What the Bible Says About the Meaning of “Thence”

In the Bible, “thence” is an archaic term meaning “from there” or “from that place.” It indicates a point of origin or departure in a narrative or instruction.

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Scripture

8 So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.
9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.

Genesis 11:8-9

Meaning of “Thence” in the Bible

In the Bible, the term “thence” serves as an important linguistic tool that marks a transition or movement from one location to another, both physically and metaphorically. For instance, in Genesis 12:1, when God commands Abram to leave his homeland, the use of “thence” illustrates a pivotal turning point in Abram’s journey of faith: “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee.” Here, “thence” signifies the departure from familiar surroundings and the beginning of a divine mission, emphasizing the necessity of leaving behind the known in pursuit of God’s promise.

Moreover, “thence” can also imply a broader spiritual movement or call to action. In Psalm 121:1, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help,” the word suggests not only a geographical location but also a reminder of the source of salvation and support. The psalmist is pointing toward divine assistance that can come from above, rooted in faith. Thus, “thence” encapsulates the concept of transition, illustrating both the physical migration within the biblical narrative and the spiritual journey of believers seeking guidance and strength from God, reinforcing the idea that true origins and sustenance lie beyond mere earthly constraints.

The significance of “thence” extends into various biblical passages, where it embodies both the literal and metaphorical movements of individuals in their journeys of faith. In acts of discipleship and calling, “thence” often indicates a decisive shift in direction that aligns with God’s purpose. For instance, in the Gospel narratives, when Jesus calls His disciples, He instructs them to leave their previous lives and follow Him, with “thence” often used to describe their departure from familiar roles and environments. This linguistic choice accentuates their commitment to a new path centered on spiritual growth and the spread of the Gospel message, highlighting a transformational journey marked by trust in the divine.

Additionally, the term carries rich implications in the context of exodus narratives. In books such as Exodus and Numbers, “thence” frequently appears in descriptions of the Israelites’ wanderings in the wilderness, symbolizing their continual movement towards the Promised Land. Each “thence” represents not only a change in their physical location but also a step deeper into understanding God’s covenant and reliance on His providence. It illustrates ongoing transformation and communal reliance as they navigate their trials, marking significant milestones in their spiritual evolution. Overall, “thence” serves as a linguistic bridge that connects the physical journey of God’s people with the deeper spiritual realities at play in their lives, reminding readers of the importance of moving forward in faith, irrespective of immediate challenges.

Transition and Movement

In biblical texts, “thence” often signifies a point of transition or movement from one location to another. This can represent not only physical relocation but also a spiritual or emotional journey. The use of “thence” indicates a departure from a previous state or place, suggesting that the characters or people involved are moving towards a new phase in their lives, often guided by divine instruction or purpose.

Divine Guidance and Purpose

The term “thence” can also imply a sense of divine guidance. When individuals or groups are described as moving “thence,” it often reflects a journey that is orchestrated by God’s will. This movement is not random; it is part of a larger narrative where the characters are fulfilling a divine plan. The use of “thence” underscores the belief that their paths are directed by a higher power, leading them to fulfill their destinies.

Separation and New Beginnings

Additionally, “thence” can denote separation from the past and the initiation of new beginnings. It marks a clear distinction between what was left behind and what lies ahead. This separation can be physical, emotional, or spiritual, indicating a break from former ways of life or beliefs. The concept of moving “thence” often embodies the idea of renewal and the opportunity for transformation, emphasizing the importance of leaving behind the old to embrace the new.

How to Embrace Change and Grow in Faith

Embracing change can often feel daunting, but it’s essential for our growth as Christians. Remember that change is a part of God’s divine plan, and it often leads us to deeper faith and understanding. When faced with new challenges or transitions, take a moment to pray and seek God’s guidance; He is always there, ready to provide comfort and wisdom. Reflect on the stories of biblical figures like Abraham, who left his homeland in faith, or the disciples who followed Jesus into the unknown. These examples remind us that change can lead to incredible blessings and opportunities for spiritual growth. Surround yourself with a supportive community, engage in scripture, and be open to the lessons that change brings. Trust that God is shaping you through every twist and turn, and allow yourself to be molded into the person He created you to be.

Bible References to the Term “Thence”:

Genesis 12:5-7: 5 Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan.
6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.
7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

Genesis 26:17-19: 17 So Isaac departed from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there.
18 And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the names that his father had given them.
19 Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water.

Genesis 28:10-12: 10 Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran.
11 And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep.
12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!

Genesis 35:13-15: 13 And God went up from him in the place where he had spoken with him.
14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it.
15 So Jacob called the name of the place where God had spoken with him Bethel.

Exodus 13:18-20: 18 But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.
19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.”
20 And they moved on from Succoth and encamped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness.

Numbers 13:23-25: 23 And they came to the Valley of Eshcol and cut down from there a branch with a single cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a pole between two of them; they also brought some pomegranates and figs.
24 That place was called the Valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster that the people of Israel cut down from there.
25 At the end of forty days they returned from spying out the land.

Joshua 2:22-24: 22 And they departed and went into the hills and remained there three days until the pursuers returned, and the pursuers searched all along the way and found nothing.
23 So the two men returned, and they came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them.
24 And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.”

Judges 18:26-28: 26 So the people of Dan went their way. And when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his home.
27 But the people of Dan took what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, and they came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire.
28 There was no deliverer because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone. It was in the valley that belongs to Beth-rehob. Then they rebuilt the city and lived in it.

1 Samuel 10:2-4: 2 When you depart from me today, you will meet two men by Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah, and they will say to you, ‘The donkeys that you went to seek are found, and now your father has ceased to care about the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, “What shall I do about my son?”‘
3 Then you shall go on from there farther and come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine.
4 And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall accept from their hand.

1 Kings 17:9-11: 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.”
10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.”
11 And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”

2 Kings 2:21-23: 21 Then he went out to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, “Thus says the Lord, I have healed this water; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it.”
22 So the waters have been healed to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke.
23 He went up from there to Bethel, and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”

2 Chronicles 20:24-26: 24 When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the horde, and behold, there were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped.
25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found among them, in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much.
26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the Lord. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Beracah to this day.

Nehemiah 2:12-14: 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode.
13 I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire.
14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass.

Isaiah 52:11-12: 11 Depart, depart, go out from there;
touch no unclean thing;
go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves,
you who bear the vessels of the Lord.
12 For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

Jeremiah 37:11-13: 11 Now when the Chaldean army had withdrawn from Jerusalem at the approach of Pharaoh’s army,
12 Jeremiah set out from Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin to receive his portion there among the people.
13 When he was at the Benjamin Gate, a sentry there named Irijah the son of Shelemiah, son of Hananiah, seized Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “You are deserting to the Chaldeans.”

Ezekiel 10:18-20: 18 Then the glory of the Lord went out from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim.
19 And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth before my eyes as they went out, with the wheels beside them. And they stood at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the Lord, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them.
20 This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the Chebar canal; and I knew that they were cherubim.

Matthew 4:21-22: 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.
22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Mark 1:19-20: 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets.
20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

Luke 24:50-51: 50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them.
51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.

John 4:43-45: 43 After the two days he departed for Galilee.
44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.)
45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast.

Acts 13:4-6: 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.
6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.

Acts 18:7-8: 7 And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue.
8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.

Acts 20:13-14: 13 But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land.
14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene.

Revelation 12:5-6: 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne.
6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.