Topical Encyclopedia
The term "inflict" in the context of the Bible often refers to the act of imposing something unpleasant or burdensome, such as punishment, suffering, or judgment, upon individuals or groups. This concept is frequently associated with God's righteous judgment and discipline, as well as the consequences of sin and disobedience.
Divine Judgment and DisciplineThroughout the Scriptures, God is depicted as a just and holy deity who inflicts punishment on those who transgress His laws. This is seen as a necessary aspect of His divine justice and holiness. In the Old Testament, the infliction of punishment is often portrayed in the context of the covenant relationship between God and Israel. For instance, in
Leviticus 26:18, God warns the Israelites, "And if after all this you will not obey Me, I will proceed to punish you sevenfold for your sins."
The infliction of divine judgment is not limited to the nation of Israel but extends to other nations as well. The prophets frequently speak of God's impending judgment on surrounding nations due to their wickedness and idolatry. For example, in
Jeremiah 25:29, God declares, "For behold, I am beginning to inflict disaster on the city that bears My name, and will you indeed go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the LORD of Hosts."
Consequences of SinThe Bible also presents the concept of infliction as a natural consequence of sin. Sin, by its very nature, brings about suffering and hardship.
Proverbs 11:31 states, "If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!" This reflects the principle that sin leads to inevitable consequences, often described as God's infliction of punishment.
Redemptive PurposeWhile the infliction of punishment is a theme in the Bible, it is important to note that it often serves a redemptive purpose. God's discipline is intended to lead individuals and nations to repentance and restoration.
Hebrews 12:6 reminds believers, "For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives." This indicates that divine infliction is not merely punitive but is also an expression of God's love and desire for His people to return to Him.
Infliction by Human AgentsIn some instances, God uses human agents to inflict judgment or discipline. This can be seen in the accounts of Israel's enemies being used as instruments of God's wrath. For example, in
Isaiah 10:5-6, God refers to Assyria as "the rod of My anger" and sends them against a "godless nation" to inflict punishment.
New Testament PerspectiveIn the New Testament, the concept of infliction is often associated with the final judgment and the consequences of rejecting the gospel. Jesus speaks of the eternal punishment that awaits those who do not believe in Him. In
Matthew 25:46, He states, "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
The apostle Paul also addresses the theme of infliction in the context of divine retribution. In
2 Thessalonians 1:6, he writes, "After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you." This reflects the belief that God will ultimately inflict justice upon those who persecute His people.
In summary, the concept of infliction in the Bible encompasses divine judgment, the consequences of sin, and the redemptive purpose of God's discipline. It serves as a reminder of God's holiness, justice, and love, calling individuals to repentance and faithfulness.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
v. t.) To give, cause, or produce by striking, or as if by striking; to apply forcibly; to lay or impose; to send; to cause to bear, feel, or suffer; as, to inflict blows; to inflict a wound with a dagger; to inflict severe pain by ingratitude; to inflict punishment on an offender; to inflict the penalty of death on a criminal.
Greek
2018. epiphero -- to bring upon or against... Transliteration: epiphero Phonetic Spelling: (ep-ee-fer'-o) Short Definition: I
bring forward against Definition: I bring forward (against), impose,
inflict.
...2210. zemioo -- to damage, suffer loss
... to damage, suffer loss. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: zemioo Phonetic Spelling:
(dzay-mee-o'-o) Short Definition: Iinflict loss upon, punish Definition...
5180. tupto -- to strike, smite, beat
... smite, beat. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: tupto Phonetic Spelling:
(toop'-to) Short Definition: I beat, strike, wound,inflict punishment Definition:...
2559. kakoo -- to ill-treat
... afflict, embitter, make angry. Cognate: 2559 -- toinflict (ill-treatment,
vexation); to harm, injure. See 2556 (). Word Origin from...
2684. kataskopeo -- to view closely, spy out
... 4648 , "look at closely") -- properly, scope ; (figuratively) looking down on someone
with a ; to spy ("check out"); look at, especially toinflict harm (damage...
1863. epago -- to bring upon
... bring upon. From epi and ago; to superinduce, ieInflict (an evil), charge (a crime) --
bring upon. see GREEK epi. see GREEK ago. (epagagein) -- 1 Occurrence....
5135. traumatizo -- to wound
... Word Origin from trauma Definition to wound NASB Word Usage wounded (2). wound.
From trauma; toinflict a wound -- wound. see GREEK trauma....
91. adikeo -- to do wrong, act wickedly
... Cognate: 91 (from 93 , "unrighteousness") -- properly, doing (), especially toinflict
undeserved hurt by -- ie acting contrary to what is . See 93 ()....
2190. echthros -- hostile
... inflicting (). [2190 () describes a person resolved toinflict harm (see , Vol
1, 553) -- ie driven by irreconcilable, deep-rooted .]. Word...
5195. hubrizo -- to run riot, to outrage, insult
... own). 5195 ("deliberately, spitefully injure") refers to mistreating people,
using unfair tactics toinflict undeserved . This expresses...
