Drag
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Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Context: The term "drag" in a biblical context can refer to a net used for fishing, as well as the act of pulling or drawing something with force. In the ancient world, fishing was a common occupation, and the use of drag nets was a familiar image. The concept of dragging can also metaphorically represent the drawing of people or events into a particular situation or judgment.

Biblical References:

1. Fishing Nets: The imagery of drag nets is used in the Bible to describe the gathering of people for judgment or the kingdom of heaven. In Matthew 13:47-50 , Jesus uses the parable of the net to illustrate the kingdom of heaven: "Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw the bad away. So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

2. Metaphorical Use: The act of dragging can also symbolize the forceful drawing of individuals into situations of judgment or consequence. In Habakkuk 1:14-15 , the prophet laments the prosperity of the wicked, using the imagery of fishing: "You have made men like the fish of the sea, like sea creatures with no ruler. The Chaldeans pull them all up with a hook; they catch them in their dragnet and gather them in their fishing net; so they rejoice and are glad."

3. Judgment and Consequence: The concept of dragging is often associated with divine judgment or the consequences of sin. In Ezekiel 32:3 , God speaks of judgment against Pharaoh, king of Egypt: "This is what the Lord GOD says: 'I will spread My net over you with a company of many peoples, and they will haul you up in My net.'"

Theological Implications: The use of drag nets in biblical parables and prophecies often serves to illustrate the comprehensive and inevitable nature of divine judgment. Just as a drag net gathers all kinds of fish indiscriminately, God's judgment will encompass all people, separating the righteous from the wicked. This imagery underscores the importance of living a life in accordance with God's will, as the final judgment will reveal the true nature of each individual's life and choices.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the ancient Near East, fishing was a vital part of daily life and economy. The use of nets, including drag nets, was a common practice for catching fish in large quantities. This cultural backdrop made the imagery of drag nets a powerful and relatable metaphor for Jesus' audience and the readers of the prophetic books.

Moral and Ethical Lessons: The biblical use of "drag" as a metaphor for judgment serves as a reminder of the moral and ethical responsibilities of believers. It calls for self-examination and repentance, emphasizing the need to align one's life with the teachings of Scripture to be counted among the righteous in the final judgment.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) A confection; a comfit; a drug.

2. (v. t.) To draw slowly or heavily onward; to pull along the ground by main force; to haul; to trail; -- applied to drawing heavy or resisting bodies or those inapt for drawing, with labor, along the ground or other surface; as, to drag stone or timber; to drag a net in fishing.

3. (v. t.) To break, as land, by drawing a drag or harrow over it; to harrow; to draw a drag along the bottom of, as a stream or other water; hence, to search, as by means of a drag.

4. (v. t.) To draw along, as something burdensome; hence, to pass in pain or with difficulty.

5. (v. i.) To be drawn along, as a rope or dress, on the ground; to trail; to be moved onward along the ground, or along the bottom of the sea, as an anchor that does not hold.

6. (v. i.) To move onward heavily, laboriously, or slowly; to advance with weary effort; to go on lingeringly.

7. (v. i.) To serve as a clog or hindrance; to hold back.

8. (v. i.) To fish with a dragnet.

9. (n.) The act of dragging; anything which is dragged.

10. (n.) A net, or an apparatus, to be drawn along the bottom under water, as in fishing, searching for drowned persons, etc.

11. (n.) A kind of sledge for conveying heavy bodies; also, a kind of low car or handcart; as, a stone drag.

12. (n.) A heavy coach with seats on top; also, a heavy carriage.

13. (n.) A heavy harrow, for breaking up ground.

14. (v. t.) Anything towed in the water to retard a ship's progress, or to keep her head up to the wind; esp., a canvas bag with a hooped mouth, so used. See Drag sail (below).

15. (v. t.) Also, a skid or shoe, for retarding the motion of a carriage wheel.

16. (v. t.) Hence, anything that retards; a clog; an obstacle to progress or enjoyment.

17. (v. t.) Motion affected with slowness and difficulty, as if clogged.

18. (n.) The bottom part of a flask or mold, the upper part being the cope.

19. (n.) A steel instrument for completing the dressing of soft stone.

20. (n.) The difference between the speed of a screw steamer under sail and that of the screw when the ship outruns the screw; or between the propulsive effects of the different floats of a paddle wheel. See Citation under Drag, v. i., 3.

