Ease
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Ease in the Bible?
The Hebrew terms sha'anan and shal'anan denote a state of tranquillity, security, or comfort of mind, frequently employed in biblical texts to characterize moral indifference or carelessness regarding one's spiritual and religious obligations.
SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing this semantic range clarifies the biblical tension between physical ease and spiritual alertness, revealing how a sense of security can foster moral complacency and distract from religious duties.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Ease. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Ease in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Ease clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Ease." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/ease/