Strong's Hebrew
5062. nagaph -- to strike, smite... A primitive root; to push, gore, defeat, stub (the toe),
inflict (a disease) --
beat, dash, hurt, plague, slay, smite (down), strike, stumble, X surely, put to
...5142. nezaq -- to suffer injury
... have damage, hurtful. (Aramaic) corresponding to the root of nezeq; to suffer
(causatively,inflict) loss -- have (en-)damage, hurt(-ful). see HEBREW nezeq....
5080. nadach -- to impel, thrust, banish
... A primitive root; to push off; used in a great variety of applications, literally
and figuratively (to expel, mislead, strike,inflict, etc.) -- banish, bring...
5414. nathan -- to give, put, set
... hang (3), has had (1), have (2), have* (1), heap (1), held (1), hung (1), impose
(1), imposed (3), indeed deliver (1), indeed give (1),inflict (2), inflicted...
6064. anash -- to fine, mulct
... A primitive root; properly, to urge; by implication, toinflict a penalty, specifically,
to fine -- amerce, condemn, punish, X surely. 6063, 6064....
6213a. asah -- do, make
... happen (1), happened (1), held (2), help (1), hold (1), imitate (1), imparted (1),
inclines (1), indeed perform (1), industrious* (1),inflict (1), inflicted (1...
Library
Fragment xxv. "ToInflict Vengeance from the Lord on Midian. ...
... Fragment XXV. "Toinflict vengeance from the Lord on Midian.? "Toinflict
vengeance from the Lord on Midian." [4837] For this...
Because of the Christians, My Opponents Say, the GodsInflict Upon...
... Book I. 13 Because of the Christians, my opponents say, the godsinflict
upon us all calamities? Because of the Christians, my...
The Psalmist Bears Witness that Divine Justice Employs Certain...
... Chapter XXXII. The Psalmist bears witness that divine justice employs certain
evil angels toinflict calamities upon? The Psalmist...
Of Some Commands of God, and of Patience.
... he must also diligently take care, lest by any fault of his he should at any time
make an enemy; and if any one should be so shameless as toinflict injury on...
I Will Address the Master in one of his Own Phrases. Why, after...
... simple minds! Why do youinflict on unaccustomed ears new-sounding words,
which no one finds in the writings of the Apostles? I...
Unprofitable Servants.
... made universal, in the beginning the demand is particular and specific"to bear meekly
and forgive generously the injuries which neighbours mayinflict in the...
I Would Add, Moreover, that they Themselves...
... person inflicts persecution, or for which he suffers it, but think that it is a
sufficient sign of a true Christian that he does notinflict persecution, but...
Fifth Proposition of Arminius
... This permits that God should deprive us of that being which he has given us without
merit on our part, but does not permit that He shouldinflict misery upon...
Allegation 3 "The Predestination of the Stoics, and the Fatalism...
... suffer from them that which God had laid upon him, and which the Jews, of their
own wickedness and hatred against Christ, had determined toinflict upon him....
I Will not Teach You Profound Doctrines.
... Am I not able to write to you of heavenly things? But I fear to do so, lest
I shouldinflict injury on you who are but babes [in Christ]....
Thesaurus
Inflict (25 Occurrences)... cause, or produce by striking, or as if by striking; to apply forcibly; to lay or
impose; to send; to cause to bear, feel, or suffer; as, to
inflict blows; to
...Revenge (13 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) Toinflict harm in return for, as an injury, insult, etc.; to exact
satisfaction for, under a sense of injury; to avenge; -- followed either by the...
Mercy (467 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Forbearance toinflict harm under circumstances of provocation, when one
has the power toinflict it; compassionate treatment of an offender or...
Inflicted (20 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofInflict. Multi-Version Concordance
Inflicted (20 Occurrences). Luke 10:30 And Jesus replying...
Lice (4 Occurrences)
... "The entomologists Kirby and Spence place these minute but disgusting insects
in the very front rank of those whichinflict injury upon man....
Goal (7 Occurrences)
... (See NAS NIV). 1 Corinthians 9:26 That is how I run, not being in any doubt as to
my goal. I am a boxer who does notinflict blows on the air, (WEY)....
Wrongdoer (16 Occurrences)
... But if you do what is wrong, be afraid. He does not wear the sword to no purpose:
he is God's servant--an administrator toinflict punishment upon evil-doers....
Wreak (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To execute in vengeance or passion; toinflict;
as, to wreak vengeance on an enemy. 2. (vi) To reck; to care....
Impose (12 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To lay as a charge, burden, tax, duty, obligation, command, penalty, etc.;
to enjoin; to levy; toinflict; as, to impose a toll or tribute....
Inflated (1 Occurrence)
Resources
What is the history of crucifixion? What was crucifixion like? | GotQuestions.orgThe stoning of Stephen - Why were the Jews allowed to stone Stephen but had to go through Pilate to kill Jesus? | GotQuestions.orgWho or what is Abaddon/Apollyon? | GotQuestions.orgInflict: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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