What the Bible says about Cruel
(From Forerunner Commentary)

The words "cruel," "cruelty" and "cruelly" do appear in the Bible, yet surprisingly, they appear only twenty-five times in Scripture, including only once in the New Testament—and not really even that. The word "cruel" that appears in some of the more common English translations of Hebrews 11:36 is an implied addition, meaning that its Greek equivalent does not appear in the original text. We are left, then, with just twenty-four occurrences, all in the Old Testament. They are translated from nine different Hebrew words. In taking a quick look at them, we should ask ourselves if we could be guilty of any of these: » Qashah can mean cruel, hard, stiff-necked, grievous, severe, fierce, harsh, difficult, ill-treat, hard press, severe labor (especially of women), make burdensome, stubborn, and obstinacy. » Qasheh is a similar word to qashah, and can mean cruel, stiff-necked, hard, rough, grievous, sore, churlish, hardhearted, heavy, severe, obstinate, difficult, fierce, intense, vehement, stubborn, and rigorous. » 'Akzar, 'akzariy and 'akzeriyuwth are three related words which simply mean cruel, cruelty, fierce, or fierceness. » Chamets is an interesting word that some may be familiar with because of its relationship to leavening. It means cruel, leavened, sour, embittered, grieved, oppress, or ruthless. » Chamac is a word which may be related to chamets and means cruel, cruelty, violence, wrong, false, damage, injustice, oppressor, and unrighteous. » Perek means cruelty, rigor, harshness, or severity. » 'Osheq can mean cruelly, oppression, extortion, and injury. Serious consideration of these words will give us a good overview of God's opinion of cruelty in all of its various stripes. It is obvious that He frowns upon it. Staff Don't Be Cruel! Related Topics: Cruel | Cruelty

Job 30:21 The Hebrew word translated here as "cruel" is 'azkar, and in this case, it is better rendered "fierce." If we read Job 30 in its entirety, we will see that verse 21 is among those often applied in a dual, prophetic sense to the last hours of Jesus' human life. In another dual prophecy, Isaiah 53:10, we learn that it actually pleased God to bruise His own beloved Son, to put Him to grief, and even to make Him the ultimate sin offering! It begins to become clear that God's standards of cruelty, fierceness, and even pleasure are not the same as man's. In a similar way as the Father's "fierceness" concerning Jesus' trials was necessary for the salvation of mankind, Job's afflictions were likewise necessary for his own ultimate benefit, as we find out later in Job's account (see Job 42:1-6). What about us? Do we ever feel that God is cruel or fierce toward us? For example, when we do not get what we want just when we want it? Or when we or a loved one are not healed right away? Or when a loved one dies? Do we cry out, "My God, why have you forsaken me?" (Psalm 22:1). Neither God the Father nor the Lord Jesus Christ is inherently cruel. On the contrary, they are endlessly loving, longsuffering, patient, and merciful. They have solemnly and repeatedly promised never to leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5; Hebrews 13:5). Cruelty is assuredly not part of God's "way of give." It is, however, part of Satan's "way of get," which he has foisted on mankind for six thousand years. Satan is the wicked one (Matthew 13:19, 38; I John 2:13-14; 3:12; 5:18). He is the chief adversary against God and His children (I Peter 5:8). He is the chief of our wicked, unrighteous, lying enemies; and as such, he is the instigator of all the cruelty that our enemies commit against us. Staff Don't Be Cruel! Related Topics: Cruel | God's Longsuffering | God's Patience | Jesus Christ's Agony | Jesus Christ's Suffering | Job's Afflictions | Way of Get | Way of Give

 

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