The phrase “gnashing of teeth” is used in the Bible to symbolize extreme anguish, despair, or regret. It often appears in contexts dealing with judgment, punishment, or separation from God. Here are some key biblical references where this phrase is found:
1. **Matthew 13:40-42**: “Just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
2. **Matthew 22:13**: “Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
3. **Matthew 25:30**: “And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
4. **Luke 13:27-28**: “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.”
In these references, the gnashing of teeth serves as a vivid metaphor for the emotional and spiritual pain experienced by those who are cast out or excluded from the kingdom of God. It implies not only a physical manifestation of distress but also deep regret and sorrow for lost opportunities and a separation from divine grace. This imagery is primarily used to convey the seriousness of rejecting God’s invitation to salvation and the ultimate consequences of such a decision.