Topical Bible: Wasting

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Definition and Context:
In biblical terms, "wasting" often refers to the act of destruction, decay, or the squandering of resources. It can be both a physical and spiritual concept, illustrating the consequences of sin, disobedience, or neglect. The term is used in various contexts throughout Scripture, highlighting both the physical deterioration of the body and the spiritual desolation that results from turning away from God.

Old Testament References:
The concept of wasting is frequently associated with the consequences of sin and disobedience to God's commandments. In Leviticus 26:16, God warns the Israelites of the repercussions of breaking His covenant: "then I will do this to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting disease, and fever that will destroy your sight and drain your life." Here, wasting disease is depicted as a divine judgment, a physical manifestation of spiritual rebellion.

In Isaiah 24:3, the prophet speaks of the earth being laid waste due to the sins of its inhabitants: "The earth will be utterly laid waste and thoroughly plundered. For the LORD has spoken this word." This passage underscores the comprehensive nature of divine judgment, affecting both the land and its people.

New Testament References:
While the New Testament does not frequently use the term "wasting," the concept is present in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. In the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:13), the younger son "squandered his wealth in wild living." This act of wasting his inheritance is symbolic of spiritual waywardness and the consequences of living apart from the Father's will.

The Apostle Paul, in his letters, often warns against the spiritual wasting that comes from living according to the flesh. In Galatians 6:8, he writes, "The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." Here, the wasting is not just physical but also eternal, contrasting the fleeting pleasures of sin with the enduring rewards of righteousness.

Theological Implications:
Wasting, in a biblical sense, serves as a powerful reminder of the temporal nature of earthly life and the eternal consequences of our choices. It is a call to stewardship, urging believers to wisely manage the resources, time, and talents entrusted to them by God. The Bible consistently teaches that neglecting this responsibility leads to spiritual decay and separation from God.

Moreover, the theme of wasting highlights the redemptive power of God. Even in the midst of judgment and desolation, Scripture offers hope for restoration. The account of the Prodigal Son illustrates that no matter how much one has wasted, repentance and a return to the Father can lead to forgiveness and renewal.

Practical Application:
Believers are encouraged to examine their lives for areas of waste, whether in time, resources, or spiritual fervor. The Bible calls for a life of discipline, purpose, and alignment with God's will. By avoiding the pitfalls of wastefulness, Christians can live more fully in the abundance of God's grace and provision, bearing fruit that lasts for eternity.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Waste.

2. (a.) Causing waste; also, undergoing waste; diminishing; as, a wasting disease; a wasting fortune.

Strong's Hebrew

7332. razon -- leanness, wasting, scantness
... 7331, 7332. razon. 7333 . leanness, wasting, scantness. Transliteration:
razon Phonetic Spelling: (raw-zone') Short Definition: disease. ...
/hebrew/7332.htm - 6k

7334. razi -- leanness, wasting
... 7333, 7334. razi. 7335 . leanness, wasting. Transliteration: razi Phonetic
Spelling: (raw-zee') Short Definition: woe. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/7334.htm - 6k

7829. shachepheth -- (a wasting disease) consumption
... shachepheth. 7830 . (a wasting disease) consumption. Transliteration: shachepheth
Phonetic Spelling: (shakh-eh'-feth) Short Definition: consumption. ...
/hebrew/7829.htm - 6k

7701. shod -- violence, havoc, devastation, ruin
... destruction (12), devastation (7), violence (5). desolation, destruction,
oppression, robbery, spoiled wasting. Or showd (Job 5:21) {shode ...
/hebrew/7701.htm - 6k

4325. mayim -- waters, water
... waste, wasting, watering, course,. Dual of a primitive noun (but used in
a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism ...
/hebrew/4325.htm - 6k

1229. Baqbuqyah -- "emptying of Yah," a Levite
... Bakbukiah. From baqbuk and Yahh; emptying (ie Wasting) of Jah; Bakbukjah, an Israelite
-- Bakbukiah. see HEBREW baqbuk. see HEBREW Yahh. 1228, 1229. ...
/hebrew/1229.htm - 6k

1232. Buqqiyyahu -- "proved of Yah," a Levite
... Bukkiah. From baqaq and Yahh; wasting of Jah; Bukkijah, an Israelite -- Bukkiah.
see HEBREW baqaq. see HEBREW Yahh. 1231, 1232. Buqqiyyahu. 1233 . ...
/hebrew/1232.htm - 6k

