Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical terms, "twisting" often refers to the distortion or misrepresentation of truth, particularly God's Word. This concept is addressed in various passages throughout the Bible, where the integrity of God's message is emphasized, and the dangers of altering it are highlighted.
Scriptural Warnings Against TwistingThe Bible explicitly warns against the twisting of Scripture. In
2 Peter 3:16, the Apostle Peter speaks of those who distort the writings of Paul and other Scriptures: "He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction" . This passage underscores the peril of misinterpreting or misrepresenting biblical texts, leading to spiritual ruin.
Twisting in the Old TestamentThe Old Testament also addresses the issue of twisting truth. In
Deuteronomy 4:2, God commands the Israelites: "You shall not add to the word that I am commanding you, nor take away from it, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you" . This directive highlights the importance of preserving the purity and accuracy of God's commandments without alteration.
Twisting and False ProphetsFalse prophets are often associated with the twisting of God's Word.
Jeremiah 23:36 warns against the misuse of divine messages: "But you must no longer say, ‘The oracle of the LORD,’ for each man’s own word becomes his oracle, and so you distort the words of the living God, the LORD of Hosts, our God" . This passage illustrates how false prophets can manipulate divine messages for personal gain or to lead others astray.
Twisting in the New TestamentIn the New Testament, the Apostle Paul frequently addresses the issue of false teachings and the distortion of the gospel. In
Galatians 1:7, he writes: "which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ" . Paul emphasizes the importance of adhering to the true gospel and warns against those who would pervert its message.
The Role of Satan in TwistingSatan is depicted as the ultimate deceiver and twister of truth. In
John 8:44, Jesus describes the devil as "a liar and the father of lies" . From the beginning, as seen in
Genesis 3:1-5, Satan twisted God's command to Adam and Eve, leading to the fall of humanity. This act of deception underscores the destructive power of twisting God's Word.
The Call to DiscernmentBelievers are called to discernment to guard against the twisting of Scripture. In 1
John 4:1, the apostle John advises: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world" . This call to vigilance is crucial in maintaining the integrity of the Christian faith.
ConclusionThe Bible consistently warns against the twisting of God's Word, emphasizing the importance of preserving its truth and integrity. Believers are encouraged to remain vigilant, discerning, and faithful to the true message of Scripture, recognizing the dangers posed by those who would distort it for their own purposes.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Twist.
2. (a. & n.) from Twist.
Greek
4963. sustrophe -- atwisting together, hence a concourse or...... a
twisting together, hence a concourse or conspiracy. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: sustrophe Phonetic Spelling: (soos-trof-ay') Short
...4120. pleko -- to plait
... Word Origin a prim. verb Definition to plait NASB Word Usage twisted (1),twisting
(2). braid, weave, plait. A primary word; to twine or braid -- plait....
4761. strebloo -- to twist
... pervert) " (). See 4762 (). M. Vincent, "4761 ('to wrest, twist') is applied
to (twisting) Scripture" (used only in 2 Pet 3:16). [The...
Strong's Hebrew
3943. laphath -- to twist, turn, grasp with atwisting motion... 3942, 3943. laphath. 3944 . to twist, turn, grasp with a
twisting motion.
Transliteration: laphath Phonetic Spelling: (law-fath') Short Definition: forward
...1383. gabluth -- atwisting
... 1382, 1383. gabluth. 1384 . atwisting. Transliteration: gabluth Phonetic
Spelling: (gab-looth') Short Definition: twisted. Word...
6960. qavah -- to wait for
... A primitive root; to bind together (perhaps bytwisting), ie Collect; (figuratively)
to expect -- gather (together), look, patiently, tarry, wait (for, on, upon...
8326. shorer -- navel
... navel From sharar in the sense oftwisting (compare shor); the umbilical cord, ie
(by extension) a bodice -- navel. see HEBREW sharar. see HEBREW shor....
1434. gedil -- twisted threads
... fringe, wreath. From gadal (in the sense oftwisting); thread, ie A tassel or festoon --
fringe, wreath. see HEBREW gadal. 1433, 1434. gedil. 1435 ....
2908. tevath -- hungrily
... fasting. (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to tavah; hunger (astwisting) -- fasting.
see HEBREW tavah. 2907, 2908. tevath. 2909 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
The Condemnation which Condemns the Judges
... The single specimen of the worthless evidence given may be either a piece of
misunderstanding or of malicioustwisting of innocent words; nor can we decide...
An Essay on the Scriptural Doctrine of Immortality.
... with reference to its form and movements, which convey the abstract idea of subtlety
on the same principle that the words "tortuous" and "twisting" have an...
The First Discovery of America
... by name, and was much vexed thereat, for he had been brought up on the old man's
knee, and hurrying off to find him met Tyrker coming backtwisting his eyes...
The First Discovery of America.
... by name, and was much vexed thereat, for he had been brought up on the old man's
knee, and hurrying off to find him met Tyrker coming backtwisting his eyes...
Introductory Notice to Novatian, a Roman Presbyter
... means," he says, "should we tolerate that injustice of the Jesuit Petau towards
the ancient writers, against their manifest mind and purpose;twisting, as he...
Among the People, and with the Pharisees
... The very salutation of a king, it was said, must remain unreturned; nay, the
twisting of a serpent around one's heel must remain unheeded....
Lix. The Preacher and his Hearers.
... preacher. Then again he must not "use the Word of God deceitfully,"twisting
it to enforce what is not God's truth, but his own fancy....
A Bit Ahead
... found. It was by the tedious,twisting path of doubt that I climbed the
hill of truth up to some of its summits of certainty. I...
Sinners Bound with the Cords of Sin
... filthiness, while he follows after evil devices, while with head, and hand, and
heart he pursues eagerly after mischief, he is stilltwisting evermore the...
Knots.
... It's taken a good bit of careful work to get that thread, tearing loose, cleansing,
spinning,twisting, careful handling, till at last a good thread is gotten...
Thesaurus
Twisting (13 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Twisting (13 Occurrences).
... Mark 15:17 And they put a purple
robe on him, and
twisting a crown of thorns, they put it on him; (BBE NAS).
...Twist (5 Occurrences)
... helix. 11. (n.) The act oftwisting; a contortion; a flexure; a convolution;
a bending. 12. (n.) The form given intwisting. 13. (n...
Wrest (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To turn; to twist; to pull away by force,
or as if by, violent wringing ortwisting. 2. (vt) To...
Wring (4 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To extract or obtain bytwisting and compressing; to squeeze or press (out);
hence, to extort; to draw forth by violence, or against resistance or...
Whirl (5 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) A revolving hook used intwisting, as the hooked spindle of a rope machine,
to which the threads to be twisted are attached. 8. (n.) A whorl....
Distortion (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) The act of distorting, ortwisting out of natural or regular shape; atwisting
or writhing motion; as, the distortions of the face or body....
Spin (4 Occurrences)
... twist into threads, either by the hand or machinery; as, to spin wool, cotton, or
flax; to spin goat's hair; to produce by drawing out andtwisting a fibrous...
Pain (172 Occurrences)
... grieving or sickness, as in 1 Kings 14:1 Proverbs 23:35 Songs 2:5 Jeremiah 5:3.
The reduplicated form chalchalah is especially used of atwisting pain usually...
Twists (12 Occurrences)
Quick-footed (7 Occurrences)
... Baals? see your way in the valley, be clear about what you have done: you
are a quick-footed cameltwisting her way in and out; (BBE)....
Resources
What is a leviathan spirit? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about pornography? | GotQuestions.orgIs the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar biblical? | GotQuestions.orgTwisting: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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