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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Muddying</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/m/muddying.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/ezekiel/32-2.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/m/muddying.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Muddying</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/m/muddy_streets.htm" title="Muddy Streets">◄</a> Muddying <a href="/topical/m/muffler.htm" title="Muffler">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#web" title="Webster's Dictionary">Webster's</a> • <a href="#cnc" title="Multiversion Concordance">Concordance</a> • <a href="#thes" title="Bible Thesaurus">Thesaurus</a> • <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div><b>Definition and Context</b> <br>Muddying, in a biblical context, refers to the act of making something unclear, impure, or confused. This term can be applied both literally, in the sense of physically making water or another substance dirty, and metaphorically, in terms of distorting truth or creating confusion in moral or spiritual matters.<br><br><b>Biblical References</b> <br>The concept of muddying is not explicitly named in the Bible, but the idea is present in various passages that discuss purity, clarity, and truth. One of the most direct references to the idea of muddying, particularly in a metaphorical sense, can be found in the book of Ezekiel. <a href="/ezekiel/34-18.htm">Ezekiel 34:18</a> states, "Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink the clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?" This passage uses the imagery of muddying water to illustrate how the actions of some can spoil what is good and pure for others.<br><br><b>Moral and Spiritual Implications</b> <br>Muddying, when understood metaphorically, can refer to the distortion of God's truth or the introduction of confusion into spiritual teachings. The Bible emphasizes the importance of maintaining purity in doctrine and living a life that reflects the clarity and truth of God's Word. In <a href="/1_corinthians/14-33.htm">1 Corinthians 14:33</a> , it is written, "For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace." This verse underscores the divine preference for order and clarity over confusion and chaos.<br><br><b>Practical Applications</b> <br>In practical terms, Christians are called to avoid muddying the waters of faith by ensuring that their teachings and actions align with biblical truth. This involves a commitment to sound doctrine, as encouraged in <a href="/titus/2.htm">Titus 2:1</a> : "But as for you, speak the things that are consistent with sound doctrine." Believers are urged to be discerning, to test all things, and to hold fast to what is good (<a href="/1_thessalonians/5-21.htm">1 Thessalonians 5:21</a>).<br><br><b>Warnings Against False Teachings</b> <br>The New Testament contains numerous warnings against false teachings and those who would muddy the truth of the Gospel. In <a href="/2_peter/2.htm">2 Peter 2:1</a> , it is stated, "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves." This passage highlights the danger of allowing false teachings to infiltrate the church, leading to spiritual confusion and moral compromise.<br><br><b>Conclusion</b> <br>While the Bible does not use the term "muddying" explicitly, the concept is woven throughout Scripture in the call to maintain purity, clarity, and truth in both personal conduct and communal teaching. Believers are encouraged to seek wisdom and understanding, to avoid confusion, and to uphold the integrity of the Gospel message.<a name="web" id="web"></a><div class="vheading2">Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary</div>(<I>p. pr. & vb. n.</I>) of Muddy.<a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/m/muddying.htm"><span class="l"><b>Muddying</b> (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Muddy. Multi-Version Concordance<br><b>Muddying</b> (1 Occurrence). Ezekiel 32:2 Son of man, take <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/m/muddying.htm - 6k</font><p><a href="/topical/m/muffler.htm"><span class="l">Muffler</span></a><br><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/m/muffler.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/m/muddy.htm"><span class="l">Muddy (3 Occurrences)</span></a><br><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/m/muddy.htm - 7k</font><p><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><a href="https://clyx.com/term/muddying.htm">Muddying: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com</a><br /><br /><a href="/concordance/">Bible Concordance</a> • <a href="/dictionary/">Bible Dictionary</a> • <a href="/encyclopedia/">Bible Encyclopedia</a> • <a href="/topical/">Topical Bible</a> • <a href="/thesaurus/">Bible Thesuarus</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="cnc" id="cnc"></a><div class="vheading2">Concordance</div><span class="encheading">Muddying (1 Occurrence)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/ezekiel/32-2.htm">Ezekiel 32:2</a></span><br />Son of man, take up a lamentation over Pharaoh king of Egypt, and tell him, You were likened to a young lion of the nations: yet you are as a monster in the seas; and you did break forth with your rivers, and troubled the waters with your feet, and fouled their rivers.<br /><span class="source">(See NIV)</span><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/m/muddying.htm">Muddying</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/mufflers.htm">Mufflers (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/muddying.htm">Muddying (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/v/veil.htm">Veil (67 Occurrences)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/m/muddy_streets.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Muddy Streets"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Muddy Streets" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/m/muffler.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Muffler"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Muffler" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div> <br /><br /> <div align="center"> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>