Topical Encyclopedia
The term "prevent" in the context of the Bible often carries a different connotation than its modern English usage. In contemporary language, "prevent" typically means to stop something from happening. However, in the King James Version and other older translations, "prevent" is used in the sense of "to go before" or "to precede."
Biblical Usage:1.
Old Testament Context: In the Old Testament, the concept of "prevent" is often related to God's actions or presence preceding human actions. For example, in
Psalm 79:8 (KJV), the psalmist pleads, "O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low." Here, "prevent" is understood as God's mercies going before the people, providing aid and comfort.
2.
New Testament Context: In the New Testament, the term is used similarly. In
1 Thessalonians 4:15 (KJV), Paul writes, "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep." In this passage, "prevent" means that those who are alive will not precede those who have died in Christ at His coming.
Theological Implications:1.
Divine Providence: The use of "prevent" in the sense of going before highlights the doctrine of divine providence. God, in His omniscience and omnipresence, goes before His people, preparing the way and orchestrating events according to His will. This understanding is comforting to believers, as it assures them of God's active role in their lives.
2.
Precedence of Christ: Theologically, the concept of "prevent" can also be seen in the precedence of Christ's work. Christ's atoning sacrifice and resurrection precede the believer's salvation experience, ensuring that the path to reconciliation with God is already established.
3.
Eschatological Hope: In eschatological terms, the idea that the living will not "prevent" those who have died in Christ underscores the hope of the resurrection. It affirms the belief that all believers, whether alive or deceased, will share in the glory of Christ's return.
Related Scriptures:·
Psalm 21:3 : "For You welcomed him with rich blessings; You placed a crown of pure gold on his head." Here, the idea of God going before and blessing is evident, though the term "prevent" is not used in the BSB translation.
·
Job 3:12 (KJV): "Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?" In this poetic lament, "prevent" is used in the sense of coming before or meeting.
Conclusion:The biblical use of "prevent" enriches the understanding of God's proactive engagement with His creation. It emphasizes His sovereignty and the assurance that He is always ahead, preparing and guiding His people according to His divine purpose.
ATS Bible Dictionary
PreventIn the Bible means, not to hinder, but to proceed,Psalm 59:101 Thessalonians 4:15; to anticipate,Psalm 119:147,148Matthew 17:25; or to seize,2 Samuel 22:6Job 30:27.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To go before; to precede; hence, to go before as a guide; to direct.
2. (v. t.) To be beforehand with; to anticipate.
3. (v. t.) To intercept; to hinder; to frustrate; to stop; to thwart.
4. (v. i.) To come before the usual time.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PREVENTpre-vent' (qadham; prophthano, phthano): "Prevent" occurs in the King James Version in the literal but obsolete sense of "to come or go before," "to anticipate," not in the sense of "to hinder." It is the translation of qadham, "to be sharp," "to be in front," "to be beforehand" (2 Samuel 22:6, 19, the Revised Version (British and American) "came upon"Job 3:12, the Revised Version (British and American) "receive"; 30:27, "are come upon"; 41:11, "first given";Psalm 18:5, 18, "came upon"; 21:3, the American Standard Revised Version "meetest"; 59:10, the American Standard Revised Version "meet"; 79:8, the American Standard Revised Version "meet"; 88:13, "come before"; 119:147, 148, the American Standard Revised Version "anticipated";Isaiah 21:14, "did meet";Amos 9:10, the American Standard Revised Version "meet"). In the New Testament prophthano, with same meaning, is translated "prevent" (Matthew 17:25, "Jesus prevented him," the Revised Version (British and American) "spake first to him"); phthano (1 Thessalonians 4:15, "shall not prevent," the Revised Version (British and American) "shall in no wise precede"). "Prevent" in the above sense occurs in The Wisdom of Solomon 6:13, the Revised Version (British and American) "forestalleth" (phthano); 16:28, "we must prevent the sun to give thee thanks," the Revised Version (British and American) "rise before."
W. L. Walker
Greek
2967. koluo -- to hinder... to hinder. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: koluo Phonetic Spelling:
(ko-loo'-o) Short Definition: I
prevent, hinder Definition: I
prevent, debar, hinder
...1254. diakoluo -- to hinder
... to hinder. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: diakoluo Phonetic Spelling:
(dee-ak-o-loo'-o) Short Definition: I obstinatelyprevent, hinder Definition: I...
4399. prophthano -- to anticipate
... anticipate,prevent. From pro and phthano; to get an earlier start of, ie Anticipate --
prevent. see GREEK pro. see GREEK phthano. (proephthasen) -- 1 Occurrence...
328. anazonnumi -- to gird up
... gird up, brace up Definition: I gird up, brace up (with a view to active exertion);
a metaphor from the girding of the flowing tunic, toprevent its hampering...
1581. ekkopto -- to cut off, cut down, cut out, fig. to frustrate
... of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekkopto Phonetic Spelling: (ek-kop'-to) Short
Definition: I cut out, cut off Definition: I cut out (off, away), remove,prevent...
