Topical Encyclopedia
Being mean, characterized by unkindness, cruelty, or harshness, is addressed in various ways throughout the Bible. Scripture consistently calls for believers to exhibit love, kindness, and compassion, contrasting sharply with mean-spirited behavior.
Old Testament InsightsThe Old Testament provides numerous examples and teachings against being mean. Proverbs, a book rich in wisdom literature, frequently contrasts the behavior of the righteous with that of the wicked.
Proverbs 11:17 states, "A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself." This verse highlights the self-destructive nature of cruelty and the inherent blessings of kindness.
The Mosaic Law also emphasizes fair and compassionate treatment of others.
Leviticus 19:18 commands, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." This commandment underscores the importance of love and forgiveness over meanness and vengeance.
New Testament TeachingsThe New Testament further develops the theme of kindness over meanness, particularly through the teachings of Jesus Christ. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructs His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (
Matthew 5:44). This radical call to love even those who are mean to us exemplifies the Christian ethic of overcoming evil with good.
The Apostle Paul echoes this sentiment in his epistles. In
Ephesians 4:31-32 , Paul writes, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you." Here, Paul contrasts malice and meanness with kindness and forgiveness, urging believers to emulate the grace they have received from God.
Examples of Mean BehaviorThe Bible provides narratives that illustrate the consequences of mean behavior. One notable example is the account of Nabal in
1 Samuel 25. Nabal's harsh and surly demeanor towards David's men nearly leads to disaster for his household. His mean-spiritedness is contrasted with the wisdom and kindness of his wife, Abigail, who intervenes to prevent bloodshed.
Another example is found in the parable of the unforgiving servant in
Matthew 18:21-35. The servant, having been forgiven a great debt by his master, refuses to show the same mercy to a fellow servant. His mean-spiritedness results in severe consequences, illustrating the expectation of mercy and forgiveness from those who have received it.
The Call to KindnessThroughout Scripture, believers are called to reflect God's character through acts of kindness and love.
Colossians 3:12 instructs, "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." This call to embody virtues that oppose meanness is a recurring theme in the Christian life.
The Bible's teachings on being mean serve as a reminder of the transformative power of love and kindness. By adhering to these principles, believers can reflect the love of Christ in a world often marked by harshness and cruelty.
Topical Bible Verses
Proverbs 15:1A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Topicalbible.org1 Peter 2:1-25
Why laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings,
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Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
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Greek
1510. eimi -- I exist, I am... 1), appear* (1), asserted* (1), become* (5), been (45), been* (1),
being (26), belong
(3
... had (8), happen (4), have (2), have come (1), lived (1),
mean (1),
mean...444. anthropos -- a man, human, mankind
... K. Wuest, "There are two words in Greek whichmean 'man,' , which refers to a... ops
(the countenance; from optanomai); man-faced, ie A humanbeing -- certain, man...
1492. eido -- be aware, behold, consider, perceive
... This is akin to the expressions: " what Youmean"; "I what you are saying... A primary
verb; used only in certain past tenses, the othersbeing borrowed from the...
Strong's Hebrew
120. adam -- man, mankind... adam; ruddy ie A human
being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) -- X
another, + hypocrite, + common sort, X low, man (
mean, of low degree), person.
...Library
To the Right Hon. Henry Pelham, First Lord Commissioner of the...
... That pride defames humanity, and calls. Thebeing mean, which staffs or strings
can raise.323. That pride, like hooded hawks, in darkness soars,....
Social Recreation.
... mind, and heart. By right method wemean that which does not crush out a
part of one'sbeing, while another part isbeing developed....
How the WillBeing Dead to Itself Lives Entirely in God's Will.
... but solely the presence of the king; the staying, the journeying, and all their
circumstancesbeing utterly indifferent to... [424] For what did hemean but that...
The Speaking Voice
... And this word of God which brought all worlds intobeing cannot be understood to
mean the Bible, for it is not a written or printed word at all, but the...
Introductory Remarks on the Importance of Orthodoxy
... The word "orthodoxy" not only no longer meansbeing right; it practically means
being wrong. All this canmean one thing, and one thing only....
What is the Divine Gloom?
... But see that none of the uninitiated listen to these things"those Imean who are
entangled in thingsbeing, and fancy there is nothing superessentially above...
The Divine Dilemma and Its Solution in the Incarnation...
... (18) You must understand, therefore, that when writers on this sacred theme speak
of Him as eating and drinking andbeing born, theymean that the body, as a...
I Desire to Die.
... beasts, [850] both by land and sea, both by night and day,being bound to ten leopards,
Imean a band of soldiers, who, even when they receive benefits, [851...
How the Purity of Indifference is to be Practised in the Actions...
... Notice, I pray you, Theotimus, what Imean.... unto him, and imitate him in that he
hath loved us for all eternity; but by little and littlebeing formed and...
The Right Hand and the Left.
... There is no pride somean"and all pride is absolutely, essentiallymean"as the pride
ofbeing holier than our fellow, except the pride ofbeing holy....
Resources
What does the Bible say about being poor? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about being a man? | GotQuestions.orgHow can a Christian woman avoid being a diva? | GotQuestions.orgBeing: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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