Topical Encyclopedia
The term "perverse" in the Bible is often used to describe actions, thoughts, or behaviors that deviate from what is considered morally right or acceptable according to God's standards. It is associated with a deliberate turning away from righteousness and truth, often leading to corruption and moral decay.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, the Hebrew word most commonly translated as "perverse" is "עִקֵּשׁ" (iqqesh), which means twisted or distorted. This term is frequently used in the wisdom literature to contrast the righteous with those who are morally crooked. For example,
Proverbs 11:20 states, "The LORD detests the perverse heart, but He delights in those whose ways are blameless" . Here, the perverse heart is one that is morally corrupt and opposed to God's ways.
Another significant usage is found in
Deuteronomy 32:5, where Moses describes the Israelites' rebellion against God: "They have acted corruptly toward Him; to their shame they are no longer His children, but a perverse and crooked generation" . This verse highlights the idea that perversity is not just an individual failing but can characterize an entire community or generation that turns away from God.
New Testament UsageIn the New Testament, the Greek word "διαστρέφω" (diastrephō) is often translated as "perverse" or "corrupt." This term appears in contexts that emphasize moral and spiritual deviation. In
Acts 20:30, Paul warns the Ephesian elders, "Even from your own number, men will arise and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them" . Here, the distortion of truth is linked to perverse intentions that lead others astray.
Jesus Himself uses the term in
Matthew 17:17, where He laments, "O unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?" . This statement underscores the spiritual blindness and stubbornness of those who refuse to accept His message and authority.
Moral and Spiritual ImplicationsThe concept of perversity in the Bible is closely tied to the rejection of God's wisdom and commandments. It is often associated with pride, deceit, and a hardened heart.
Proverbs 12:8 notes, "A man is praised according to his wisdom, but a perverse heart will be despised" , indicating that perversity leads to social and spiritual alienation.
In the biblical worldview, perversity is not merely a personal failing but a spiritual condition that affects one's relationship with God and others. It is seen as a willful deviation from the path of righteousness, often resulting in judgment and divine displeasure.
Isaiah 59:8 declares, "The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their tracks; they have made their paths crooked; no one who treads on them will know peace" . This passage illustrates the destructive consequences of living a perverse life.
Call to RighteousnessThe Bible consistently calls believers to reject perversity and embrace righteousness. In
Philippians 2:15, Paul exhorts the church to be "blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world" . This call to holiness and integrity serves as a counter to the pervasive moral corruption in the world.
Ultimately, the biblical teaching on perversity serves as a warning and a call to repentance, urging individuals and communities to align themselves with God's truth and righteousness.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Turned away from the right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted.
2. (a.) Obstinate in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PERVERSEper-vurs': The group "perverse, -ly, -ness," "act perversely" in the King James Version represents nearly 20 Hebrew words, of which, however, most are derivatives of the stems `awah, luz, `aqash. The Revised Version (British and American) has made few changes. InJob 6:30, the Revised Version (British and American) "mischievous" is better for the taste of a thing, and inIsaiah 59:3 greater emphasis is gained by the Revised Version (British and American) "wickedness." InEzekiel 9:9, "wresting of judgment" is perhaps too concrete, and "perverseness" is kept in the margin (inverted in the King James Version). the Revised Version margin "headlong" inNumbers 22:32 is over-literal, but in 23:21 the American Standard Revised Version margin's "trouble" is a distinct improvement.
Greek
4646. skolios -- curved, winding, hence crooked... hence crooked. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: skolios Phonetic Spelling:
(skol-ee-os') Short Definition: crooked,
perverse, unfair Definition
...1294. diastrepho -- to distort, fig. misinterpret, corrupt
... misinterpret, corrupt NASB Word Usage make crooked (1), misleading (1),perverse
(1),perverse things (1), perverted (2), turn...away (1). pervert, currupt....
824. atopos -- out of place, strange
... strange. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: atopos Phonetic Spelling:
(at'-op-os) Short Definition: improper, unrighteous,perverse Definition: (lit...
3859. paradiatribe -- wrangling, constant arguing
... wrangling, constant arguing From a compound of para and diatribo; misemployment,
ie Meddlesomeness --perverse disputing. see GREEK para. see GREEK diatribo....
Strong's Hebrew
8419. tahpukah -- perversity,perverse thing... 8418, 8419. tahpukah. 8420 . perversity,
perverse thing. Transliteration: tahpukah
Phonetic Spelling: (tah-poo-kaw') Short Definition: things.
...6141. iqqesh -- twisted, perverted
... 6140, 6141. iqqesh. 6142 . twisted, perverted. Transliteration: iqqesh Phonetic
Spelling: (ik-kashe') Short Definition:perverse.... crooked, froward,perverse...
6140. aqash -- to twist
... make crooked, prove, that isperverse. A primitive root; to knot or distort;
figuratively, to pervert (act or declareperverse) -- make...
5753a. avah -- to bend, twist
... 5753, 5753a. avah. 5753b . to bend, twist. Transliteration: avah Short
Definition:perverse. Word Origin a prim. root Definition...
