Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, "tone" refers to the manner or attitude conveyed through speech or writing. The concept of tone is significant in understanding the communication between God and humanity, as well as interpersonal communication among individuals. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings on the importance of tone, particularly in how it reflects one's heart and intentions.
Biblical Examples and Teachings1.
God's Tone in Communication: God's tone throughout Scripture varies according to the message and the audience. For instance, in the book of Isaiah, God speaks with a tone of both judgment and comfort.
Isaiah 1:18 states, "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Here, God's tone is inviting and redemptive, offering forgiveness and restoration.
2.
Jesus' Tone: Jesus exemplifies a perfect balance of truth and grace in His tone. In
Matthew 11:28-30 , Jesus invites the weary with a gentle and compassionate tone: "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." His tone is one of comfort and reassurance.
3.
Apostolic Instruction on Tone: The apostles provide guidance on maintaining a Christ-like tone in communication. In
Ephesians 4:29 , Paul instructs, "Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen." This emphasizes the importance of a tone that edifies and imparts grace.
4.
Proverbs on Tone: The book of Proverbs frequently addresses the impact of tone in speech.
Proverbs 15:1 states, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." This highlights the power of a gentle tone to diffuse conflict and promote peace.
5.
James on the Tongue:James 3:5-6 warns of the destructive potential of the tongue, and by extension, the tone: "In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze. The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body." This passage underscores the need for careful consideration of tone in communication.
Practical ApplicationBelievers are called to reflect Christ in their tone, ensuring that their speech aligns with the values of love, truth, and grace.
Colossians 4:6 advises, "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." This encourages a tone that is both gracious and wise, fostering understanding and respect in all interactions.
In summary, the Bible places significant emphasis on the tone of communication, urging believers to adopt a manner that reflects the character of Christ and promotes harmony and edification within the body of Christ and beyond.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Sound, or the character of a sound, or a sound considered as of this or that character; as, a low, high, loud, grave, acute, sweet, or harsh tone.
2. (n.) Accent, or inflection or modulation of the voice, as adapted to express emotion or passion.
3. (n.) A whining style of speaking; a kind of mournful or artificial strain of voice; an affected speaking with a measured rhythm had a regular rise and fall of the voice; as, children often read with a tone.
4. (n.) A sound considered as to pitch; as, the seven tones of the octave; she has good high tones.
5. (n.) The larger kind of interval between contiguous sounds in the diatonic scale, the smaller being called a semitone as, a whole tone too flat; raise it a tone.
6. (n.) The peculiar quality of sound in any voice or instrument; as, a rich tone, a reedy tone.
7. (n.) A mode or tune or plain chant; as, the Gregorian tones.
8. (n.) That state of a body, or of any of its organs or parts, in which the animal functions are healthy and performed with due vigor.
9. (n.) Tonicity; as, arterial tone.
10. (n.) State of mind; temper; mood.
11. (n.) Tenor; character; spirit; drift; as, the tone of his remarks was commendatory.
12. (n.) General or prevailing character or style, as of morals, manners, or sentiment, in reference to a scale of high and low; as, a low tone of morals; a tone of elevated sentiment; a courtly tone of manners.
13. (n.) The general effect of a picture produced by the combination of light and shade, together with color in the case of a painting; -- commonly used in a favorable sense; as, this picture has tone.
14. (v. t.) To utter with an affected tone.
15. (v. t.) To give tone, or a particular tone, to; to tune. See Tune, v. t.
16. (v. t.) To bring, as a print, to a certain required shade of color, as by chemical treatment.
Greek
5456. phone -- a voice, sound... a voice, sound NASB Word Usage blasts (1), cry (1), language (1), languages (1),
outcry (1), sound (15), sounds (4), statement (1),
tone (1), utterance (3
...1640. elasson -- smaller, less
... Or elatton el-at-tone'; comparative of the same as elachistos; smaller (in size,
quantity, age or quality) -- less, under, worse, younger. see GREEK elachistos....
5509. chiton -- a tunic
... a tunic. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: chiton Phonetic Spelling:
(khee-tone') Short Definition: a tunic, garment, undergarment Definition: a...
2557. kakourgos -- a criminal
... William Ramsay noted this term "marks exactly thetone of the Neronian period,
and . . refers expressly to the , for which the Christians were...
1069. geiton -- a neighbor
... a neighbor. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine; Noun, Masculine Transliteration: geiton
Phonetic Spelling: (ghi'-tone) Short Definition: a neighbor Definition: a...
753. architekton -- a master builder
... a master builder. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: architekton Phonetic
Spelling: (ar-khee-tek'-tone) Short Definition: master-builder Definition...
5045. tekton -- a craftsman, spec. a carpenter
... a carpenter. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: tekton Phonetic Spelling:
(tek'-tone) Short Definition: a carpenter Definition: a carpenter, an...
2846. koiton -- a bedchamber
... a bedchamber. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: koiton Phonetic Spelling:
(koy-tone') Short Definition: a bed-chamber Definition: a bed-chamber....
5130. touton -- this; he, she, it
... 5129, 5130. touton. 5131 . this; he, she, it. Transliteration: touton Phonetic
Spelling: (too'-tone) Short Definition: this. Word Origin gen. pl....
Strong's Hebrew
7984. shilton -- governor... 7983, 7984. shilton or shilton. 7985 . governor. Transliteration: shilton or
shilton Phonetic Spelling: (shil-
tone') Short Definition: rulers.
...8481. tachton -- lower, lowest
... 8480, 8481. tachton. 8482 . lower, lowest. Transliteration: tachton Phonetic
Spelling: (takh-tone') Short Definition: lower. Word...
