen ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/going homea christmas sermon.htm

The Triumphant Entry
... Not without pausing here (as we learn from the fourth Gospel), yet as the next step
forward, He sent two of His disciples to untie and bring back an ass, which ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 11 1-11 the triumphant entry.htm

Rom. xiii. 11
... For the present however, it is not upon alarming grounds that he exhorts them, but
upon kindly ones, thus also to untie them from their fellow-feeling for the ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxiv rom xiii 11.htm

Thesaurus
Untie (10 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To loosen, as something interlaced or knotted;
to disengage the parts of; as, to untie a knot. ...Untie (10 Occurrences). ...
/u/untie.htm - 9k

Opposite (137 Occurrences)
... with her. Untie them, and bring them to me. (WEB NAS RSV). Matthew 27 ... has
sat. Untie him, and bring him. (WEB BBE NAS RSV). Mark 12 ...
/o/opposite.htm - 37k

Foal (10 Occurrences)
...Untie her and bring them to me. (WEY). ... On entering it you will find an ass's foal
tied up which no one has ever yet ridden: untie it, and bring it here. (WEY). ...
/f/foal.htm - 11k

Facing (79 Occurrences)
...Untie her and bring them to me. (WEY). ... On entering it you will find an ass's foal
tied up which no one has ever yet ridden: untie it, and bring it here. (WEY). ...
/f/facing.htm - 31k

Tied (33 Occurrences)
...Untie them, and bring them to me. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). ...Untie
him, and bring him. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/t/tied.htm - 16k

Ahead (98 Occurrences)
...Untie them, and bring them to me. (See NIV). ...Untie him, and bring him. (See NIV).
Mark 13:23 But you watch. "Behold, I have told you all things beforehand. ...
/a/ahead.htm - 33k

Village (21 Occurrences)
...Untie them, and bring them to me. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...Untie
him, and bring him. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/v/village.htm - 16k

Ridden (5 Occurrences)
... 2 "Go," He said, "to the village facing you, and immediately on entering it you
will find an ass's foal tied up which no one has ever yet ridden: untie him and ...
/r/ridden.htm - 8k

Donkey (84 Occurrences)
... colt with her. Untie them, and bring them to me. (WEB NAS NIV). Matthew
21:5 ... one has sat. Untie him, and bring him. (WEB). Mark 11:4 ...
/d/donkey.htm - 31k

Colt (15 Occurrences)
...Untie them, and bring them to me. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...Untie
it, and bring it. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/c/colt.htm - 12k

Resources
In what ways was Moses like Jesus? | GotQuestions.org

Did John the Baptist lose his faith in Jesus as the Messiah (Matthew 11:3; Luke 7:19)? | GotQuestions.org

Summary of the Gospel of Luke - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

Untie: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Untie (10 Occurrences)

Matthew 21:2
saying to them, "Go into the village that is opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them, and bring them to me.
(WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 1:7
He preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 11:2
and said to them, "Go your way into the village that is opposite you. Immediately as you enter into it, you will find a young donkey tied, on which no one has sat. Untie him, and bring him.
(WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 3:16
John answered them all, "I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the latchet of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire,
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 13:15
But the Lord's reply to him was, "Hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his bullock or his ass from the stall and lead him to water?
(WEY NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 19:30
saying, "Go your way into the village on the other side, in which, as you enter, you will find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat. Untie it, and bring it.
(WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV)

John 1:27
He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I'm not worthy to loosen."
(See NAS RSV NIV)

John 11:44
The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped in cloths, and his face wrapped round with a towel. "Untie him," said Jesus, "and let him go free."
(WEY)

Acts 13:25
As John was fulfilling his course, he said,'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. But behold, one comes after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 58:6
Is not this the holy day for which I have given orders: to let loose those who have wrongly been made prisoners, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the crushed go free, and every yoke be broken?
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Untie

Related Terms

Untie (10 Occurrences)

Unsandaled (1 Occurrence)

Until (3909 Occurrences)

Latchet (4 Occurrences)

Loose (219 Occurrences)

Tied (33 Occurrences)

Rigging (2 Occurrences)

Restraint (34 Occurrences)

Donkey (84 Occurrences)

Mast (4 Occurrences)

Man's (347 Occurrences)

Perfectly (24 Occurrences)

Pulled (84 Occurrences)

Come

Sandal (14 Occurrences)

Slumber (14 Occurrences)

Street (54 Occurrences)

Waist (36 Occurrences)

Immaculate

Shoes (32 Occurrences)

Door (249 Occurrences)

Outside (215 Occurrences)

Belt (32 Occurrences)

Conception (6 Occurrences)

Shoe (13 Occurrences)

Speak (855 Occurrences)

Couldn't (6 Occurrences)

Sail (32 Occurrences)

Lame (35 Occurrences)

Open (586 Occurrences)

Weary (77 Occurrences)

Stumble (89 Occurrences)

Line (131 Occurrences)

Cord (47 Occurrences)

Afflicted (171 Occurrences)

Removed (294 Occurrences)

Prey (105 Occurrences)

Strengthen (105 Occurrences)

Thrown (126 Occurrences)

Divided (102 Occurrences)

Throw (135 Occurrences)

Spoil (140 Occurrences)

Humbled (77 Occurrences)

Unthinking
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