In biblical terms, the concept of "averted" often relates to the idea of turning away or preventing something undesirable, such as disaster, judgment, or sin. Throughout Scripture, there are numerous instances where God's intervention or human repentance leads to the averting of negative outcomes.

Divine Intervention and Mercy

One of the most prominent themes in the Bible is God's willingness to avert disaster when His people turn back to Him. In the book of Jonah, the city of Nineveh is a prime example. God sends Jonah to warn the Ninevites of impending destruction due to their wickedness. However, upon hearing Jonah's message, the people of Nineveh repent, and God relents from bringing disaster upon them. Jonah 3:10 states, "When God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—He relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them."

Intercessory Prayer

Intercessory prayer is another means by which calamity is averted in the Bible. Moses, for instance, intercedes on behalf of the Israelites when God considers destroying them for their idolatry with the golden calf. In Exodus 32:14 , it is recorded, "So the LORD relented from the calamity He had threatened to bring on His people." Moses' plea demonstrates the power of intercession in averting divine judgment.

Repentance and Obedience

The Bible frequently emphasizes that repentance and obedience to God's commandments can avert His wrath. In 2 Chronicles 7:14 , God promises Solomon, "And My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land." This verse underscores the conditional nature of God's mercy, contingent upon the people's return to righteousness.

Warnings and Prophecies

Prophets in the Old Testament often delivered warnings intended to avert disaster. The prophet Jeremiah, for example, was sent to warn Judah of impending judgment due to their persistent sin. In Jeremiah 26:3 , God says, "Perhaps they will listen and turn—each from his evil way of life—so that I may relent of the disaster I am planning to bring upon them because of the evil of their deeds." The role of the prophet was not only to foretell but also to call for repentance to avert judgment.

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, the concept of averting sin and its consequences is central to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is the ultimate act of averting eternal separation from God for those who believe. Romans 5:9 states, "Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him!" This verse highlights the redemptive work of Christ as a means of averting divine wrath.

Practical Application

Believers are encouraged to live in a manner that averts sin and its consequences. In 1 Peter 3:11 , Christians are instructed to "turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." This call to righteous living is a proactive approach to averting the negative outcomes associated with sin.

In summary, the biblical concept of "averted" encompasses divine mercy, intercessory prayer, repentance, prophetic warnings, and the redemptive work of Christ. These elements collectively illustrate the ways in which God provides opportunities for His people to turn away from impending judgment and embrace His grace.1. (imp. & p. p.) of Avert.

2. (a.) Turned away, esp. as an expression of feeling; also, offended; unpropitious.

7725. shub -- to turn back, return
... root Definition to turn back, return NASB Word Usage again (53), answer (4), answer*
(5), answered (5), averted (1), back (7), back again (2), bring (1), bring ...
/hebrew/7725.htm - 9k

The Thunderbolt Averted
... BOOK I. ANTIOCH CHAPTER VIII THE THUNDERBOLT AVERTED. Thou art a king, a
sovereign o'er frail men; I am a Druid, servant of the gods; ...
/.../chapter viii the thunderbolt averted.htm

CHAP. II. 4-25 (2-23).
... the divorce is to be considered as having already taken place outwardly, whilst
the contending here clearly appears as one by which divorce may yet be averted. ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap ii 25-apr 2-23.htm

That Astrology, Soothsaying, and Similar Arts are the Invention of ...
... has often been freed from imminent dangers by their interposition; [343] which dangers
they have both announced, and when appeased with sacrifices, have averted ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xvii that astrology soothsaying and.htm

The Believer not an Orphan. "I Will not Leave You Comfortless: I ...
... Observe, first, here is an evil averted: "I will not leave you orphans;" and, in
the second place, here is a consolation provided: "I will come to you.". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/till he come/the believer not an orphan.htm

The Power of Prayer in Relation to Outward Circumstances.
... into harmony with the thought of God, then we may and shall direct our wishes to
certain things that we desire may occur to, or be averted from ourselves or ...
/.../schleiermacher/selected sermons of schleiermacher/i the power of prayer.htm

The Call of Matthew - the Saviour's Welcome to Sinners - Rabbinic ...
... It not only averted punishment and prolonged life, but brought good, even
the final redemption to Israel and the world at large. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xvii the call of.htm

Three Youths Save Constantinople
... The peril must be averted by secret means.'. ... Philip and his friends had not seen
how this tremendous peril was to be averted. The suggestion came from Eutyches. ...
/.../chapter xxxii three youths save.htm

The Book of the Law
... This reform movement, by which threatened judgments were averted for a season, was
brought about in a wholly unexpected manner through the discovery and study ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 33 the book of.htm

Holy Exercises of Resignation.
... though never so necessary; 2. or of books; 3. or of convenient lodgings; 4. and
to have those things bestowed on me from which my nature is most averted.5. To ...
/.../holy exercises of resignation.htm

Guelf and Ghibelline. (ii)
... the Lombards. A breach with Frederick was only averted by Honorius' death (March,
1227). [Sidenote: Gregory IX (1227-41).]. His successor ...
/.../medley/the church and the empire/chapter xv guelf and ghibelline.htm

Averted (5 Occurrences)
... 1. (imp. & pp) of Avert. 2. (a.) Turned away, esp. as an expression of feeling;
also, offended; unpropitious. Multi-Version Concordance Averted (5 Occurrences). ...
/a/averted.htm - 8k

Avert (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (v.) To turn aside, or away; as, to avert the eyes from an object; to ward off,
or prevent, the occurrence or effects of; as, how can the danger be averted? ...
/a/avert.htm - 7k

Zephaniah (11 Occurrences)
... 21:1) regarding the coming woes which he had denounced, and to entreat the prophet's
intercession that the judgment threatened might be averted (Jeremiah 29:25 ...
/z/zephaniah.htm - 32k

Jabez (3 Occurrences)
... play upon words recurs in his prayer, "that it be not to my sorrow!" His request
was granted, "and the sorrow implied by his ominous name was averted by prayer ...
/j/jabez.htm - 8k

Repentance (28 Occurrences)
... to our understanding, God is represented as repenting when delayed penalties are
at last to be inflicted, or when threatened evils have been averted by genuine ...
/r/repentance.htm - 31k

Esther (48 Occurrences)
... Jews throughout the Persian empire. By the interposition of Esther this
terrible catastrophe was averted. Haman was hanged on the ...
/e/esther.htm - 58k

Expiation (9 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) An act by which the treats of prodigies were averted among the ancient
heathen. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. EXPIATION. ...
/e/expiation.htm - 11k

Murmuring (14 Occurrences)
... Of the Hebrews in the wilderness, called forth the displeasure of God, which was
only averted by the earnest prayer of Moses (Numbers 11:33, 34; 12; 14:27, 30 ...
/m/murmuring.htm - 11k

Ahithophel (17 Occurrences)
... that Absalom had sacrificed his one opportunity, and he committed suicide to avoid
participation in the shameful defeat which he saw could not be averted. ...
/a/ahithophel.htm - 16k

Averts (1 Occurrence)

/a/averts.htm - 6k

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