Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Meaning:The term "forbear" generally means to refrain or abstain from something, to hold back, or to exercise self-control and patience. In a biblical context, forbearance is often associated with patience, long-suffering, and the willingness to endure offenses or hardships without retaliation.
Biblical References:The concept of forbearance is woven throughout Scripture, emphasizing the importance of patience and self-restraint in the life of a believer. While the specific term "forbear" may not appear frequently, the principle is evident in various passages.
1.
Ephesians 4:2 : "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." This verse highlights the call for Christians to exercise patience and forbearance in their relationships, emphasizing humility and love as foundational to this virtue.
2.
Colossians 3:13 : "Bear with each other and forgive any complaint you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Here, forbearance is linked with forgiveness, suggesting that enduring grievances and forgiving others are interconnected aspects of Christian conduct.
3.
Proverbs 19:11 : "A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense." This proverb underscores the wisdom and virtue inherent in forbearance, portraying it as a mark of understanding and moral strength.
4.
James 5:8-9 : "You too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!" James encourages believers to exercise patience and forbearance, especially in anticipation of the Lord's return, warning against grumbling and judgment.
Theological Significance:Forbearance is a reflection of God's character, as He is described as patient and long-suffering with humanity. In
Romans 2:4 , Paul writes, "Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?" This passage illustrates how God's forbearance is an expression of His kindness and a means to lead people to repentance.
For Christians, forbearance is a fruit of the Spirit (
Galatians 5:22-23) and a vital aspect of living a life that honors God. It involves a conscious decision to endure difficulties and offenses with grace, reflecting the patience and love of Christ. By practicing forbearance, believers demonstrate their trust in God's justice and timing, choosing to respond to challenges with a Christ-like attitude.
Practical Application:In daily life, forbearance can be applied in various situations, such as in family dynamics, workplace interactions, and church communities. It calls for a commitment to patience and understanding, even when faced with provocation or injustice. By cultivating a spirit of forbearance, Christians can foster unity, peace, and reconciliation, serving as a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) An ancestor; a forefather; -- usually in the plural.
2. (v. i.) To refrain from proceeding; to pause; to delay.
3. (v. i.) To refuse; to decline; to give no heed.
4. (v. i.) To control one's self when provoked.
5. (v. t.) To keep away from; to avoid; to abstain from; to give up; as, to forbear the use of a word of doubtful propriety.
6. (v. t.) To treat with consideration or indulgence.
7. (v. t.) To cease from bearing.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
FORBEARfor-bar' (chadhal; anechomai): In the Old Testament chadhal, "to leave off," is the word most frequently translated "forbear" (Exodus 23:5, etc.); damam, "to be silent," chasakh, "to keep back," mashakh, "to draw or stretch out," occur once each; the Revised Version (British and American) rendersEzekiel 24:17 (damam), "Sigh, but not aloud," margin "Hebrew be silent,";Proverbs 24:11 (chasakh), "See that thou hold back," margin "or forbear thou not to deliver," the King James Version "if thou forbear to deliver";Nehemiah 9:30 (mashakh), "bear" instead of "forbear"; 'aph literally, "breathing," the "nose," hence, from violent breathing, "anger" ('erekh, "long," understood), and kul "to hold," are translated "forbearing" (Proverbs 25:15Jeremiah 20:9, respectively).
In the New Testament we have anechomai, "to hold self back or up," "with longsuffering, forbearing one another" (Ephesians 4:2,Colossians 3:13); aniemi "to send back," the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) "forbear threatening' (Ephesians 6:9); pheidomai, "to spare," "but I forbear" (2 Corinthians 12:6); meergazesthai, "not to work," "to forbear working" (1 Corinthians 9:6); stego, "to cover," "conceal": "when I could no longer forbear" (1 Thessalonians 3:1, 5).
W. L.Walker
Greek
5339. pheidomai -- to spare,forbear... to spare,
forbear. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: pheidomai Phonetic Spelling:
(fi'-dom-ahee) Short Definition: I spare, abstain Definition: I spare
...447. aniemi -- to send up, produce, send back
...forbear, give up, loosen. From ana and hiemi (to send); to let up, ie (literally)
slacken or (figuratively) desert, desist from --forbear, leave, loose....
430. anecho -- to hold up, bear with
... 4), showing tolerance (1), tolerate (2). bear with, endure,forbear, suffer.
Middle voice from ana and echo; to hold oneself up...
4722. stego -- to cover closely (so as to keep water out)...
... word Definition to cover closely (so as to keep water out), generally to bear
up under NASB Word Usage bears (1), endure (3).forbear, endure....
