The term "countervail" is not directly found in the Berean Standard Bible , but the concept is present in the biblical narrative and can be understood through related themes of balance, justice, and recompense. In a biblical context, countervailing involves the idea of balancing or offsetting an action, often in terms of justice or retribution.

Biblical Context and Usage

1. Justice and Retribution: The principle of countervailing is closely related to the biblical concept of justice, where actions are met with appropriate responses. This is evident in the "eye for an eye" principle found in the Old Testament, which emphasizes proportional justice. In Exodus 21:23-25 , the law states, "But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, and stripe for stripe." This passage illustrates the idea of countervailing harm with equivalent recompense, ensuring that justice is served in a balanced manner.

2. Divine Justice: The concept of countervailing is also seen in the divine justice of God, who is portrayed as the ultimate judge who balances the scales of justice. In Romans 12:19 , Paul writes, "Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'" Here, the countervailing action is left to God, who promises to repay wrongs in His perfect justice.

3. Moral and Ethical Balance: The idea of countervailing extends to moral and ethical teachings in the Bible, where believers are encouraged to balance their actions with righteousness. In Matthew 7:12 , Jesus teaches the Golden Rule: "In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets." This principle encourages individuals to countervail negative actions with positive ones, promoting a balanced and just society.

4. Spiritual Warfare: In the realm of spiritual warfare, countervailing can be seen in the call for believers to stand firm against evil forces. Ephesians 6:11-13 states, "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand." Here, the countervailing action involves spiritual preparedness and resistance against evil.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the concept of countervailing underscores the importance of justice, balance, and righteousness in the life of a believer. It reflects the character of God as just and fair, and it calls believers to emulate these attributes in their interactions with others. The biblical narrative consistently points to a God who countervails evil with good, injustice with justice, and sin with grace through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.1. (v. t.) To offset; to act against with equal force, power, or effect; to thwart or overcome by such action; to furnish an equivalent to or for; to counterbalance; to compensate.

2. (n.) Power or value sufficient to obviate any effect; equal weight, strength, or value; equivalent; compensation; requital.

COUNTERVAIL

koun-ter-val' (shawah, "equalize"): To thwart or overcome by acting against with equal force; thus, "The enemy could not countervail the king's damage" or loss (Esther 7:4 the American Standard Revised Version reads "The adversary could not have compensated for the king's damage"). "Nothing doth countervail (the Revised Version (British and American) "can be taken in exchange for") a faithful friend" (Ecclesiasticus 6:15).

7737. shavah -- to agree with, be like, resemble
... avail, behave, bring forth, compare, countervail, be, make equal, lay, A
primitive root; properly, to level, ie Equalize; figuratively ...
/hebrew/7737.htm - 5k

Superiors Ought Carefully to Examine the Dispositions of those ...
... 6. A little devoutness will not serve to countervail ill inclinations to lying,
dissembling, factiousness, a humour of calumniating, &c.; for a great and scarce ...
/.../chapter viii superiors ought carefully.htm

Of Meditation: the First and Lowest Degree of Internal Prayer. ...
... for those who are more solitary and abstracted such a way of meditating would be
very painful, and the profit so little, as it would not countervail the pain. ...
/.../chapter ii of meditation the.htm

Touching Certain Forms of Immediate Acts, &C. ...
... or humour, and yet in the end, perhaps, not content herself, or at the least the
satisfaction that she may come to find will scarce countervail the distraction ...
/.../chapter ii touching certain forms.htm

The Preface
... with sincere intentions, and then perhaps these few Stones and Sling used in the
Name, and with invocation of the Lord of Hosts, may countervail the massive ...
//christianbookshelf.org/allestree/the government of the tongue/the preface.htm

Naturally we Love Ourselves Only. ...
... another time.5. It diminisheth our suffering in purgatory, because so much of suffering
is past, and a little pain for the present will countervail and prevent ...
/.../chapter iii naturally we love.htm

Rom. v. 12
... All these things then Paul calls a "superabundance" of grace, showing that what
we received was not a medicine only to countervail the wound, but even health ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily x rom v 12.htm

The Wrath of God
... Your pleasure cannot be so sweet as wrath is bitter. The delights of the
flesh cannot countervail the horror of conscience. Better ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/3 3 the wrath of god.htm

"And if any Man Sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,",
... thy eternal estate, yet I am persuaded, that there is more damage another way, in
thy spiritual estate in this world, than all the gains of sin can countervail ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxiv and if any.htm

Mortifications Divided Into: 1...
... But if indiscreetly he will force himself to run beyond his breath and strength,
that advantage which he got for a little while will not countervail the loss ...
/.../chapter v mortifications divided into .htm

Luke x. The Latter Part of the 25Th Verse.
... Profit, nor Honour, nor Pleasure can, in the least avail us, when we have made the
fatal mistake: nor can any present Gratification countervail the loss of all ...
/.../sermon i luke x the.htm

Countervail (1 Occurrence)
...COUNTERVAIL. ... "Nothing doth countervail (the Revised Version (British and American)
"can be taken in exchange for") a faithful friend" (Ecclesiasticus 6:15). ...
/c/countervail.htm - 7k

Damage (57 Occurrences)
... damage" (the Revised Version, margin "For our affliction is not to be compared with
the king's damage" the King James Version "could not countervail the king's ...
/d/damage.htm - 26k

Oppose (29 Occurrences)
... exhibit. 2. (n.) To put in opposition, with a view to counterbalance or
countervail; to set against; to offer antagonistically. 3 ...
/o/oppose.htm - 15k

Bondwomen (10 Occurrences)
... But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although
the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. (KJV JPS ASV DBY). ...
/b/bondwomen.htm - 9k

Bond-men (16 Occurrences)
... But if we had been sold for bond-men and bond-women, I had held my tongue, although
the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. (WBS). ...
/b/bond-men.htm - 11k

Bond-women (3 Occurrences)
... But if we had been sold for bond-men and bond-women, I had held my tongue, although
the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. (WBS). ...
/b/bond-women.htm - 7k

Countest (3 Occurrences)

/c/countest.htm - 7k

Counterpart (2 Occurrences)

/c/counterpart.htm - 7k

Tongue (160 Occurrences)
... But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although
the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. (KJV DBY WBS). ...
/t/tongue.htm - 42k

Enemy (134 Occurrences)
... But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although
the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. (KJV WBS). ...
/e/enemy.htm - 41k

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