Biblical Types, Symbols & Patterns
Mire
Claim-level biblical evidence review with contextual controls, canonical relationships, and preserved interpretive history.
How to read this entry
Evidence grades apply to individual claims, not to the headword as a whole. Strong biblical identification is kept separate from plausible or traditional interpretations, and unsupported proposals remain visible as negative evidence rather than being silently removed.
Mire in Peter’s sow proverb
Second Peter uses a sow returning to mire as a proverbial analogy for return to corrupt conduct after exposure to the way of righteousness.
Context control: The analogy is context-bound to the false-teacher/apostasy warning; mire is not a universal code for all human works.
Second Peter 2:22 explicitly applies the proverb of a washed sow returning to wallow in mire to persons who return to corruption after knowing the way of righteousness; mire therefore functions there as a vivid image of defiling regression.
Grade 1: Explicit biblical interpretationScope: The image concerns defiling regression in this proverb; literal mire and other figurative uses retain their own contexts.
Residual uncertainty: No material residual uncertainty beyond the stated scope limitation.
Scripture
Evidence sources
- Canonical Scripture: MT/LXX/NA28 with NET/ESV comparison — Text loci verified for TSP-S0F Batch 1
- BibleHub lexical/verse reference — Greek borboros (mire / mud) — Accessed/verified 2026-09-20
Proposed fixed mire equals human works symbolism
The legacy wording treats mire as a fixed symbol of man’s works and filth.
Context control: Scripture supports contextual filth/defilement or distress imagery, but not a universal equation between mire and human works.
Scripture does not establish “mire = man’s works” as a fixed symbolic code; Psalm 40 uses a miry bog as distress/deliverance imagery, while 2 Peter 2:22 uses mire within a distinct moral proverb.
Grade 7: Insufficient biblical evidenceScope: Retain contextual filth/distress imagery without universalizing it into a works-symbol.
Residual uncertainty: No material residual uncertainty beyond the stated scope limitation.
Scripture
Evidence sources
- Canonical Scripture: MT/LXX/NA28 with NET/ESV comparison — Text loci verified for TSP-S0F Batch 1
- BibleHub lexical/verse reference — Greek borboros (mire / mud) — Accessed/verified 2026-09-20
Canonical relationships
- Mire: Confirmed in the source-supported contextual sense: Second Peter 2:22 explicitly applies the proverb of a washed sow returning to wallow in mire to persons who return to corruption after knowing the way of righteousness; mire therefore functions there as a vivid image of defiling regression.
Lexical mappings
These are cross-tier mappings only; lexical definitions remain owned by the site’s lexical resources.
- GREEK: βόρβορος borboros — G1004
Study-aid notice
This page is part of an AI-assisted conservative evangelical Bible-study project. It has passed structured research, review, and QA gates, but it is not inspired or infallible and does not replace Scripture, prayer, pastors, teachers, or local church discernment.
Claims should be tested against Scripture in context. Corrections and Review Policy.