Greek
2694. katasuro -- to drag away
... to drag away. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: katasuro Phonetic Spelling:
(kat-as-oo'-ro) Short Definition: I drag down Definition: I pull down, drag away ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2694.htm - 6k

4951. suro -- to draw, drag
... to draw, drag. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: suro Phonetic Spelling:
(soo'-ro) Short Definition: I draw, drag Definition: I draw, drag, force away. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4951.htm - 6k

1670. helko -- to drag
... to drag. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: helko Phonetic Spelling:
(hel-koo'-o) Short Definition: I drag, draw, pull, persuade Definition: I drag, ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1670.htm - 7k

645. apospao -- to draw off, draw away
... draw off, draw away. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apospao Phonetic Spelling:
(ap-os-pah'-o) Short Definition: I wrench away from, drag away, withdraw ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/645.htm - 6k

385. anaspao -- to draw up
... to draw up. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anaspao Phonetic Spelling:
(an-as-pah'-o) Short Definition: I drag up, pull up Definition: I drag up, pull ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/385.htm - 6k

293. amphiblestron -- to throw around
... around. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: amphiblestron Phonetic Spelling:
(am-fib'-lace-tron) Short Definition: a fishing net, drag-net Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/293.htm - 6k

4884. sunarpazo -- to seize and carry away
... to seize and carry away. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sunarpazo Phonetic
Spelling: (soon-ar-pad'-zo) Short Definition: I seize, drag by force Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4884.htm - 6k

1828. exelko -- to draw out or away
... draw away. From ek and helkuo; to drag forth, ie (figuratively) to entice (to sin) --
draw away. see GREEK ek. see GREEK helkuo. (exelkomenos) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1828.htm - 6k

4506. rhuomai -- to draw to oneself, ie deliver
... Word Origin akin to eruo (to drag) Definition to draw to oneself, ie deliver NASB
Word Usage deliver (3), delivered (1), Deliverer (1), rescue (3), rescued (7 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4506.htm - 8k

4049. perispao -- to draw away
... distract. From peri and spao; to drag all around, ie (figuratively) to distract
(with care) -- cumber. see GREEK peri. see GREEK spao. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4049.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew
1641. garar -- to drag, drag away
... 1640, 1641. garar. 1642 . to drag, drag away. Transliteration: garar Phonetic
Spelling: (gaw-rar') Short Definition: away. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/1641.htm - 6k

5498. sachab -- to drag
... 5497, 5498. sachab. 5499 . to drag. Transliteration: sachab Phonetic Spelling:
(saw-khab') Short Definition: drag. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5498.htm - 5k

4900. mashak -- to draw, drag
... 4899, 4900. mashak. 4901 . to draw, drag. Transliteration: mashak Phonetic
Spelling: (maw-shak') Short Definition: draw. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/4900.htm - 6k

4365. mikmereth -- a net, fishing net
... 4364b, 4365. mikmereth. 4365a . a net, fishing net. Transliteration: mikmereth
Phonetic Spelling: (mik-meh'-reth) Short Definition: drag. drag, net ...
/hebrew/4365.htm - 5k

5423. nathaq -- to pull, draw, or tear away, apart, or off
... root Definition to pull, draw, or tear away, apart, or off NASB Word Usage break
(1), broke apart (1), broken (2), burst (1), drag off (1), draw away (1 ...
/hebrew/5423.htm - 6k

Library

The Parable of the Drag-Net.
... Book X. 11. The Parable of the Drag-Net. "Again the kingdom of heaven
is like unto a net that was cast into the sea." [5205] As ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/11 the parable of the.htm

The Drag Net.
... THE PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM THE DRAG NET. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is
like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/the drag net.htm

In Proof of the Unity in Trinity the Passage of Isaiah which Has ...
... Consider now lest perchance something may not beseem Him, or if this displease thee,
O Arian, drag Him down from His fellowship with the Father and the Son. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xxii in proof of.htm

The Reasons of the Hatred against the Christians are Examined and ...
... why not by argument, but by bodily tortures? Whence it is manifest that that is
an evil, to which you do not allure me willing, but drag me refusing. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap liii the reasons of the.htm

Providential Guidance
... Unsuccessful, I looked around in agonising suspense, and saw close to me a
fishing-boat with a peculiar drag-net furnished with hooks, which I knew would bring ...
/.../taylor/a retrospect/chapter xiv providential guidance.htm

