The meaning of Rebuke in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
re-buk': As a verb "rebuke" is in the Old Testament the translation of ga'ar and yakhach; another word, ribh, in Nehemiah 5:7, is in the Revised Version (British and American) translated "contended with." "Rebuke" (noun) is most frequently the translation of ge'arah; also in the King James Version of cherpah (Isaiah 25:8; Jeremiah 15:15, the Revised Version (British and American) "reproach"), and of a few other words signifying reproach, etc. "Rebuker" (mucar, literally, "correction," "chastisement") in Hosea 5:2 has the Revised Version margin "Hebrew 'rebuke.'" In the New Testament "to rebuke" is most often the translation of epitimao (Matthew 8:26; Matthew 16:22; Matthew 17:18, etc.); also in the King James Version of elegcho, always in the Revised Version (British and American) rendered "reprove" (I Timothy 5:20; Titus 1:13; Titus 2:15; Hebrews 12:5; Revelation 3:19). Another word is epipletto (once, I Timothy 5:1); "without rebuke" in Philippians 2:15 is in the Revised Version (British and American) "without blemish." On the other hand, the Revised Version (British and American) has "rebuke" for several words in the King James Version, as for "reprove" (II Kings 19:4; Isaiah 37:4), "reproof" (Job 26:11; Proverbs 17:10), "charged" (Mark 10:48). In Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3, the English Revised Version has "reprove" for "rebuke," and in the margin "decide concerning," which is text in the American Standard Revised Version. In Ecclesiasticus 11:7 we have the wise counsel: "Understand first, and then rebuke" (epitimao).
W. L. Walker
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