Dictionary of Bible Themes – 4045 chaos
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4045 chaos

4045 chaos

A state of complete disorder or confusion. The first stage of creation where, having brought something out of nothing, God had not yet brought order to the universe. This primeval chaos, often symbolised by surging waters, threatens to disrupt God’s order at any time. God sometimes allows a return to chaos as judgment.

God creates order out of chaos

God creates something out of nothing Ge 1:1-2 See also Ps 33:9; Ps 148:5-6; Ro 4:17; Heb 11:3

God brings order to his creation Isa 45:12 See also Ge 1:14-19; Job 9:8; Ps 8:3; Isa 48:13

Chaos threatens God’s order

Life and order in creation must be sustained by God Ps 104:29; Col 1:16-17 See also Job 12:10; Job 34:14-15; Isa 42:5; Heb 1:2-3

The raging sea as a symbol of chaos Ps 46:2-3 The raging sea is a frequent symbol of the chaos from which the world was created and to which it could return. Yet those whose confidence is in the God who brought order out of chaos have nothing to fear; Ps 104:7-9 See also Ex 15:8; Ps 69:2,15; Ps 77:16; Pr 8:29; Zec 10:11; Mt 8:23-27 pp Mk 4:36-41 pp Lk 8:22-25

Threatening nations are likened to the raging seas as bringers of chaos Isa 17:12-13 See also Ps 46:6; Jer 46:7

Spiritual and political chaos Jdg 17:6 A period of anarchy, when no spiritual or political authority was recognised in Israel; Eph 4:14 See also Gal 1:7

God uses chaos as a judgment

Isa 34:11 See also Isa 24:1,3-4,10-12,17-21; Isa 27:10; Isa 32:14; Zep 1:14-15; Rev 6:15-17

Floodwaters as a symbol of the chaos of judgment Jnh 2:3 See also Ge 6:17; Job 20:28; Job 22:16; Isa 8:7

Panic and destruction characterise the chaos that follows judgment Zec 14:13 See also Jdg 7:22; 1Sa 14:20; 2Ch 20:22-23; Isa 19:2; Eze 38:21; Hag 2:22

See also

3296Holy Spirit in the world
4005creation
4065orderliness
4266sea
4809darkness
5815confusion
9140last days
9210judgment, God’s

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