The term "widen" in the context of the Bible often refers to the act of expanding or enlarging, both in a literal and metaphorical sense. This concept can be found throughout Scripture, where it is used to describe physical spaces, spiritual capacities, and the influence of God's people.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, the idea of widening is frequently associated with God's promises to His people. For instance, in Genesis 26:22, Isaac experiences God's blessing as he digs wells: "He moved on from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, 'Now the LORD has given us room, and we will flourish in the land.'" Here, the term "Rehoboth" means "broad places," signifying God's provision and the expansion of territory.

The Psalms also reflect this theme. Psalm 18:36 states, "You broaden the path beneath me so that my ankles do not give way." This verse highlights God's role in providing stability and security, allowing the psalmist to walk confidently without stumbling.

Spiritual and Metaphorical Widening

Beyond physical expansion, the Bible uses the concept of widening to describe spiritual growth and the broadening of one's heart and understanding. In Isaiah 54:2-3 , the prophet encourages Israel to prepare for growth: "Enlarge the site of your tent, stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, do not hold back; lengthen your ropes and drive your stakes deep. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess the nations and inhabit the desolate cities."

This passage metaphorically speaks to the expansion of Israel's influence and the fulfillment of God's covenant promises. It calls for readiness and faith in God's ability to bring about increase and blessing.

New Testament Insights

In the New Testament, the concept of widening is less about physical space and more about the expansion of the Gospel and the Kingdom of God. Jesus' Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 is a call to widen the reach of the Gospel: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you."

The early church exemplified this widening influence as they spread the message of Christ beyond the confines of Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth, as seen in Acts 1:8 : "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Application for Believers

For believers today, the concept of widening can be applied to personal spiritual growth, the expansion of one's influence for Christ, and the broadening of the church's mission. It encourages Christians to seek God's guidance in enlarging their capacity to love, serve, and reach others with the Gospel. As God widens the path before His people, they are called to walk in faith, trusting in His provision and direction.1. (v. t.) To make wide or wider; to extend in breadth; to increase the width of; as, to widen a field; to widen a breach; to widen a stocking.

2. (v. i.) To grow wide or wider; to enlarge; to spread; to extend.

4115. platuno -- to make broad
... make broad, enlarge. From platus; to widen (literally or figuratively) -- make
broad, enlarge. see GREEK platus. (peplatuntai) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4115.htm - 6k7368. rachaq -- to be or become far or distant
... A primitive root; to widen (in any direction), ie (intransitively) recede or
(transitively) remove (literally or figuratively, of place or relation) -- (a-, ...
/hebrew/7368.htm - 6k

The Breaking Out of Discord
... as the 'murmuring' about the unfair neglect of the Hellenist widows in the distribution
of relief, and the whole drift of things since had been to widen the gap ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the breaking out of discord.htm

Love Makes Suns
... Let us widen them by other words which use the same metaphor, and say, 'they that
be wise'"that is a shallower word than 'them that love Thee'"'they that ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/love makes suns.htm

'Many Mansions'
... brethren, if we could only widen our measurement of the walls of the New Jerusalem
to the measurement of that 'golden rod which the man, that is the angel,' as ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/many mansions.htm

Filled with the Spirit
... The vessel is elastic, the walls of the cup of our spirit, into which the new wine
of the divine Spirit is poured, widen out as the draught is poured into them ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/filled with the spirit.htm

Preface
... At that period all the efforts of religious philosophy were directed to widen theology,
and to effect a reconciliation between reason and faith. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/eckhart/meister eckharts sermons/preface.htm

Good Earnests of Great Success
... to disagree. A breach once made has a tendency to widen, and a rent, unless
speedily repaired, may tear a church to pieces. But ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 14 1868/good earnests of great success.htm

Introduction.
... the musical incapacity of a family in which all the rest could sing well), the
missionary stations he planted, the life he lived, will widen out, and deepen ...
//christianbookshelf.org/fagg/forty years in south china/introduction.htm

The Influence of the King James Version on English Literature
... No great orator of the day would fail us of material, and the great political
papers and orations of the past would only widen the field. ...
/.../mcafee/study of the king james bible/lecture iv the influence of.htm

Christ, the Great Teacher
... Once divided men begin to develop a class feeling and pride which tend to deepen
and widen the gulfs which separate them from each other. ...
/.../sell/studies in the life of the christian/study i christ the great.htm

The Road to Rome
... He saw the mountain torrents leap and flash, and grow always bigger and stronger.
He saw them slack their speed and widen their beds in the upland valleys. ...
/.../chapter xii the road to.htm

Widen (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To make wide or wider; to extend in breadth; to increase the width of;
as, to widen a field; to widen a breach; to widen a stocking. ...
/w/widen.htm - 7k

Widely (11 Occurrences)

/w/widely.htm - 9k

Observed (84 Occurrences)
... Matthew 23:5 And everything they do they do with a view to being observed by men;
for they widen their phylacteries and make the tassels large, (WEY). ...
/o/observed.htm - 30k

Wideness (1 Occurrence)

/w/wideness.htm - 6k

Wide (206 Occurrences)
... Matthew 23:5 And everything they do they do with a view to being observed by men;
for they widen their phylacteries and make the tassels large, (Root in WEY ...
/w/wide.htm - 37k

Tassels (3 Occurrences)
... Matthew 23:5 And everything they do they do with a view to being observed by men;
for they widen their phylacteries and make the tassels large, (WEY NAS NIV). ...
/t/tassels.htm - 7k

Extend (35 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To enlarge; to widen; to carry out further; as, to extend the capacities,
the sphere of usefulness, or commerce; to extend power or influence; to ...
/e/extend.htm - 18k

Broad (113 Occurrences)
... Broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction" (Matthew 7:13); the ostentatious
piety of the Pharisees: "They make broad (platuno, "widen") their phylacteries ...
/b/broad.htm - 40k

Antioch (21 Occurrences)
... The large and flourishing Jewish colony offered an immediate field for Christian
teaching, and the cosmopolitanism of the city tended to widen the outlook of ...
/a/antioch.htm - 27k

Syria (73 Occurrences)
... The large and flourishing Jewish colony offered an immediate field for Christian
teaching, and the cosmopolitanism of the city tended to widen the outlook of ...
/s/syria.htm - 60k

What is the cause of church splits? How can healing occur after a church split? | GotQuestions.org

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