What Does the Bible Mean When It Warns People Not to Perish?
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Everything dies, passes away, perishes. But what does perish mean in the Bible?
The Oxford English Dictionary’s first definition of perish is “to suffer a violent, sudden, or untimely death.” So, perish means more than death. Sudden violence is involved, as well as complete ruin and destruction. However, there is more to it than that. It can also mean “To incur spiritual death; to suffer moral or spiritual ruin; to be damned.”
The Bible explains this spiritual ruin in the early chapters of Genesis: through the sin of Adam and Eve, sin and death entered creation. We’ve been suffering those effects ever since.
The Bible warns us against this death and destruction. What does the Bible mean when it warns people not to perish?
Where Do We See the Bible Use the Word Perish?
The Old Testament Hebrew word usually translated into perish is abad. This word can mean to be lost, destroyed, or ruined. It is used in various contexts to describe disobedience’s consequences or the wicked people’s fate.
One example of the word “perish” in the Old Testament is Psalm 1:6, which says, “For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.” Here, “destruction” is translated from the Hebrew word abad, indicating the fate of the wicked who do not follow the ways of the Lord.
The New Testament Greek word commonly translated as perish is apollumi. This word carries the connotation of destruction, ruin, or loss. It is used in various contexts, including discussions about spiritual death and eternal separation from God.
One of the most well-known New Testament verses which uses the word “perish” is John 3:16, which states, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Here, “perish” is translated from apollumi, emphasizing the consequence of spiritual death for those who do not believe in Jesus Christ.
Another example is 2 Peter 3:9, which declares, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” In this passage, “perish” is again translated from apollumi, highlighting God’s desire for all people to turn to Him in repentance and be saved from eternal destruction.
In Matthew 10:28, Jesus warns his disciples, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Here, “destroy” is again from apollumi and emphasizes the ultimate consequence of rejecting God: facing eternal separation from Him in hell.
What Kind of Things Does the Bible Say Causes Us to Perish?
The Bible warns of various factors and behaviors leading to perishing, both physically and spiritually.
While discussing perishing with individuals, this can also apply to the national or cultural level. Proverbs 29:18 states, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” This proverb points out the importance of having a clear, inspired vision or guidance to steer individuals and societies toward a meaningful and productive direction. Without a vision to aspire to, people can become aimless, lacking purpose and direction, leading to stagnation or even moral decay.
Likewise, the Bible also warns about the perils of lacking knowledge. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Destructive consequences arise when communities lack spiritual understanding or awareness. Without knowledge, people may make uninformed decisions, fall into harmful practices, or fail to recognize their sins’ significance.
Sin separates humans from God and leads to spiritual death. Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Sinful behavior and disobedience to God’s commands can ultimately lead to eternal separation from Him.
Since Jesus is the way, truth, and life, rejecting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior leads to perishing. Acts 4:12 affirms, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Rejecting the salvation offered through Jesus Christ can result in spiritual death and eternal separation from God.
Worshiping idols or placing anything above God violates His commandments and can lead to perishing. Exodus 20:3-5 states, “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above, on the earth beneath, or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them.” Idolatry worships human strength and power, whether expressed through physical statues, a career, or another human.
Faith in God changes actions. A faith without resulting life transformation is death (James 2:17). Continual engagement in sinful behavior without repentance can lead to spiritual death and perishing. Paul warns the church in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Salvation is rooted in the abundant love of God, and those in Christ should also love others in the same way. Neglecting to love and care for others can lead to spiritual perishing. The apostle John admonishes in 1 John 3:17, “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”
Does Perish Always Mean Permanent Damage in the Bible?
In the Bible, the term perish can refer to temporary and permanent outcomes, depending on the context. While perish often conveys eternal destruction or spiritual death, it can also denote temporary harm or physical death.
As we’ve seen in the passages above, many times, perish is used to describe the eternal fate of those who reject God or persist in unbelief. 2 Thessalonians 1:9 states, “They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his might.” In these contexts, perish signifies permanent spiritual death and separation from God.
At other times, perish is used for physical death or earthly possessions being destroyed. During a storm on the Sea of Galilee, the disciples cry out to Jesus (Matthew 8:25), “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus responds by calming the storm, and in verse 32, he rebukes the disciples, saying, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he calms the sea. Here, perish conveys the immediate threat of physical harm or death due to the storm.
When the Bible uses perish, it means either physical or spiritual death and destruction, perhaps both at once, and can be for individuals or whole societies. In the Old and New Testaments, the Scripture uses “perish” to express strong consequences. Perishing may be temporary, as in Lazarus’s resurrection (John 11). However, these are exceptions through supernatural, otherworldly means. Even still, Lazarus still died again.
Jesus, however, did not. Jesus rose from the dead and never died again. All humanity is set to perish. All have sinned (Romans 3:23). Every person is already dead in their sins (Ephesians 2:1). Since Christ died and lived again, only he has provided a way out.
What Does the Bible Say Will Save Us from Perishing?
Sin and corruption mean that in our own strength, we are all perishing. Praise God: he made a way to save us from this eternal destruction, both in our own resurrection and in the ultimate life of a new heaven and earth that will be free from entropy.
But how are we saved?
- Faith in Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the primary means of salvation from perishing. His name, Yeshua, means salvation. As he told Martha at Lazarus’s grave, “I am the resurrection and the life.” We must trust in him. Acts 16:31 states, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Salvation is offered as a gift through faith in Jesus Christ, who sacrificed himself for the forgiveness of sins.
- Repentance. Repentance, or a conscious turning away from sin and turning toward God, is essential for salvation. We change our ways and submit to God. Jesus preached the Gospel, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). Acts 3:19 exhorts, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Repentance involves a change of heart and a willingness to surrender to God’s will, leading to forgiveness and restoration.
- Grace. We also repent from our own strength. We rely solely on God’s ability to change us. Salvation is made possible by God’s grace, which is his unmerited favor, power, and love toward humanity. Ephesians 2:8-9 affirms, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works so that no one can boast.” Salvation is a free gift from God, offered to all who repent and believe in Jesus Christ.
- Confession. Part of submitting to the truth means we live in it and confess our faith in Jesus, declaring his salvation. “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.’ (Romans 10:9-10) Confessing Jesus as Lord and Savior is a public declaration of our faith and commitment to follow him.
- Baptism. Baptism is a symbolic act of obedience that represents spiritual cleansing and rebirth. Acts 22:16 states, “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on his name.” While baptism itself does not save, it is an outward expression of inward reality and an important step in the salvation journey.
- Following Jesus. We don’t confess once and go back to our own lives again. Salvation involves a lifelong commitment to follow Jesus Christ and live according to his teachings through intimately walking in the Spirit. Luke 9:23 records Jesus’ words, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Following Jesus requires obedience, discipleship, and a willingness to surrender one's life to Him.
All people have been appointed to die, and then the judgment (Hebrews 9:27), and that judgment will condemn sin and lead to perishing. Christ came to offer the way to live eternally, through the forgiveness of sin and grace, to live a life pleasing to God, escaping the destruction to come. Let us give our lives to humbly rest in his work and walk daily with him.
Peace.
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