7623. shabach -- to soothe, still
... A primitive root; properly, to address in a loudtone, ie (specifically) loud;
figuratively, to pacify (as if by words) -- commend, glory, keep in, praise...
6994. qaton -- to be small or insignificant
... qaton. 6995 . to be small or insignificant. Transliteration: qaton Phonetic Spelling:
(kaw-tone') Short Definition: insignificant. Word Origin a prim....
850. Eshton -- an Israelite
... 849, 850. Eshton. 851 . an Israelite. Transliteration: Eshton Phonetic
Spelling: (esh-tone') Short Definition: Eshton. Word Origin...
6873. tsarach -- to cry, roar
... cry, roar. A primitive root; to be clear (intone, ie Shrill), ie To whoop --
cry, roar. 6872c, 6873. tsarach. 6874 . Strong's Numbers.
6996. qatan -- small, young, unimportant
... Or qaton {kaw-tone'}; from quwt; abbreviated, ie Diminutive, literally (in quantity,
size or number) or figuratively (in age or importance) -- least, less(-er...
3213. yalal -- to howl, make a howling
... make to howl, be howling. A primitive root; to howl (with a wailingtone) or yell
(with a boisterous one) -- (make to) howl, be howling. 3212, 3213....
7983. shilton -- mastery
... 7982, 7983. shilton. 7984 . mastery. Transliteration: shilton Phonetic
Spelling: (shil-tone') Short Definition: authoritative. Word...
Library
Stichera for a Sunday of the FirstTone.
... STICHERA FOR A SUNDAY OF THE FIRSTTONE. 6,4,6,4 Anatolius, 458. zopheras trikumias.
Fierce was the wild billow; Dark was the night; Oars laboured heavily;...
Seventh PsalmTone
... No. 243g Seventh PsalmTone. Adoremus and Laudate (No.7). Seventh Psalm
Tone. Adoramus in aeternum Sanctissimum Sacramentum....
Third PsalmTone
... No. 243c Third PsalmTone. Adoremus and Laudate (No.3). Third PsalmTone.
Adoramus in aeternum Sanctissimum Sacramentum. 1. Laudate...
Sixth PsalmTone
... No. 243f Sixth PsalmTone. Adoremus and Laudate (No.6). Sixth PsalmTone.
Adoramus in aeternum Sanctissimum Sacramentum. 1. Laudate...
Fourth PsalmTone
... No. 243d Fourth PsalmTone. Adoremus and Laudate (No.4). Fourth Psalm
Tone. Adoramus in aeternum Sanctissimum Sacramentum. 1...
Fifth PsalmTone
... No. 243e Fifth PsalmTone. Adoremus and Laudate (No.5). Fifth PsalmTone.
Adoramus in aeternum Sanctissimum Sacramentum. 1. Laudate...
Second PsalmTone
... No. 243b Second PsalmTone. Adoremus and Laudate (No.2) Second Psalm
Tone. Adoramus in aeternum Sanctissimum Sacramentum. 1...
Eighth PsalmTone
... No. 243h Eighth PsalmTone. Adoremus and Laudate (No.8). Eighth Psalm
Tone. Adoramus in aeternum Sanctissimum Sacramentum. 1...
A Sunday in the Week of the FirstTone
... A Sunday in the Week of the FirstTone. 8,8,8,8,8,8 Germanicus (634-734). By fruit,
the ancient Foe's device. Drave Adam forth from Paradise:...
Idiomela in the Week of the First ObliqueTone.
... IDIOMELA IN THE WEEK OF THE FIRST OBLIQUETONE. These Stanzas, which strike me as
very sweet, are not in all the editions of the Octoechus. [23] 8,5,8,3....
Thesaurus
Tone (9 Occurrences)... 1. (n.) Sound, or the character of a sound, or a sound considered as of this or
that character; as, a low, high, loud, grave, acute, sweet, or harsh
tone.
...Sharp (115 Occurrences)
... 4. (superl.) High in pitch; acute; as, a sharp note ortone.... 20. (n.) A sharptone
or note. 21. (n.) A portion of a stream where the water runs very rapidly....
Voice (651 Occurrences)
... of the kind or quality heard in speech or song in the consonants b, v, d, etc.,
and in the vowels; sonant, or intonated, utterance;tone; -- distinguished from...
Accent (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (n.) Modulation of the voice in speaking; manner of speaking or pronouncing;
peculiar or characteristic modification of the voice;tone; as, a foreign accent...
A (102073 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The name of the sixthtone in the model major scale (that in C), or the
firsttone of the minor scale, which is named after it the scale in A minor....
Key (8 Occurrences)
... 13. (n.) A family of tones whose regular members are called diatonic tones, and
named keytone (or tonic) or one (or eight), mediant or three, dominant or five...
Whisper (9 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To utter in a low and nonvocaltone; to say under the breath; hence,
to mention privately and confidentially, or in a whisper....
Flat (33 Occurrences)
... 23. (n.) A dull fellow; a simpleton; a numskull. 24. (n.) A character [/] before
a note, indicating atone which is a half step or semitone lower. 25....
Trumpet (74 Occurrences)
... octaves is limited to the first natural harmonics; but there are modern trumpets
capable, by means of valves or pistons, of producing everytone within their...
Tune (15 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A sound; a note; atone.... 6. (vt) To givetone
to; to attune; to adapt in style of music; to make harmonious....
Resources
Is questioning the Bible wrong? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the difference between religion and spirituality? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is gaslighting? | GotQuestions.orgTone: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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