Bible Dictionary
FALL
Fall commonly means descending, collapsing, being defeated, entering trouble, bowing in worship, or falling into apostasy. Its meaning depends on the context, whether literal or figurative.
Definition
To fall may mean to descend, collapse, be defeated, enter trouble, become weak, bow down, or turn into apostasy. Its meaning depends upon whether the context is literal, physical, emotional, religious, or military.
Biblical Usage
Scripture speaks of falling in battle, falling into trouble, falling in supplication and reverence, the Spirit falling upon people, and falling away from the faith. It also uses falling for sorrow, shame, anger, and defeat.
Historical Background
The principal Hebrew and Greek terms express falling and its compounds. Revised translations sometimes clarify the context with words such as stumble, fade, perish, be cast ashore, or be lighted upon.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>fol (vb.): The idea of falling is most frequently expressed in Hebrew by naphal, but also by many other words; in Greek by pipto, and its compounds. The uses of the word in Scripture are very varied. There is the literal falling by descent; the falling of the countenance in sorrow, shame, anger, etc. (Ge 4:5,6); the falling in battle (Ge 14:10; Nu 14:3, etc.); the falling into trouble, etc. (Pr 24:16,17); prostration in supplication and reverence (Ge 17:3; Nu 14:5, etc.); falling of the Spirit of Yahweh (Eze 11:5; compare 3:24; 8:1); of apostasy (2Th 2:3; Heb 6:6; Jude 1:24), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) frequently changes "fall" of the King James Version into other words or phrases, as "stumble" (Le 26:37; Ps 64:8; 2Pe 1:10, etc.), "fade" (Isa 33:4), etc.; in Ac 27, the Revised Version (British and American) reads "be cast ashore on rocky ground" for "have fallen upon rocks" (Ac 27:29), "perish" for "fall" (Ac 27:34), "lighting upon" for "falling into" (Ac 27:41).</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>