Bible Questions and Answers

What does "wilderness" symbolize in the Bible?

In the Old Testament:
Genesis 21:21  And he (Ishmail) dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.
Using Strong’s Concordance:
Wilderness 04057 מדבר midbar from 01696 in the sense of driving; n m 
Translated in the KJV – ‘wilderness’ 255 times, ‘desert’ 13 times, ‘south’ 1 time, ‘speech’ 1 time, ‘wilderness + 0776’ 1 time.
Meaning:
1) wilderness 
1a) pasture 
1b) uninhabited land, wilderness 
1c) large tracts of wilderness (around cities) 
1d) wilderness (fig.) 
2) mouth 
2a) mouth (as organ of speech)

Used Metaphorically to describe a lack of provision or nourishment.
Jeremiah 2:31  "O generation, see the word of the LORD! Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a land of darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are lords; We will come no more to You’?
Used to describe the nations into which Israel would be scattered.
Ezekiel 20:35  "And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will plead My case with you face to face.

In the New Testament
Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
Matthew 3:3  For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’"
Using Strong’s Concordance:
Wilderness 2048 ἔρημος eremos of uncertain affinity; adjective; 
Translated in the KJV - wilderness 32 times, desert 13 times, desolate 4 times, solitary 1 time.
Meaning:
1) solitary, lonely, desolate, uninhabited 
1a) used of places 
1a1) a desert, wilderness 
1a2) deserted places, lonely regions 
1a3) an uncultivated region fit for pasturage 
1b) used of persons 
1b1) deserted by others 
1b2) deprived of the aid and protection of others, especially of friends, acquaintances, kindred 
1b3) bereft 
1b3a) of a flock deserted by the shepherd 
1b3b) of a woman neglected by her husband, from whom the husband withholds himself

Used metaphorically to describe the nations into which the true believers would be scattered until Christ’s return.
Revelation 12:6  Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
Revelation 12:14  But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.

I hope you find this helpful,
God bless,
Glenn