Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Context:The term "disobedient" refers to the act of not following commands, instructions, or laws. In the biblical context, disobedience is primarily seen as a failure to adhere to God's commandments and instructions. It is often associated with sin and rebellion against divine authority.
Biblical Instances and Themes:1.
The Fall of Man: The first act of disobedience recorded in the Bible is the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. God commanded them not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but they disobeyed, leading to the fall of humanity.
Genesis 3:6 states, "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it."
2.
Israel's Rebellion: Throughout the Old Testament, the nation of Israel is depicted as frequently disobedient to God's laws and commands. This disobedience often led to consequences such as exile and oppression by foreign nations. In
Judges 2:17 , it is written, "Yet they would not listen to their judges, but prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. They quickly turned from the way of their fathers, who had walked in obedience to the LORD’s commands."
3.
Saul's Disobedience: King Saul's disobedience to God's command through the prophet Samuel is a significant example. Saul was instructed to completely destroy the Amalekites and all they possessed, but he spared King Agag and the best of the livestock.
1 Samuel 15:22-23 highlights the seriousness of his disobedience: "But Samuel declared: 'Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.'"
4.
New Testament Warnings: The New Testament continues to address the issue of disobedience, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God and His commandments. In
Romans 5:19 , Paul contrasts the disobedience of Adam with the obedience of Christ: "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous."
5.
Children and Parents: Disobedience is also addressed in the context of family relationships.
Ephesians 6:1 instructs, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." This command underscores the importance of obedience within the family unit as a reflection of obedience to God.
Consequences of Disobedience:The Bible consistently portrays disobedience as leading to negative consequences, both spiritually and physically. Disobedience to God results in separation from Him, loss of blessings, and often, divine judgment.
Hebrews 2:2-3 warns, "For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?"
Call to Obedience:Despite the prevalence of disobedience, the Bible calls believers to a life of obedience, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Obedience is seen as a demonstration of faith and love for God.
John 14:15 records Jesus' words, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."
Conclusion:While the Bible provides numerous examples of disobedience and its consequences, it also offers hope through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, who enables believers to live in obedience to God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Neglecting or refusing to obey; omitting to do what is commanded, or doing what is prohibited; refractory; not observant of duty or rules prescribed by authority; -- applied to persons and acts.
2. (a.) Not yielding.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DISOBEDIENCE; DISOBEDIENTdis-o-be'-di-ens, (marah; apeitheo, parakouo): The word used chiefly in the New Testament has the general meaning of a lack of regard for authority or rulership. The stronger meaning of actual stubbornness or violence is perhaps conveyed in the Old Testament (1 Kings 13:26Nehemiah 9:26; compare1 Kings 13:21).
In the New Testament there seem to be two rather clearly defined uses of the word, one objective and practical, the other ethical and psychological. The first refers more to conduct, the second to belief and one's mental attitude toward the object of disobedience. To the first belong such passages as refer to the overt act of disobedience to one's parents (Romans 1:302 Timothy 3:2). Illustrating this more fully, the translation according to the King James Version of1 Timothy 1:9 is given as "unruly" in the Revised Version (British and American). By far the greater emphasis, however, is placed upon the distinctly ethical quality in which disobedience is really an attitude of the mind and finds its essence in a heart of unbelief and unfaithfulness (1 Peter 2:7, 8Ephesians 2:2;Ephesians 5:6Colossians 3:6). In the latter three references "children (sons) of disobedience" are mentioned, as if one should become the very offspring of such an unhappy and unholy state of mind. The classic phrase of New Testament literature (Acts 26:19) contains both the practical and the ethical aspects. Paul's convictions were changed by the vision and his conduct was made to conform immediately to it.
Walter G. Clippinger
Greek
545. apeithes --disobedient...disobedient. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: apeithes Phonetic Spelling:
(ap-i-thace') Short Definition: unbelieving,
disobedient Definition
...506. anupotaktos -- not subject to rule
... 506 (from 1 "not" and 5273 , " God's ") -- properly, not submissive;disobedient
(unruly), unwilling to come under Christ's Lordship; refusing to "fall in line...
544. apeitheo -- to disobey
... See 543 (). Word Origin from apeithes Definition to disobey NASB Word Usage
disbelieved (1),disobedient (10), do not obey (1), obey (2)....
