Topical Encyclopedia
The term "badly" in the context of the Bible often refers to actions, situations, or conditions that are unfavorable, harmful, or morally wrong. While the specific word "badly" may not frequently appear in many English translations, the concept is prevalent throughout Scripture, describing the consequences of sin, disobedience, and the fallen state of humanity.
Moral and Ethical ContextsIn the moral and ethical teachings of the Bible, actions done "badly" are those that go against God's commandments and principles. The Bible consistently warns against behaviors that are considered sinful or unrighteous. For instance, in the Old Testament, the Israelites are repeatedly admonished for acting badly by turning away from God and following pagan practices. The prophets often called out such behavior, urging the people to repent and return to righteousness.
Consequences of Acting BadlyThe Bible illustrates that acting badly leads to negative consequences, both spiritually and physically. In the Book of Proverbs, wisdom literature emphasizes the outcomes of foolish and wicked behavior.
Proverbs 13:15 states, "Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the faithless is hard." This highlights the principle that living contrary to God's ways results in hardship and difficulty.
Examples in ScriptureSeveral biblical narratives depict individuals or groups acting badly, resulting in divine judgment or personal downfall. One notable example is King Saul, whose disobedience to God's commands led to his rejection as king. In
1 Samuel 15:19 , the prophet Samuel confronts Saul, saying, "Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you rush upon the plunder and do evil in the sight of the LORD?"
Another example is found in the New Testament with Ananias and Sapphira, who acted deceitfully by lying about their offering to the early church. Their actions, described in
Acts 5:1-11, resulted in immediate judgment from God, serving as a stern warning to the early Christian community about the seriousness of sin.
Redemption and RestorationDespite the prevalence of acting badly, the Bible also offers hope for redemption and restoration. Through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, individuals can be forgiven and transformed. The New Testament emphasizes the grace and mercy available through Christ's sacrifice. In 1
John 1:9 , it is written, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
ConclusionWhile the Bible acknowledges the reality of acting badly, it also provides a path to redemption through repentance and faith. The overarching narrative of Scripture points to the transformative power of God's grace, offering hope and restoration to those who turn away from sin and seek to live according to His will.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
adv.) In a bad manner; poorly; not well; unskillfully; imperfectly; unfortunately; grievously; so as to cause harm; disagreeably; seriously.
Greek
2560. kakos --badly...badly. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: kakos Phonetic Spelling: (kak-oce')
Short Definition:
badly, evilly Definition:
badly, evilly, wrongly.
...2559. kakoo -- to ill-treat
... to ill-treat. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kakoo Phonetic Spelling:
(kak-o'-o) Short Definition: I treatbadly Definition: I treatbadly, afflict...
Strong's Hebrew
7489a. raa -- to be evil, bad... ra Definition to be evil, bad NASB Word Usage act so wickedly (1), act wickedly
(1), acted wickedly (1), acted...wickedly (1), afflicted (3),
badly (1), bring
...7451a. ra -- bad, evil
... Word Origin from the same as roa Definition bad, evil NASB Word Usage bad (23),
bad* (2),badly (1), deadly (1), defamed* (1), defames* (1), defect* (1...
3782. kashal -- to stumble, stagger, totter
... downfall (1), fail (1), failed (1), failing (1), fall (4), fall down (1), feeble
(3), feeble* (1), overthrown (1), stumble (26), stumblebadly (1), stumbled (12...
3966. meod -- muchness, force, abundance
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition muchness, force, abundance NASB Word
Usage abundantly (1), all (1), almost (1),badly (3), carefully (1), closely (1...
Library
That the Philosophers who Give Good Instructions LiveBadly, by...
... XVI."That the Philosophers Who Give Good Instructions LiveBadly, by the Testimony
of Cicero; Therefore We Should Not So Much Devote Ourselves to the Study...
Of the Difference Between one who Renounces the WorldBadly and...
... Prolegomena. Chapter XV. Of the difference between one who renounces the
worldbadly and one who does not renounce it at all. Of...
Teaching Three Things in one Action.
... But there's more here. The humility teaching is out on the surface. There's a bit
under the surface, that they would soon be needing and needingbadly....
Debts.
... We arebadly and blessedly in debt;badly, for we can never square the account;
blessedly, because we can be constantly paying on account, out to men in Jesus...
The Twenty-Eighth Chapter: Strength against Slander
... The Voice of Christ MY CHILD, do not take it to heart if some people think
badly of you and say unpleasant things about you. You...
Retribution
... Is it not so in every thing? If a tradesman tradesbadly, or a farmer farmsbadly,
there is no need of lawyers to punish him; he will punish himself....
Goodness in a Dungeon
... He had wrecked his career by his goodness. 'What a fool!' says the world. 'Howbadly
managed things are in this life,' say doubters, 'that virtue should not be...
The Devil Acknowledges the King.
... They have beenbadly battered out of all shape by striking on this hard rock.... Yet
the edge of His sword isbadly nicked, and never regains its old edge....
On the Public Shows.
... for wickedness,"it seemed good in a few words not now to instruct you, but to admonish
you who are instructed, lest, because the wounds arebadly bound up...
Grace Flooding.
... He has such a crowd now. And the resources are prettybadly strained, judging by
appearances." So the crowd talks. Poor God!... But men's eyes gotbadly affected....
Thesaurus
Badly (14 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Badly (14 Occurrences). Mark 12:27 He is not the God of
the dead, but of the living. You are therefore
badly mistaken." (WEB NIV).
...Quite (55 Occurrences)
... the day. (See NAS). Mark 12:27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the
living. You are thereforebadly mistaken." (See RSV). John 1...
Grievously (17 Occurrences)
... dusbastaktos, "grievous to be borne" (Matthew 23:4 Luke 11:46); deinos, "greatly,"
"grievously tormented" (Matthew 8:6); kakos, "badly," "grievously vexed...
Greievousness
... dusbastaktos, "grievous to be borne" (Matthew 23:4 Luke 11:46); deinos, "greatly,"
"grievously tormented" (Matthew 8:6); kakos, "badly," "grievously vexed...
Grievous (73 Occurrences)
... dusbastaktos, "grievous to be borne" (Matthew 23:4 Luke 11:46); deinos, "greatly,"
"grievously tormented" (Matthew 8:6); kakos, "badly," "grievously vexed...
Ill (137 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) Whatever is contrary to good, in a moral sense; wickedness; depravity; iniquity;
wrong; evil. 7. (adv.) In a ill manner;badly; weakly. Int....
Fray (4 Occurrences)
... or to suffer injury by rubbing, as when the threads of the warp or of the woof wear
off so that the cross threads are loose; to ravel; as, the cloth fraysbadly...
Fault (42 Occurrences)
... 9. (vt) To interrupt the continuity of (rock strata) by displacement along a plane
of fracture; -- chiefly used in the pp; as, the coal beds arebadly faulted....
Eternity (23 Occurrences)
... The conception of eternity, as without beginning or ending, leaves us with
but a negationbadly in need of filling out with reality....
Evil (1503 Occurrences)
... scrofula. 7. (adv.) In an evil manner; not well; ill;badly; unhappily;
injuriously; unkindly. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. EVIL....
Resources
What is toxic masculinity? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about forgiveness? What does it mean to forgive? | GotQuestions.orgWhy are Christians always arguing? | GotQuestions.orgBadly: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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