3361. me -- not, that...not, lest (used for qualified negation)
... lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas ou expects an
affirmative one)) whether -- any but (that), Xforbear, + God forbid, + lack...
Strong's Hebrew
2308. chadal -- to cease... cease, end, fall,
forbear, forsake, leave off, let alone, rest,. A primitive
root; properly, to be flabby, ie (by implication) desist
...1826. damam -- to be or grow dumb, silent or still
... Short Definition: cease. cease, be cut down off,forbear, hold peace, quiet
self, rest, be silent, keep put to silence, A prim root...
2820. chasak -- to withhold, refrain
... 1), withheld (3), withholds (2). assuage, darken,forbear, hinder, hold back,
keep back, punish, refrain,. A primitive root; to restrain...
4900. mashak -- to draw, drag
... to sow, to sound, to prolong, to develop, to march, to remove, to delay, to be tall,
etc.) -- draw (along, out), continue, defer, extend,forbear, X give...
Library
Yet Love CanForbear
... THE SECOND CENTURY 30 Yet Love canforbear. Yet Love canforbear, and Love can forgive,
though it can never be reconciled to an unlovely object....
Whether one Ought toForbear from Correcting Someone, through Fear...
... OF FRATERNAL CORRECTION (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether one ought toforbear from
correcting someone, through fear lest he become worse?...
Cliv My Glass is Half Unspent;Forbear T'Arrest
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First CLIV My glass is half unspent;Forbear
t'arrest. My thriftless day too soon: my poor request...
Here we Might Leave the Subject, but we CannotForbear Adding Some...
... Section 6. Here we might leave the subject, but we cannotforbear adding
some further observations? 6. Here we might leave the...
A Lullaby
... To hear me sing thy lullaby: My pretty lamb,forbear to weep;... His holy
Spouse, thy Mother too. Sweet baby, thenforbear to weep;...
But Lest any Should Fancy that this was Granted Only to the Twelve...
... "Or I only and Barnabas, have we not power toforbear working?" Lo, he hath taken
away all doubt even from the slowest hearts, that they may understand of what...
Psalm 105. Abridged. God's Conduct of Israel, and the Plagues of...
... 8 Then let the worldforbear its rage, Nor put the church in fear: Israel must
live thro' every age, And be th' Almighty's care.]. PAUSE I....
Psalm 105 Abridged God's Conduct of Israel, and the Plagues of...
... Shall know their God is strong.". Then let the worldforbear its rage,.... Their
glory and their pride. Now let the worldforbear its rage,....
1 Thessalonians iii. 8-May
... Homily IV. 1 Thessalonians iii. 5-8. 1 Thessalonians iii.5-8 "For this cause I also,
when I could no longerforbear, sent that I might know your faith, lest by...
But, if it Does not Weary You, Let the Point Out as Briefly as...
... Of this also the Prophet speaks, "And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me
my price, or if not,forbear;" and presently, "I received from them," he says...
Thesaurus
Forbear (24 Occurrences)... 5. (vt) To keep away from; to avoid; to abstain from; to give up; as, to
forbear the use of a word of doubtful propriety.
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
FORBEAR.
...Refrain (33 Occurrences)
... govern. 2. (vt) To abstain from. 3. (vi) To keep one's self from action
or interference; to hold aloof; toforbear; to abstain. 4...
Ramoth (30 Occurrences)
... of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them,
"Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall Iforbear?" They said...
Ramothgilead (19 Occurrences)
... the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said
unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall Iforbear?...
Ramoth-gilead (20 Occurrences)
... the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said
unto them, Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall Iforbear?...
Victorious (17 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 22:15 When he had come to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall
we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall weforbear?" He answered him, "Go...
Neglect (19 Occurrences)
... 1. (adv.) Not to attend to with due care or attention; toforbear one's duty in
regard to; to suffer to pass unimproved, unheeded, undone, etc.; to omit; to...
Micai'ah (27 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 22:15 And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him: 'Micaiah,
shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall weforbear?' And he answered...
Spare (80 Occurrences)
... 2. (v.) To keep to one's self; toforbear to impart or give. 3. (v.) To
preserve from danger or punishment; toforbear to punish...
Stay (221 Occurrences)
... still. 12. (vi) To continue in a state. 13. (vi) To wait; to attend; to
forbear to act. 14. (vi) To dwell; to tarry; to linger. 15....
Resources
What does the Bible say about forbearance? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about the possibility of Bigfoot/Sasquatch? | GotQuestions.orgChristian communication - what are the keys? | GotQuestions.orgForbear: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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