Aside
Withdrawing Privately
One of the primary biblical uses of "aside" describes the act of withdrawing to a private or separate place. In 2 Kings 4:4, the prophet Elisha instructed the widow to go inside and shut the door behind her, setting herself apart to witness God's miraculous provision of oil. Jesus Himself frequently withdrew aside from the crowds for prayer, rest, or private teaching with His disciples. In Mark 7:33, Jesus "took him aside from the crowd privately" before healing a deaf man. Luke 9:10 records that Jesus "withdrew apart" with His apostles to Bethsaida. These moments of stepping aside were not retreats from ministry but strategic withdrawals that enabled deeper encounters with God.
Turning Aside from God's Path
The most spiritually significant use of "aside" in Scripture describes departing from the way of righteousness. The psalmist laments that "they have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt" (Psalm 14:3), a verse Paul later quotes in Romans 3:12 to establish the universal reality of human sin. Throughout the Old Testament, Israel was repeatedly warned against turning aside from God's commandments (Deuteronomy 5:32; 28:14). The image is of a well-marked path that people willfully abandon, choosing their own way instead of God's.
Setting Aside Hindrances
The writer of Hebrews uses "aside" in a powerful figurative sense: "Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1). The Greek word here, apotithemi, means to put off or cast away, like removing heavy garments before a race. This usage transforms the concept of "aside" from something negative (turning from the right path) into something positive (removing obstacles to faithful living).
Putting Aside the Former Way of Life
Paul extends this concept by urging believers to put aside the behaviors of their old life. In Ephesians 4:22-25, he instructs Christians to "put off your old self" and "put away falsehood." Similarly, Colossians 3:8 commands believers to "put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander." James 1:21 urges readers to "put aside all filthiness and rampant wickedness." In each case, the Christian life involves a deliberate act of setting aside what hinders spiritual growth.
The Positive Call to Set Apart
While turning aside from God is always negative in Scripture, being set aside for God is profoundly positive. The concept of holiness itself involves being set apart for divine purposes. God set aside the nation of Israel (Deuteronomy 7:6), the Levites for temple service (Numbers 8:14), and ultimately all believers as a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). This redemptive dimension of "aside" reminds us that God calls people out of one way of life and into another.
Biblical Context
The concept of turning or setting aside appears across both Testaments. Key Old Testament passages include Psalm 14:3 (universal turning aside from God), Deuteronomy 5:32 (warning against turning aside from commandments), and 2 Kings 4:4 (physical withdrawal). New Testament usage includes Mark 7:33 (Jesus withdrawing privately), Hebrews 12:1 (laying aside hindrances), 1 Timothy 1:6 (turning aside from faith), and Acts 23:19 (physical withdrawal).
Theological Significance
The biblical treatment of 'aside' reveals the two fundamental directions of the human heart: toward God or away from Him. Turning aside from God's path represents the essence of sin, while setting aside hindrances to faith represents the essence of sanctification. The call to lay aside every weight (Hebrews 12:1) transforms this concept into a positive spiritual discipline, showing that the Christian life requires intentional removal of whatever impedes faithfulness.
Historical Background
The image of turning aside from a path would have been immediately vivid to ancient readers who traveled on foot along well-worn routes through often dangerous terrain. Departing from the established road could lead to becoming lost, encountering bandits, or falling into natural hazards. Ancient Near Eastern legal codes and covenant documents frequently included warnings against turning aside from prescribed obligations, making the biblical usage consistent with broader cultural patterns of covenant faithfulness.