The term "perishes" in the Bible often refers to the concept of destruction, loss, or the cessation of life. It is used in various contexts, both physical and spiritual, to describe the fate of individuals, nations, or even concepts that are contrary to God's will.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, "perishes" frequently describes the physical destruction of individuals or groups. For example, in Proverbs 11:7 , it states, "When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes, and the hope of his strength vanishes." This verse highlights the ultimate futility of relying on earthly power and wickedness, as they lead to inevitable destruction.

The concept of perishing is also applied to nations and peoples who oppose God. In Psalm 9:5 , the psalmist declares, "You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have erased their name forever and ever." Here, the perishing of nations is seen as a divine act of judgment against those who defy God's righteousness.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, the term "perishes" often takes on a more spiritual dimension, emphasizing the eternal consequences of rejecting the gospel. John 3:16 is one of the most well-known verses that addresses this concept: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." This verse contrasts perishing with the gift of eternal life, underscoring the importance of faith in Jesus Christ as the means of salvation.

The Apostle Paul also speaks of perishing in the context of spiritual blindness and unbelief. In 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 , he writes, "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." Here, perishing is associated with a lack of spiritual insight and the rejection of the truth of the gospel.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the concept of perishing is significant in understanding the consequences of sin and the necessity of redemption. The Bible presents perishing as the natural outcome of living apart from God's will and grace. It serves as a warning of the temporal and eternal consequences of sin, urging individuals to seek salvation through Jesus Christ.

In the broader biblical narrative, perishing is contrasted with the promise of eternal life for those who believe. This dichotomy emphasizes the urgency of the gospel message and the hope offered through faith in Christ. The Bible consistently calls individuals to repentance and faith, offering the assurance that those who turn to God will not perish but will experience the fullness of life in His presence.5349. phthartos -- perishable, corruptible
... Cognate: 5349 (an adjective, derived from 5351 ) -- perishable, what easily perishes
disintegrates (corrupts) -- like the break-down of the body during our ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5349.htm - 7k

622. apollumi -- to destroy, destroy utterly
... 9), dying (1), end (1), killed (1), lose (10), loses (7), lost (14), passed away
(1), perish (14), perishable (1), perished (4), perishes (1), perishing (6 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/622.htm - 10k

6. abad -- to perish
... give up as lost (1), lacking (1), lost (12), make vanish (1), makes to perish (1),
no (2), obliterate (1), perish (61), perished (16), perishes (7), perishing ...
/hebrew/6.htm - 6k

The Material of the Body Never Perishes.
... Chapter 88."The Material of the Body Never Perishes. Nor does the earthly
material out of which men's mortal bodies are created ...
/.../augustine/the enchiridion/chapter 88 the material of the.htm

That the Love of a Human Being, However Constant in Loving and ...
... Book IV. Chapter IX."That the Love of a Human Being, However Constant in Loving
and Returning Love, Perishes; While He Who Loves God Never Loses a Friend. ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/chapter ix that the love of.htm

None of the Elect and Predestinated Can Perish.
... them He also called; and whom He called, them He also justified; and whom He justified,
them He also glorified." [3293] Of these no one perishes, because all ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 14 none of the elect.htm

I am Told, to Take Another Point, that one of his Followers ...
... in his ears: That the old Adam dies completely in the laver of baptism, and a new
man rises then with Christ; that the man that is earthly perishes and the man ...
/.../32 i am told to.htm

The Attempt is Made to Distinguish Out of the Scriptures the ...
... itself seen, and itself none the less comes into the hearts of men in time; and
if any cease to be faithful and become unbelievers, then it perishes from them. ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 1 the attempt is made.htm

As God is the Author of Patience So the Devil is of Impatience.
... Therefore another human being, too, perishes through the impatience of the one;
presently, too, perishes of himself, through his own impatience committed in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/of patience/chapter v as god is the.htm

The Heavenly Father
... last; the very rocks and mountains crumbled to dust at last: and so they
thought"truly and wisely enough"Everything which we see near us, perishes at last ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xxvi the heavenly father.htm

Christ Plainly Testifies to the Resurrection of the Entire Man not ...
... flesh"then this same condition ought in all fairness to benefit the flesh also,
as being similarly mortal and perishable, since that which perishes the Lord ...
/.../on the resurrection of the flesh/chapter xxxiv christ plainly testifies to.htm

Elucidations.
... From this chapter, if not from others, it had been rashly affirmed that our author
imagined that the soul perishes with the body, and is to be renewed out of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/felix/the octavius of minucius felix/elucidations.htm

Matt. xii. 25, 26
... Nothing, but nevertheless it perishes if in dissension. ... Thus, whether it be a small
thing, or a great, if at dissension with itself, it perishes. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xli matt xii 25.htm

Perishes (14 Occurrences)
...Perishes (14 Occurrences). ... 1 Corinthians 8:11 And through your knowledge, he who
is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died. (WEB). ...
/p/perishes.htm - 10k

Perish (186 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 8:11 And through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, the brother
for whose sake Christ died. (Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT). ...
/p/perish.htm - 38k

Perisheth (15 Occurrences)

/p/perisheth.htm - 10k

Lays (30 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 57:1 The righteous perishes, and no man lays it to heart; and merciful men
are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the ...
/l/lays.htm - 13k

Lioness (13 Occurrences)
... (WEB JPS ASV YLT). Job 4:11 The old lion perishes for lack of prey. The cubs of
the lioness are scattered abroad. (WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/l/lioness.htm - 10k

Genuine (9 Occurrences)
... 1 Peter 1:7 that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that
perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise ...
/g/genuine.htm - 9k

Worth (36 Occurrences)
... 1 Peter 1:7 that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that
perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise ...
/w/worth.htm - 17k

Withers (20 Occurrences)
... James 1:11 For the sun arises with the scorching wind, and withers the grass, and
the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. ...
/w/withers.htm - 11k

Inward (43 Occurrences)
... the internal man," ie "soul," "conscience." It is the immaterial part of man-mind,
spirit-in distinction from the "outward man" which "perishes" (2 Corinthians ...
/i/inward.htm - 21k

Fade (16 Occurrences)
... James 1:11 For the sun arises with the scorching wind, and withers the grass, and
the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. ...
/f/fade.htm - 13k

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