Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, the term "rebel" refers to an individual or group that resists or defies authority, particularly the authority of God. Rebellion is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures, often associated with sin, disobedience, and the rejection of divine commandments.
Old Testament InstancesRebellion against God is first seen in the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve disobey God's command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (
Genesis 3:1-6). This act of rebellion brought sin into the world and resulted in the fall of humanity.
The Israelites frequently exhibited rebellion during their wilderness journey after the Exodus from Egypt. Despite witnessing God's miraculous deliverance and provision, they repeatedly complained and resisted His commands. In
Numbers 14:9, Joshua and Caleb urge the people, "Only do not rebel against the LORD, and do not be afraid of the people of the land, for they will be our bread. Their protection has been removed, and the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them!"
The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against Moses and Aaron is another significant example. They challenged the leadership appointed by God, leading to their destruction as a divine judgment (
Numbers 16:1-35).
The prophets often addressed the rebellious nature of Israel and Judah.
Isaiah 1:2-4 describes the nation as rebellious children: "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD has spoken: 'I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.'"
New Testament InsightsIn the New Testament, rebellion is addressed in the context of spiritual defiance against God and His established order. Jesus Christ, in His parables and teachings, often highlighted the consequences of rebellion against God's kingdom. The parable of the tenants (
Matthew 21:33-41) illustrates the rejection of God's messengers and ultimately His Son, symbolizing the rebellious nature of those who refuse to accept divine authority.
The Apostle Paul warns against rebellion in
Romans 13:1-2, emphasizing submission to governing authorities as ordained by God: "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves."
Spiritual RebellionRebellion is not only a physical act but also a spiritual condition. It is often equated with stubbornness and idolatry. In
1 Samuel 15:23, the prophet Samuel rebukes King Saul, saying, "For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king."
The New Testament further elaborates on spiritual rebellion as a rejection of the truth of the Gospel. In
2 Thessalonians 2:3, Paul speaks of a future rebellion, or apostasy, that will precede the return of Christ: "Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed."
Consequences and RedemptionThe Bible consistently portrays rebellion as leading to negative consequences, including divine judgment and separation from God. However, it also offers hope for redemption and restoration through repentance. In
Ezekiel 18:30-32, God calls His people to turn from their rebellious ways: "Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your offenses, so that sin will not be your downfall. Cast away from yourselves all the offenses you have committed, and fashion yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in anyone's death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!"
Rebellion, while a serious offense against God, is met with the possibility of forgiveness and reconciliation through faith in Jesus Christ, who offers grace and salvation to all who turn from their rebellious ways and seek Him.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. i.) Pertaining to rebels or rebellion; acting in revolt; rebellious; as, rebel troops.
2. (n.) One who rebels.
3. (v. i.) To renounce, and resist by force, the authority of the ruler or government to which one owes obedience. See Rebellion.
4. (v. i.) To be disobedient to authority; to assume a hostile or insubordinate attitude; to revolt.
Greek
4714a. stasiastes -- arebel, revolutionist... 4714, 4714a. stasiastes. 4714b . a
rebel, revolutionist. Transliteration:
stasiastes Short Definition: insurrectionists. Word Origin
...4955. sustasiastes --rebel
...rebel. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: sustasiastes Phonetic Spelling:
(soos-tas-ee-as-tace') Short Definition: a fellow insurgent Definition...
4714. stasis -- arebel, revolutionist
... arebel, revolutionist. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: stasis Phonetic
Spelling: (stas'-is) Short Definition: standing, place, dissension...
544. apeitheo -- to disobey
... to disobey. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apeitheo Phonetic Spelling:
(ap-i-theh'-o) Short Definition: I disobey,rebel, am disloyal Definition: I...
812. atakteo -- to be out of order, be remiss
... atakteo Phonetic Spelling: (at-ak-teh'-o) Short Definition: I behave disorderly
Definition: (lit: I march out of order; then: I riot,rebel), behave disorderly...
Strong's Hebrew
4775. marad -- torebel... marad. 4776 . to
rebel. Transliteration: marad Phonetic Spelling: (maw-rad') Short
Definition: rebelled.
... rebellious. A primitive root; to
rebel --
rebel(-lious
...6586. pasha -- torebel, transgress
... pasha. 6587 . torebel, transgress. Transliteration: pasha Phonetic Spelling:
(paw-shah') Short Definition: transgressed.... offend,rebel, revolt, transgression,...
4784. marah -- to be contentious or rebellious
... to be contentious or rebellious NASB Word Usage became disobedient (1), bitter
(1), disobedient (1), disobeyed (2), provocation (1),rebel (6), rebelled (18...
