Biblical Passages on Wilderness

Section 1-B

The Bible portrays wilderness in a variety of different ways. Through

well over 300 separate passages, wilderness is used in the Bible to convey a number of distinct and sometimes even contradictory messages.

            Wilderness is used to convey meanings of desert and desolation, the place of untamed and wild forces, and also a place for spiritual reflection. These meanings coexist and the specific use and meaning must be discerned by the context of the specific passage. Some representative ways the Bible uses the term wilderness follow:

Numbers 1:1- And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation,

I will make the wilderness a pool of water,

            And the dry land springs of water.

I will put in the wilderness the cedar,

            the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive;

I will set in the desert the cypress,

            the plane and the pine together;

that men may see and know, may consider and

            understand together, that the hand of the Lord

has done this, the Holy One of Israel created it.

                                                                                                                        Isaiah 41:18-20

Numbers 14:2 - And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died ... in this wilderness!

Numbers 32:13 - And the LORD'S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years

Deuteronomy 8:16 - Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee and prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;

1 Samuel 23:14 - And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.

Job 24:5 - Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children.

The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness, the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. (RSV)

                                                                                                            Psalms 29:8

Psalms 63:1 - A Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Judah (RSV)

Psalms 78:52 - But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.

Psalms 78:52 - Then he led forth his people like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. (RSV)

Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankinsence?

                                                                                                            Song of Solomon 3:6

Song of Solomon 8:5 - Who is this that cometh up out of the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?

Isaiah 35:1 - The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus (RSV)

Isaiah 35:6 - Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

Isaiah 40:3 - A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Isaiah 41:18 - I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

Isaiah 43:19 - Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 51:3 - For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

Ezekiel 20:35 - and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. (RSV)

"I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.” (RSV)

                                                                                                            Ezekiel 34:25

Joel 2:22 - Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.

New Testament

Matthew 3:1 - In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea...

Matthew 4:1 - Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Matthew 11:7 - And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

Mark 1:13 - And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

Luke 1:80 - And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel. (RSV)

Luke 5:16 - But he withdrew to the wilderness and prayed. (RSV)

Luke 7:24 - And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

Acts 7:36 - He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

Acts 7:38 - This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living oracles to give to us. (RSV)