Library

The Human Race Then was Wasting
... Section 6. The human race then was wasting. Section 6. The human race then was
wasting, God's image was being effaced, and His work ruined. ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 6 the human race.htm

Letter vi. --Fear of Wasting Time.
... OF ABANDONMENT. ARIDITIES, WEAKNESSES AND WEARINESS. Letter VI."Fear
of Wasting Time. To Sister Marie-Henriette de Mahuet. On ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/letter vi fear of wasting time.htm

Second Great Group of Parables.
... be more readily affected by such a story], There was a certain rich man, who had
a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he was wasting his goods. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xcii second great group of 5.htm

The Gospel Day Seen in Prophecy.
... He further says, "Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction
within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /the gospel day seen in.htm

The Spirit of Power
... that close sick-chamber, from the open plain beyond Jordan from which Elijah had
gone up; a very different way of passing from life by wasting sickness than by ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the spirit of power.htm

Letter vi. --Fear Caused by Self-Love.
... would be very slow and painful. But, at the same time you are very much
afraid of wasting time. Another effect of self-love always ...
/.../abandonment to divine providence/letter vi fear caused by self-love.htm

But is it Only Poets whom You have Thought Proper to Allow to ...
... entangled in the toils of a death-fraught garment, is exhibited uttering piteous
cries, overcome by his violent suffering, and at last wasting away and being ...
/.../arnobius/the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/35 but is it only.htm

Tobacco.
... and in the lungs themselves. Excretions such as this mean a violent wasting
away of vitality and power. Taken in large quantities ...
/.../judy/questionable amusements and worthy substitutes/i tobacco.htm

Petilianus Said: "But He Thus Praises the Ointment of Concord ...
... be understood, which is indeed holy as among the class of visible signs, like baptism
itself, but yet can exist even among the worst of men, wasting their life ...
/.../chapter 105 238 petilianus.htm

Utterances of the Prophet Isaiah Regarding the Resurrection of the ...
... For, behold, the Lord shall come as a fire, and as a whirlwind His chariots, to
execute vengeance with indignation, and wasting with a flame of fire. ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 21 utterances of the prophet.htm

Thesaurus

Wasting (57 Occurrences)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Waste. 2. (a.) Causing waste; also, undergoing waste;
diminishing; as, a wasting disease; a wasting fortune. ...Wasting (57 Occurrences). ...
/w/wasting.htm - 23k

Consumption (20 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A progressive wasting away of the body; esp., that form of wasting, attendant
upon pulmonary phthisis and associated with cough, spitting of blood ...
/c/consumption.htm - 14k

Devastation (17 Occurrences)
... for you? wasting and destruction; death from need of food, and from the
sword; how may you be comforted? (See NAS RSV). Isaiah 59 ...
/d/devastation.htm - 11k

Stomach (40 Occurrences)
... priest will put the oath of the curse on the woman, and say to her, May the Lord
make you a curse and an oath among your people, sending on you wasting of the ...
/s/stomach.htm - 19k

Sorrowing (33 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Isaiah 24:4 The earth is sorrowing and wasting away, the world is full of
grief and wasting away, the high ones of the earth come to nothing. (BBE). ...
/s/sorrowing.htm - 16k

Legs (50 Occurrences)
... priest will put the oath of the curse on the woman, and say to her, May the Lord
make you a curse and an oath among your people, sending on you wasting of the ...
/l/legs.htm - 21k

Wasted (106 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Psalms 6:7 My eyes are wasting away with trouble; they are becoming
old because of all those who are against me. (See NAS). ...
/w/wasted.htm - 35k

Falsely (72 Occurrences)
... But I said, I am wasting away, wasting away, the curse is on me! The false ones
go on in their false way, yes, they go on acting falsely. (BBE). ...
/f/falsely.htm - 29k

Wastes (33 Occurrences)
... Numbers 5:22 And this water of the curse will go into your body, causing disease
of your stomach and wasting of your legs: and the woman will say, So be it. ...
/w/wastes.htm - 16k

Withers (20 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Isaiah 24:4 The earth is sorrowing and wasting away, the world is full
of grief and wasting away, the high ones of the earth come to nothing. ...
/w/withers.htm - 11k

Resources

What is the weight of glory in 2 Corinthians 4:17? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about daydreaming? Is it wrong to daydream? | GotQuestions.org

What is the creation mandate / cultural mandate? | GotQuestions.org

Wasting: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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

Concordance

Wasting (57 Occurrences)

Luke 15:30
But when this your son came, who has been wasting your property with bad women, you put to death the fat young ox for him.
(BBE)