A Faithful Friend
... A man may drag along a miserable existence in proud solitary dignity, but his life
is scarce life, it is nothing but an existence, the tree of life being ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/a faithful friend.htm

Habakkuk's Rhapsody of the Chaldeans
... He taketh up all of them with the angle, he catcheth them in his net, and gathereth
them in his drag: therefore he rejoiceth and is glad. ...
/.../habakkuks rhapsody of the chaldeans.htm

A Faithful Friend
... A man may drag along a miserable existence in proud solitary dignity, but his life
is scarce life, it is nothing but an existence, the tree of life being ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/a faithful friend.htm

Petilianus Said: "If You Wish that we Should be Your Friends...
... friends? "216. Petilianus said: "If you wish that we should be your
friends, why do you drag us to you against our will? But ...
/.../chapter 95 216 petilianus.htm

Concerning those who Call by the Name of Fate, not the Position of ...
... With virtuous cheerfulness. The Fates do lead the man that follows willing;
But the man that is unwilling, him they drag." [192]. ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 8 concerning those who call.htm

Thesaurus
Drag (19 Occurrences)
... haul; to trail; -- applied to drawing heavy or resisting bodies or those inapt for
drawing, with labor, along the ground or other surface; as, to drag stone or ...
/d/drag.htm - 14k

Drag-net (1 Occurrence)
Drag-net. Dragnet, Drag-net. Dragon . Multi-Version Concordance
Drag-net (1 Occurrence). Matthew 4:18 And walking along ...
/d/drag-net.htm - 6k

Dragged (19 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Drag. Multi-Version Concordance
Dragged (19 Occurrences). Matthew 10:18 Yes, and you will ...
/d/dragged.htm - 12k

Hale (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (a.) Sound; healthy; robust; not impaired; as, a hale body. 2. (n.) Welfare.
3. (vt) To call; to pull; to drag; to haul. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/h/hale.htm - 7k

Drags (5 Occurrences)
... when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and terrors shall be in the way;
and the almond-tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall drag itself along ...
/d/drags.htm - 7k

Appalled (31 Occurrences)
... counsel of Jehovah, that he hath taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he hath
purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely they shall drag them away ...
/a/appalled.htm - 15k

Counselled (26 Occurrences)
... ye the counsel of Jehovah, That He hath counselled concerning Edom, And His devices
that He hath devised Concerning the inhabitants of Teman: Drag them out do ...
/c/counselled.htm - 14k

Devised (35 Occurrences)
... ye the counsel of Jehovah, That He hath counselled concerning Edom, And His devices
that He hath devised Concerning the inhabitants of Teman: Drag them out do ...
/d/devised.htm - 17k

Planned (34 Occurrences)
... the counsel of Yahweh, that he has taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he
has purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely they shall drag them away ...
/p/planned.htm - 16k

Devices (43 Occurrences)
... ye the counsel of Jehovah, That He hath counselled concerning Edom, And His devices
that He hath devised Concerning the inhabitants of Teman: Drag them out do ...
/d/devices.htm - 18k

Resources
What does it mean that God draws us to salvation? | GotQuestions.org

Is “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” a true statement? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that hope deferred makes the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12)? | GotQuestions.org

Drag: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Drag (19 Occurrences)

Matthew 4:18
And walking along the shore of the Lake of Galilee He saw two brothers--Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew--throwing a drag-net into the Lake; for they were fishers.
(WEY YLT)

Mark 1:16
And, walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon, and Andrew his brother, casting a drag into the sea, for they were fishers,
(YLT)

Luke 12:58
For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.
(WEB WEY ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 21:6
"Throw the net in on the right hand side," He said, "and you will find fish." So they threw the net in, and now they could scarcely drag it along for the quantity of fish.
(WEY)

Acts 21:30
All the city was moved, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple. Immediately the doors were shut.
(Root in WEB WEY ASV NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 6:19
That hope we have as an anchor of the soul--an anchor that can neither break nor drag. It passes in behind the veil,
(WEY)

James 2:6
But you have dishonored the poor man. Don't the rich oppress you, and personally drag you before the courts?
(WEB WEY ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 17:13
Moreover, if he withdraw himself into a city, then shall all Israel bring up ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the valley until there be not one small stone found there.'
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 28:3
Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity; who speak peace with their neighbours, but evil is in their hearts.
(See NAS NIV)

