The Bible

 

Genesis 24:36

Study

       

36 And Sarah, my master's wife, bore a son to my master when she was old: and to him hath he given all that he hath.

Commentary

 

Down

  
Moses descends from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments, by Ferdinand Bol

Down" is used many different ways, and its spiritual meaning in the Bible is highly dependent on context. Phrases like "bowing down," "lying down" and "falling down" are defined primarily by "bowing," "lying" and "falling"; there is also a great difference between a person descending, the Lord sending fire from heaven and someone handling an object, to offer a few examples. In a very general sense, though, "down" indicates a lowering from more internal spiritual states to more external ones. That's why the journey is described as going "down" to Egypt from Canaan, and people from all quarters go "up" to Jerusalem. It's also why the Lord comes "down" to us, which generally indicates a state of judgment.