4754. mara -- perhaps to flap (the wings)
... A primitive root; torebel; hence (through the idea of maltreating) to whip, ie
Lash (self with wings, as the ostrich in running) -- be filthy, lift up self....
4805. meri -- rebellion
... bitter, most rebellion,. From marah; bitterness, ie (figuratively) rebellion;
concretely, bitter, or rebellious -- bitter, (most)rebel(-lion, -lious)....
7279. ragan -- to murmur, whisper
... slanderer (1), whisperer (3). murmur. A primitive root; to grumble, ieRebel --
murmur. 7278, 7279. ragan. 7280 . Strong's Numbers.
5493. sur -- to turn aside
... call back, decline, depart, eschew, get (you), go (aside), X grievous, lay away
(by), leave undone, be past, pluck away, put (away, down),rebel, remove (to...
1121. ben -- son
... X of first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, + kid, + lamb, (+)
man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+) people, +rebel, + robber, X...
Library
TheRebel's Surrender to Grace. Lord, what Wilt Thou have Me to Do...
... ACTS Hymn 121 Therebel's surrender to grace. Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?
Acts 9:6. John Newton 8,8,6,8,8,6. Therebel's surrender to grace....
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram
... If menrebel here, in Great Britain or Ireland, we smile at them, and let them off
with a slight imprisonment, because we are not afraid of them....
The Destruction of Jerusalem
... (John 6:15.) But He saw that, even from a human standpoint, the nation could not
be helped in this way, and that the Jews would onlyrebel against the Romans...
How to Overcome Disappointment
... If werebel, that will not change the circumstances, but it will change
our feelings. The more werebel, the more we shall suffer....
Further, the Martyrdom of Barsamya, the Bishop of the Blessed City...
... Barsamya be scourged, because he has rebelled against the command of the emperors,
and has caused those also who were obedient to the emperors torebel with him...
Submit Yourselves Therefore to God. James 4:7.
... The man who does not do this is arebel against God.... He is arebel against the
government, and against all the interest which the government is set to promote....
Justification by Grace
... process, which of course is impossible with men, become that man; or take that man's
character upon himself; he, the righteous man, putting therebel in his...
The Sentence which Condemned the Judges
... That Jews should be taken with such a sudden fit of loyalty as to yell for the death
of a fellow-countryman because he was arebel against Caesar was too...
Continuation: Audacity of Satan.
... Thou, O Belial, dragon, apostate, crooked serpent,rebel against God, outcast from
Christ, alien from the Holy Spirit, exile from the ranks of the angels...
The Complement of Genesis.
... Nimrod, a greatrebel and King, and hidden anti-God, the founder of Babylon
(x.8-10). The Beast, the greatRebel, a King, and manifested...
Thesaurus
Rebel (35 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) Pertaining to rebels or rebellion; acting in
revolt; rebellious; as,
rebel troops.
...Rebel (35 Occurrences).
...Joab (128 Occurrences)
... to Jerusalem. But therebel has to remain in his own house, and is not
allowed to see his father (2 Samuel 14:1-24). (b) Absalom...
Withstanding (2 Occurrences)
... then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD's
tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: butrebel not against the...
Tabernacled (6 Occurrences)
... the land of the possession of Jehovah, where the tabernacle of Jehovah hath tabernacled,
and have possession in our midst; and against Jehovahrebel not, and...
Revolt (18 Occurrences)
... n.) Hence, to be faithless; to desert one party or leader for another; especially,
to renounce allegiance or subjection; to rise against a government; torebel...
Rebels (20 Occurrences)
... then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD'S
tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us; butrebel not against the...
Provocation (20 Occurrences)
... unto love and good works." For "provoke" the Revised Version (British and American)
has "despise" (Numbers 14:11; Numbers 31:20), "rebel against" (Psalm 78:40...
Provoke (64 Occurrences)
... unto love and good works." For "provoke" the Revised Version (British and American)
has "despise" (Numbers 14:11; Numbers 31:20), "rebel against" (Psalm 78:40...
Notwithstanding (37 Occurrences)
... then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD's
tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: butrebel not against the...
Dwells (64 Occurrences)
... then pass over to the land of the possession of Yahweh, in which Yahweh's tabernacle
dwells, and take possession among us; but don'trebel against Yahweh, nor...
Resources
If God knew that Satan would rebel, why did He create him? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did God allow Satan and the demons to sin? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about rebellion? | GotQuestions.orgRebel: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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