Proverbs 21:7
The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away, Because they refuse to do justice.
(See JPS NAS NIV)

Ecclesiastes 12:5
yea, they shall be afraid of that which is high, and terrors'shall be in the way; and the almond-tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goeth to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets:
(See JPS NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 5:18
Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope,
(See NAS)

Jeremiah 12:3
But thou, Jehovah, knowest me; thou hast seen me, and proved my heart toward thee. Drag them out like sheep for the slaughter, and set them apart for the day of slaughter.
(DBY NAS NIV)

Jeremiah 15:3
And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith Jehovah: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the birds of the heavens, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and to destroy.
(See JPS YLT NAS NIV)

Jeremiah 49:20
Therefore hear the counsel of Yahweh, that he has taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he has purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely they shall drag them away, even the little ones of the flock; surely he shall make their habitation desolate over them.
(WEB JPS ASV YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 50:45
Therefore hear the counsel of Yahweh, that he has taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he has purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely they shall drag them away, even the little ones of the flock; surely he shall make their habitation desolate over them.
(WEB JPS ASV YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 39:2
and I will turn you around, and will lead you on, and will cause you to come up from the uttermost parts of the north; and I will bring you on the mountains of Israel;
(See NIV)

Habakkuk 1:15
He takes up all of them with the hook. He catches them in his net, and gathers them in his dragnet. Therefore he rejoices and is glad.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Habakkuk 1:16
Therefore he sacrifices to his net, and burns incense to his dragnet, because by them his life is luxurious, and his food is good.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NIV)

Subtopics

Drag

Related Terms

Jason (5 Occurrences)

Drag (19 Occurrences)

Seized (118 Occurrences)

Rulers (310 Occurrences)

Wall (227 Occurrences)

Dragging (6 Occurrences)

Middle (169 Occurrences)

Magistrates (18 Occurrences)

Partition (4 Occurrences)

Authorities (44 Occurrences)

Great (10383 Occurrences)

Philippi (8 Occurrences)

Alexandria (4 Occurrences)

Kerioth (4 Occurrences)

Upset (9 Occurrences)

Upside (7 Occurrences)

Owners (19 Occurrences)

Officials (229 Occurrences)

Jehoiakim (37 Occurrences)

Loudly (31 Occurrences)

Girl (71 Occurrences)

Won (24 Occurrences)

Felix (11 Occurrences)

Failing (12 Occurrences)

Tumult (56 Occurrences)

Tore (59 Occurrences)

Throwing (29 Occurrences)

Realized (33 Occurrences)

Ravaged (11 Occurrences)

Ravaging (2 Occurrences)

Doors (149 Occurrences)

Directions (100 Occurrences)

Masters (59 Occurrences)

Marketplace (8 Occurrences)

Provoked (70 Occurrences)

Persuaded (40 Occurrences)

Politarchs (2 Occurrences)

Caused (468 Occurrences)

Aroused (29 Occurrences)

Accusing (13 Occurrences)

Assembly (371 Occurrences)

Antonius

Supposing (16 Occurrences)

Stoned (38 Occurrences)

Shouting (83 Occurrences)

Seizing (7 Occurrences)

Alexander (5 Occurrences)

Public (99 Occurrences)

Iconium (6 Occurrences)

Outer (98 Occurrences)

Square (94 Occurrences)

Shut (237 Occurrences)

Throughout (291 Occurrences)

Entering (124 Occurrences)

Party (47 Occurrences)

Ran (100 Occurrences)

Thessalonica (8 Occurrences)

Gain (142 Occurrences)

Chemosh (8 Occurrences)

Market (24 Occurrences)

Destroy (379 Occurrences)

Believing (84 Occurrences)

Silas (22 Occurrences)

Moved (316 Occurrences)

Hopes (24 Occurrences)

Ruler (329 Occurrences)

Women (328 Occurrences)

Multitudes (72 Occurrences)

Scribes (85 Occurrences)

Raised (267 Occurrences)

Crying (247 Occurrences)

Making (644 Occurrences)

Antioch (21 Occurrences)

Brothers (574 Occurrences)

Straightway (96 Occurrences)

Laid (552 Occurrences)

Giving (611 Occurrences)

Face (780 Occurrences)

Drachms
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