Wilderness — Meaning in the Bible
Dry, lightly inhabited land. In the Bible the wilderness is a place of testing and of God's provision: Israel wandered there forty years and Jesus was tempted there.
Scripture in WEBWorld English Bible — Protestant Edition
What it means
After leaving Egypt, Israel lived forty years in the wilderness, fed with manna and given water from the rock. Deuteronomy says God led them there to humble and test them. Exodus 16:1–4Numbers 14:33–34Deuteronomy 8:2–3
John the Baptist preached in the wilderness, and Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness forty days, where he was tempted. Mark 1:3–4Luke 4:1–13
Key passages
- Exodus 16 — Manna in the wilderness.
- Deuteronomy 8:1–5 — Why the wilderness.
- 1 Kings 19:4–8 — Elijah in the wilderness.
- Mark 1:1–4 — A voice in the wilderness.
- Luke 4:1–13 — Jesus tempted.
For children
The wilderness is a dry, empty land. God's people walked through the wilderness for forty years, and God gave them manna to eat. Exodus 16:35
Study further
- Deuteronomy 8 Lessons of the wilderness.
- Luke 4:1–13 Jesus in the wilderness.