The words used in the Hebrew thus rendered in the A.V. are very expressive. The ruin of a city by dilapidation, separating all its stones: Isaiah 25:2, "Thou hast made of a fenced city a ruin" (or separation,
מִפֵּלָה; so of a country, Isaiah 23:13; מִפָּלָה, Isaiah 17:1; מִפֶּלֶת Ezekiel 13:13; Ezekiel 27:27). Ruin of strongholds by breaking them up: Psalms 89:40, "Thou hast brought his strongholds to ruin" (i.e. to a breaking, מִחְתָּה ). This word elsewhere means terror, and expresses the alarm attendant on the taking of a fortified place. Demolished structures: Ezekiel 36:35-36 (the root is הָרִס, to tear down, as in Amos 9:11; like κατασκάπτω, Acts 15:16; but in Luke 6:49, it is ῥῆγμα, a tearing).
Figuratively, ruin, a fall, or stumbling, from some cause of, or temptation to, sin: 2 Chronicles 28:23, "They [the gods of Damascus] were the ruin (מִכַשֵׁלָה, a stumbling-block) of him [Ahaz] and of all Israel;" so מַכַשׁוֹל, Ezekiel 18:30; Ezekiel 21:15. Ruin, destruction: Proverbs 24:22, "Their calamity shall rise suddenly; who knoweth the ruin (פַּיד, destruction) of them both?" Ruin, a cause for repentance: 26:28, "A flattering mouth worketh ruin" (מַדְחֶה, contrition or repentance).
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More