Strong's Hebrew
4784. marah -- to be contentious or rebellious... root Definition to be contentious or rebellious NASB Word Usage became
disobedient (1), bitter (1),
disobedient (1), disobeyed (2), provocation (1), rebel (6
...Library
And Just as through aDisobedient virgin Man was Stricken Down and...
... THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE APOSTOLIC PREACHING Chapter 33 And just as through a
disobedient virgin man was stricken down and fell into death?...
Disobedient Compassion and Compassionate Disobedience Reprobated....
... Book II. Chapter 17."Disobedient Compassion and Compassionate Disobedience
Reprobated. Martyrdom in Lieu of Baptism. The new-fangled...
This Commandment the Man Kept Not, but wasDisobedient to God...
... THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE APOSTOLIC PREACHING Chapter 16 This commandment the
man kept not, but wasdisobedient to God? This commandment...
But what Life Wouldst Thou Lead? and by what Laws Wouldst Thou...
... For none are so miserable as the lawless anddisobedient. But what life wouldst
thou lead?... For none are so miserable as the lawless anddisobedient....
Man's Disobedience Justly Requited in the Rebellion of his Own...
... Book I. Chapter 7 [VI.]"Man's Disobedience Justly Requited in the Rebellion of His
Own Flesh; The Blush of Shame for theDisobedient Members of the Body....
A Comparison is Instituted Between theDisobedient and Sinning Eve...
... Against Heresies: Book V Chapter XIX."A comparison is instituted between the
disobedient and sinning Eve and the Virgin Mary, her patroness....
Those Persons who do not Believe in God, but who areDisobedient...
... Against Heresies: Book IV Chapter XLI."Those persons who do not believe in God,
but who aredisobedient, are angels and sons of the devil, not indeed by...
'The Heavenly vision'
... THE ACTS CHAP. XIII TO END 'THE HEAVENLY VISION'. 'Whereupon, O King Agrippa,
I was notdisobedient unto the heavenly vision.' Acts 26:19....
Therefore, if we Compare the Things Themselves, we May no Way...
... If therefore there be set before us a virgin about to continue so, but yetdisobedient,
and a married woman who could not continue a virgin, but yet obedient...
Virtue Rational, Sin Irrational.
... Accordingly, therefore, the philosophers think fit to define the most generic passions
thus: lust, as desiredisobedient to reason; fear, as weakness...
Thesaurus
Disobedient (30 Occurrences)... 2. (a.) Not yielding. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DISOBEDIENCE;
DISOBEDIENT.
... Walter G. Clippinger. Multi-Version Concordance
Disobedient (30 Occurrences).
...Disobey (15 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To refuse or neglect to obey; to violate commands; to bedisobedient.
Multi-Version Concordance Disobey (15 Occurrences)....
Formerly (55 Occurrences)
... Romans 11:30 but just as you were formerlydisobedient to Him, but now have
received mercy at a time when they aredisobedient, (WEY)....
Prison (131 Occurrences)
... to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also he went and preached
unto the spirits in prison, that aforetime weredisobedient, when the...
Spirits (129 Occurrences)
... to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also he went and preached
unto the spirits in prison, that aforetime weredisobedient, when the...
Rebelled (61 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 13:21 and he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus
saith Jehovah, Forasmuch as thou hast beendisobedient unto the mouth of...
Disobedience (49 Occurrences)
... (n.) Neglect or refusal to comply with authority; violation of a command or prohibition.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DISOBEDIENCE;DISOBEDIENT....
Evil-speakers (2 Occurrences)
... Evil-speakers (2 Occurrences). Romans 1:30 evil-speakers, God-haters, insulting,
proud, boasters, inventors of evil things,disobedient to parents, (YLT)....
Defied (20 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 13:21 and he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, "Thus
says Yahweh,'Because you have beendisobedient to the mouth of Yahweh, and have...
Disobeyed (11 Occurrences)
... (WEB WEY RSV NIV). Hebrews 3:18 And to whom did He swear that they should not be
admitted to His rest, if it was not to those who weredisobedient? (See NIV)....
Resources
What does the Bible say about disobedient children? | GotQuestions.orgSummary of the Book of Titus - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.orgWill there be a partial rapture? | GotQuestions.orgDisobedient: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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