Luke 16:1
He also said to his disciples, "There was a certain rich man who had a manager. An accusation was made to him that this man was wasting his possessions.
(WEB WEY ASV BBE DBY RSV NIV)

2 Corinthians 4:16
Therefore we are not cowards. Nay, even though our outward man is wasting away, yet our inward man is being renewed day by day.
(WEY RSV NIV)

Galatians 1:13
for ye did hear of my behaviour once in Judaism, that exceedingly I was persecuting the assembly of God, and wasting it,
(YLT)

Galatians 1:23
and only they were hearing, that 'he who is persecuting us then, doth now proclaim good news -- the faith that then he was wasting;'
(YLT)

1 Peter 4:4
And they are wondering that you no longer go with them in this violent wasting of life, and are saying evil things of you:
(BBE)

Leviticus 26:16
This will I do to you: I will put fear in your hearts, even wasting disease and burning pain, drying up the eyes and making the soul feeble, and you will get no profit from your seed, for your haters will take it for food.
(BBE NIV)

Leviticus 26:39
And those of you who are still living will be wasting away in their sins in the land of your haters; in the sins of their fathers they will be wasting away.
(BBE)

Numbers 5:21
Then the priest will put the oath of the curse on the woman, and say to her, May the Lord make you a curse and an oath among your people, sending on you wasting of the legs and disease of the stomach;
(BBE)

Numbers 5:22
And this water of the curse will go into your body, causing disease of your stomach and wasting of your legs: and the woman will say, So be it.
(BBE)

Numbers 5:27
And it will be that if the woman has become unclean, sinning against her husband, when she has taken the bitter water it will go into her body, causing disease of the stomach and wasting of the legs, and she will be a curse among her people.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 28:22
The Lord will send wasting disease, and burning pain, and flaming heat against you, keeping back the rain till your land is waste and dead; so will it be till your destruction is complete.
(BBE NIV)

Deuteronomy 28:65
And even among these nations there will be no peace for you, and no rest for your feet: but the Lord will give you there a shaking heart and wasting eyes and weariness of soul:
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 32:24
They shall be wasted with hunger, and devoured with burning heat And bitter destruction; And the teeth of beasts will I send upon them, With the poison of crawling things of the dust.
(See JPS NIV)

Nehemiah 4:4
Give ear, O our God, for we are looked down on: let their words of shame be turned back on themselves, and let them be given up to wasting in a land where they are prisoners:
(BBE)

Job 5:21
He will keep you safe from the evil tongue; and you will have no fear of wasting when it comes.
(BBE)

Job 11:20
But the eyes of the evil-doers will be wasting away; their way of flight is gone, and their only hope is the taking of their last breath.
(BBE)

Job 16:8
It has come up as a witness against me, and the wasting of my flesh makes answer to my face.
(BBE)

Psalms 6:7
My eyes are wasting away with trouble; they are becoming old because of all those who are against me.
(BBE)

Psalms 18:45
They will be wasting away, they will come out of their secret places shaking with fear.
(BBE)

Psalms 38:10
My heart goes out in pain, my strength is wasting away; as for the light of my eyes, it is gone from me.
(BBE)

Psalms 73:26
My flesh and my heart are wasting away: but God is the Rock of my heart and my eternal heritage.
(BBE)

Psalms 88:9
My eyes are wasting away because of my trouble: Lord, my cry has gone up to you every day, my hands are stretched out to you.
(BBE)

Psalms 91:3
He will take you out of the bird-net, and keep you safe from wasting disease.
(BBE)

Psalms 106:15
And he gave them their request, but sent a wasting disease into their souls.
(BBE NAS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 12:4
A woman of virtue is a crown to her husband; but she whose behaviour is a cause of shame is like a wasting disease in his bones.
(BBE)

Isaiah 10:16
For this cause the Lord, the Lord of armies, will make his fat become wasted; and in his inner parts a fire will be lighted like a burning flame.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 10:17
And the light of Israel will be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: wasting and burning up his thorns in one day.
(BBE)

Isaiah 16:4
Let those who have been forced out of Moab have a resting-place with you; be a cover to them from him who is making waste their land: till the cruel ones are cut off, and wasting has come to an end, and those who take pleasure in crushing the poor are gone from the land.
(BBE DBY)

Isaiah 17:12
Wo 'to' the multitude of many peoples, As the sounding of seas they sound; And 'to' the wasting of nations, As the wasting of mighty waters they are wasted.
(YLT)

