Bible Dictionary: Defy

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (v. t.) To renounce or dissolve all bonds of affiance, faith, or obligation with; to reject, refuse, or renounce.

2. (v. t.) To provoke to combat or strife; to call out to combat; to challenge; to dare; to brave; to set at defiance; to treat with contempt; as, to defy an enemy; to defy the power of a magistrate; to defy the arguments of an opponent; to defy public opinion.

3. (n.) A challenge.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

DEFY

de-fi' (charaph, za`am): In 1 Samuel 17:10, 25, 26, 36, 45 (the story of David and Goliath) and kindred passages, this word is used in its most familiar sense-"to taunt," "challenge to combat" (Hebrew charaph). In Numbers 23:7, 8 "denounce" would be a better translation than "defy" (Hebrew za`am).

Strong's Hebrew

2778. charaph. -- to reproach
... 2778a . to reproach. Transliteration: charaph. Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-raf')
Short Definition: betroth. betroth, blaspheme, defy, rail, reproach, upbraid ...
/hebrew/2778.htm - 5k

2194. zaam -- to be indignant
... abhor, abominable, be angry, defy, have indignation. A primitive root; properly,
to foam at the mouth, ie To be enraged -- abhor, abominable ...
/hebrew/2194.htm - 6k

2778a. charaph -- to reproach
... root Definition to reproach NASB Word Usage defied (2), defy (2), despised (1),
insult (1), reproach (7), reproached (8), reproaches (5), revile (2), reviled (1 ...
/hebrew/2778a.htm - 5k

Library

The Magnificence of Prayer
... a past eternity and a coming eternity, and the revelation thereof that is made to
us in the Word of God, and in the hearts of His people"and I defy you to ...
/.../whyte/lord teach us to pray/i the magnificence of prayer.htm

Discipline
... They were always physically strong enough to defy it, if they chose. They
did not defy it, because they believed in it, and felt ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon i discipline.htm

David.
... As he came before the two camps, he cried out: "I defy the armies of Israel
this day; give me a man, that we may fight together!". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/wee ones bible stories/david.htm

Upon the Character of Balaam. Preached the Second Sunday after ...
... his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of
the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/butler/human nature/sermon vii upon the character.htm

Another Portrait Gallery
... It takes more faith than a Westerner can realise, to defy the legions of gwei which
at that time threaten your home and its inhabitants with numberless ills ...
/.../chapter xxi another portrait gallery.htm

Celts and Celtophiles
... Celticism. Who were the Celts? I defy anybody to say. Who are the Irish? I
defy any one to be indifferent, or to pretend not to know. Mr ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/heretics/xiii celts and celtophiles.htm

From the Second to the Fourth Commandment
... blaspheme. We can blaspheme also by actions. To defy God by a sign or action,
to dare Him to strike us dead, etc., would be blasphemy. We ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 32 from the second.htm

The Witness of Balaam to Israel
... From Aram hath Balak brought me, The king of Moab from the mountains of
the East: Come, curse me Jacob, And come, defy Israel. How ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/ii the witness of balaam.htm

Conclusion
... That God will yet permit the Devil to bring forth his satanic Masterpiece, who shall
defy God and persecute His people, should scarcely be surprising. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/conclusion.htm

The Jewish War and the Destruction of Jerusalem. AD 70
... To defy Rome in that age, without a single ally, was to defy the world in arms;
but religious fanaticism, inspired by the recollection of the heroic ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 38 the jewish war.htm

Thesaurus

Defy (10 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To provoke to combat or strife; to call out to combat; to challenge; to
dare; to brave; to set at defiance; to treat with contempt; as, to defy an enemy ...
/d/defy.htm - 10k

Taunt (38 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 17:10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this
day; give me a man, that we may fight together. (See JPS). ...
/t/taunt.htm - 18k

Killeth (23 Occurrences)
... surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him,
the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter ...
/k/killeth.htm - 13k

Rab-shakeh (14 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 19:4 It may be Jehovah thy God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom
the king of Assyria his master hath sent to defy the living God, and will ...
/r/rab-shakeh.htm - 10k

Execrate (4 Occurrences)
... he took up his parable, and said, From Aram hath Balak brought me, The king of Moab
from the mountains of the East: Come, curse me Jacob, And come, defy Israel ...
/e/execrate.htm - 7k

Dare (19 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To have courage for; to attempt courageously; to venture to do or
to undertake. 3. (vt) To challenge; to provoke; to defy. ...
/d/dare.htm - 12k

Smites (10 Occurrences)
... for to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who smites him,
him will the king enrich with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and ...
/s/smites.htm - 9k

Mock (43 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 19:4 It may be Yahweh your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom
the king of Assyria his master has sent to defy the living God, and will ...
/m/mock.htm - 23k

Kills (38 Occurrences)
... He has surely come up to defy Israel. ... For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that
he should defy the armies of the living God?" (WEB NAS RSV NIV). ...
/k/kills.htm - 17k

Rabshakeh (15 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 19:4 It may be Yahweh your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom
the king of Assyria his master has sent to defy the living God, and will ...
/r/rabshakeh.htm - 14k

Bible Concordance

Defy (10 Occurrences)

Numbers 23:7 He took up his parable, and said, "From Aram has Balak brought me, the king of Moab from the mountains of the East. Come, curse Jacob for me. Come, defy Israel.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

Numbers 23:8 How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? How shall I defy whom Yahweh has not defied?
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

1 Samuel 17:10 The Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day! Give me a man, that we may fight together!"
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 17:25 The men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who is come up? He has surely come up to defy Israel. It shall be, that the man who kills him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel."
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 17:26 David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done to the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 19:4 It may be Yahweh your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Yahweh your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.'"
(WEB ASV)

2 Kings 19:16 Incline your ear, Yahweh, and hear. Open your eyes, Yahweh, and see. Hear the words of Sennacherib, with which he has sent to defy the living God.
(WEB ASV)

Psalms 139:20 For they go against you with evil designs, and your haters make sport of your name.
(See RSV)

Isaiah 37:4 It may be Yahweh your God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Yahweh your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.'"
(WEB ASV)

Isaiah 37:17 Turn your ear, Yahweh, and hear. Open your eyes, Yahweh, and behold. Hear all of the words of Sennacherib, who has sent to defy the living God.
(WEB ASV)

Subtopics

Defy

Related Terms

Taunt (38 Occurrences)

Killeth (23 Occurrences)

Rab-shakeh (14 Occurrences)

Execrate (4 Occurrences)

Dare (19 Occurrences)

Smites (10 Occurrences)

Mock (43 Occurrences)

Kills (38 Occurrences)

Rabshakeh (15 Occurrences)