5348. phthano -- to come before (another), anticipate, arrive
... Apparently a primary verb; to be beforehand, ie Anticipate or precede; by extension,
to have arrived at -- (already) attain, come,prevent....
271. amethustos -- amethyst
... amethyst. From a (as a negative particle) and a derivative of methuo; the "amethyst"
(supposed toprevent intoxication) -- amethyst. see GREEK a....
5083. tereo -- to watch over, to guard
... to theoreo); to guard (from loss or injury, properly, by keeping the eye upon; and
thus differing from phulasso, which is properly toprevent escaping; and...
Strong's Hebrew
6923. qadam -- to come or be in front, meet... go, flee before, disappoint, meet,
prevent. A primitive root; to project
(one self), ie Precede; hence, to anticipate, hasten, meet
...3069. Yhvh -- God
... God A variation of Yhovah (used after 'Adonay, and pronounced by Jews as 'elohiym,
in order toprevent the repetition of the same sound, since they elsewhere...
1115. bilti -- not, except
... 2), except (3), except* (1), less than* (1), moreover (1), neither (1), no (15),
no longer (1), no* (1), nor (2), nothing (3), other than (1),prevent* (2), so...
5414. nathan -- to give, put, set
... 1), permit (2), pierce (1), pitch (1), place (13), placed (19), planted (1), pledged
(2), pledged* (1), present (2), presented (1),prevent* (2), produces (1...
Library
ToPrevent all This, and Make Thee a Child of the First...
... Address 194: Toprevent all this, and make thee a child of the first
resurrection? Toprevent all this, and make thee a child...
Now, toPrevent any one from Thinking that we have Devised what is...
... Book V. 29 Now, toprevent any one from thinking that we have devised
what is so impious? Now, toprevent any one from thinking...
ToPrevent any one from Being Checked in the Exercise of Mercy...
... by St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan. Book I. Chapter XII. Toprevent any one
from being checked in the exercise of mercy? Toprevent...
This, However, Does notPrevent us from Praying Specially for...
... Of Prayer. John Calvin Chapter 39 This, however, does notprevent us from
praying specially for ourselves? This, however, does...
Where Sin Occurs God Cannot WiselyPrevent It.
... XIII. WHERE SIN OCCURS GOD CANNOT WISELYPREVENT IT.... Which is true; that the sinner
can not possibly forbear to sin, or that God can notprevent his sinning?...
Unknown or Ambiguous SignsPrevent Scripture from Being Understood...
... Book II. Chapter 10."Unknown or Ambiguous SignsPrevent Scripture from Being
Understood. 15. Now there are two causes whichprevent...
ToPrevent Ambiguity, we must Begin with Clear Definition.
... The Stromata, or Miscellanies. Chapter IV."ToPrevent Ambiguity, We Must
Begin with Clear Definition. For every question is solved...
None of These Answers Will You Give Us. You Turn to Other Things...
... us. You turn to other things, and by your tricks and shew of wordsprevent
us from paying close attention to the question. What!...
Now There are Two Causes whichPrevent what is Written from Being...
... Book 2 Chapter 15. Now there are two causes whichprevent what is written
from being understood? 15. Now there are two causes...
But, Supposing that These Things do not at all Hinder orPrevent...
... Book II. 11 But, supposing that these things do not at all hinder orprevent
your being bound? But, supposing that these things...
Thesaurus
Prevent (32 Occurrences)... 3. (vt) To intercept; to hinder; to frustrate; to stop; to thwart. 4. (vi) To come
before the usual time. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
PREVENT.
...Muzzle (4 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A fastening or covering (as a band or cage) for the mouth of an
animal, toprevent eating or vicious biting. 4. (vt) To...
Save (375 Occurrences)
... 5. (v.) To rescue from something undesirable or hurtful; toprevent from
doing something; to spare. 6. (v.) To hinder from doing...
Stop (108 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To hinder from acting or moving; toprevent the effect or efficiency of;
to cause to cease; to repress; to restrain; to suppress; to interrupt; to...
Quarter (33 Occurrences)
... shorter. 9. (n.) The encampment on one of the principal passages round a
place besieged, toprevent relief and intercept convoys. 10....
Lock (6 Occurrences)
... 10. (vt) To fasten with a lock, or as with a lock; to make fast; toprevent free
movement of; as, to lock a door, a carriage wheel, a river, etc. 11....
Guard (185 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) To keep watch over, in order toprevent escape or restrain from acts
of violence, or the like. 3. (n.) To protect the edge of, esp....
Forbid (46 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To oppose, hinder, orprevent, as if by an effectual command; as, an impassable
river forbids the approach of the army. 5. (vt) To accurse; to blast....
Deter (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) Toprevent by fear; to hinder orprevent from
action by fear of consequences, or difficulty, risk, etc....
Prevented (19 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofPrevent. Multi-Version Concordance
Prevented (19 Occurrences). Matthew 3:14 But John would...
Resources
How can we prevent our young people from losing faith? | GotQuestions.orgWhy does God allow evil? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Plan B morning-after pill? | GotQuestions.orgPrevent: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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