Isaiah 17:13
Nations as the wasting of many waters are wasted, And He hath pushed against it, And it hath fled afar off, And been pursued as chaff of hills before wind, And as a rolling thing before a hurricane.
(YLT)

Isaiah 22:4
For this cause I have said, Let your eyes be turned away from me in my bitter weeping; I will not be comforted for the wasting of the daughter of my people.
(BBE)

Isaiah 24:4
The earth is sorrowing and wasting away, the world is full of grief and wasting away, the high ones of the earth come to nothing.
(BBE)

Isaiah 24:12
Left in the city 'is' desolation, And 'with' wasting is the gate smitten.
(YLT)

Isaiah 24:16
From the farthest part of the earth comes the sound of songs, glory to the upright. But I said, I am wasting away, wasting away, the curse is on me! The false ones go on in their false way, yes, they go on acting falsely.
(BBE)

Isaiah 33:1
Ho! you who make waste those who did not make you waste; acting falsely to those who were not false to you. When you have come to an end of wasting, you will be made waste, and after your false acts, they will do the same to you.
(BBE)

Isaiah 33:9
The earth is sorrowing and wasting away; Lebanon is put to shame and has become waste; Sharon is like the Arabah; and in Bashan and Carmel the leaves are falling.
(BBE)

Isaiah 51:19
These two things have come on you; who will be weeping for you? wasting and destruction; death from need of food, and from the sword; how may you be comforted?
(BBE)

Isaiah 59:7
Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.
(KJV BBE DBY WBS)

Isaiah 60:18
Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.
(KJV BBE DBY WBS)

Jeremiah 20:8
For every word I say is a cry for help; I say with a loud voice, Violent behaviour and wasting: because the word of the Lord is made a shame to me and a cause of laughing all the day.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 25:31
Wasting hath come unto the end of the earth, For a controversy hath Jehovah with nations, He hath executed judgment for all flesh, The wicked! He hath given them to the sword, An affirmation of Jehovah.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 48:3
There is the sound of crying from Horonaim, wasting and great destruction;
(BBE DBY)

Lamentations 3:47
Fear and deep waters have come on us, wasting and destruction.
(BBE)

Lamentations 4:17
Our eyes are still wasting away in looking for our false help: we have been watching for a nation unable to give salvation.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 4:17
So that they may be in need of bread and water and be wondering at one another, wasting away in their sin.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 5:12
A third of you will come to death from disease, wasting away among you through need of food; a third will be put to the sword round about you; and a third I will send away to every wind, letting loose a sword after them.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 24:23
And your head-dresses will be on your heads and your shoes on your feet: there will be no sorrow or weeping; but you will be wasting away in the punishment of your evil-doing, and you will be looking at one another in wonder.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 33:10
And you, son of man, say to the children of Israel, You say, Our wrongdoing and our sins are on us and we are wasting away in them; how then may we have life?
(BBE YLT NIV)

Ezekiel 38:9
And thou hast gone up -- as wasting thou comest in, As a cloud to cover the land art thou, Thou and all thy bands, and many peoples with thee.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 45:9
This is what the Lord has said: Let this be enough for you, O rulers of Israel: let there be an end of violent behaviour and wasting; do what is right, judging uprightly; let there be no more driving out of my people, says the Lord.
(BBE)

Hosea 5:12
And so to Ephraim I am like a wasting insect, and a destruction to the children of Judah.
(BBE)

Hosea 11:6
And the sword will go through his towns, wasting his children and causing destruction because of their evil designs.
(BBE)

Habakkuk 1:3
Why do you make me see evil-doing, and why are my eyes fixed on wrong? for wasting and violent acts are before me: and there is fighting and bitter argument.
(BBE)

Zephaniah 1:15
That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and sorrow, a day of wasting and destruction, a day of dark night and deep shade, a day of cloud and thick dark.
(BBE WBS)

Haggai 2:17
And I sent burning and wasting and a rain of ice-drops on all the works of your hands; but still you were not turned to me, says the Lord.
(BBE)

Malachi 3:11
And on your account I will keep back the locusts from wasting the fruits of your land; and the fruit of your vine will not be dropped on the field before its time, says the Lord of armies
(BBE)

Subtopics

Wasting

Wasting Time

Related Terms

Consumption (20 Occurrences)

Devastation (17 Occurrences)

Stomach (40 Occurrences)

Sorrowing (33 Occurrences)

Legs (50 Occurrences)

Wasted (106 Occurrences)

Falsely (72 Occurrences)

Wastes (33 Occurrences)