1942. havvah -- desire, chasm, destruction
... greed (1). calamity, iniquity, mischief, mischievous thing, naughtiness, naughty,
perverse thing,. From hava' (in the sense of eagerly...
5773. ivim -- distorting, warping
... Word Origin from avah Definition distorting, warping NASB Word Usage distortion
(1).perverse. From avah; perversity -- Xperverse. see HEBREW avah....
3868. luz -- to turn aside, depart
... A primitive root; to turn aside (compare lavah, luwt and luwn), ie (literally) to
depart, (figuratively) beperverse -- depart, froward,perverse(-ness)....
2015. haphak -- to turn, overturn
... become, change, come, be converted, give, make a bed, overthrow turn,perverse,.
A primitive root; to turn about or over; by implication...
3891. lazuth -- deviation, crookedness
... Word Origin from luz Definition deviation, crookedness NASB Word Usage devious
(1).perverse. From luwz; perverseness --perverse. see HEBREW luwz. 3890, 3891...
3399. yarat -- to be precipitate, to precipitate
... beperverse, turn over. A primitive root; to precipitate or hurl (rush) headlong;
(intransitively) to be rash -- beperverse, turn over. 3398, 3399....
Library
ThisPerverse Doctrine Deprives Baptism of all Its Grace if...
... Chapter XXVIII."ThisPerverse Doctrine Deprives Baptism of All Its Grace If Marcion
Be Right, the Sacrament Would Confer No Remission of Sins, No Regeneration...
Hermogenes, after aPerverse Induction from Mere Heretical...
... Chapter II."Hermogenes, After aPerverse Induction from Mere Heretical Assumptions,
Concludes that God Created All Things Out of Pre-Existing Matter....
Whether Judgment is RenderedPerverse by Being Usurped?
... OF JUDGMENT (SIX ARTICLES) Whether judgment is renderedperverse by being
usurped? Objection 1: It would seem that judgment is not...
Of thePerverse Images of Dreams, which He Wishes to have Taken...
... Book X. Chapter XXX."Of thePerverse Images of Dreams, Which He Wishes
to Have Taken Away. 41. Verily, Thou commandest that I...
Perverse Interpretations of Scripture by the Heretics: God Created...
... Against Heresies: Book II Chapter X."Perverse interpretations of Scripture by the
heretics: God created all things out of nothing, and not from pre-existent...
If the Head had not Been Right, --Haply the Members had Murmured...
... If the head had not been right,"haply the members had murmured:"for when because
of aperverse head"the course of the members is put astray,"they are...
Did God Then Create Man So Wicked andPerverse?
... The First Part"Of The Misery Of Man. Lord's Day 2 Question 6 Did God then create
man so wicked andperverse? Did God then create man so wicked andperverse?...
Those, on the Other Hand, who do this in aPerverse Spirit...
... BOOK I. Chapter 25. Those, on the other hand, who do this in aperverse
spirit? 25. Those, on the other hand, who do this in a...
"They have Corrupted Themselves; their Spot is not the Spot of his...
... Sermon IV. "They have corrupted themselves; their spot is not the spot of his
children; they are aperverse and crooked generation.". Deut....
The Gods of the Different Nations Varro's Gentile Class. Their...
... Gentile Class. Their Inferiority. A Good Deal of ThisPerverse Theology
Taken from Scripture. Serapis a Perversion of Joseph. There...
Thesaurus
Perverse (55 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
PERVERSE.
... Multi-Version Concordance
Perverse (55
Occurrences). Matthew 17:17 Jesus answered, "Faithless and
perverse generation
...Walks (51 Occurrences)
... ways. (WEB NAS RSV). Proverbs 6:12 A worthless person, a man of iniquity,
is he who walks with aperverse mouth; (WEB NAS). Proverbs...
Froward (21 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Not willing to yield or comply with what is required
or is reasonable;perverse; disobedient; peevish; as, a froward child....
Crooked (31 Occurrences)
... aperverse and crooked generation. (WEB).... Proverbs 8:8 All the words of my mouth
are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked orperverse in them....
Wayward (14 Occurrences)
... (a.) Taking one's own way; disobedient; froward;perverse; willful.... Proverbs 4:24
Put away from thee a wayward mouth, Andperverse lips put far from thee....
Faithless (46 Occurrences)
... of apistos, "without faith," having the sense of "unbelieving," "disbelieving."
Jesus upbraids the people, "O faithless andperverse generation!" (Matthew 17...
Perverted (26 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). 2 Samuel 22:27 With the pure Thou shewest
Thyself pure, And with theperverse Thou shewest Thyself a wrestler. (See NAS)....
Perversely (15 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In aperverse manner. Multi-Version Concordance
Perversely (15 Occurrences). Philippians 1:18 What does it matter, however?...
Walketh (62 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS DBY WBS). Proverbs 14:2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the
LORD: but he that isperverse in his ways despiseth him. (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)....
Perverseness (46 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The quality or state of beingperverse.... (YLT). Psalms
101:4 Aperverse heart shall depart from me; I will know no evil thing....
Resources
What does the Bible say about foolishness? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is sexual immorality? | GotQuestions.orgHow can I experience true intimacy with God? | GotQuestions.orgPerverse: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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