Cruelties, as depicted in the Bible, encompass acts of severe and deliberate infliction of pain and suffering upon others. These acts are often portrayed as contrary to the nature and commandments of God, who is described as just, merciful, and compassionate. The Bible provides numerous examples of cruelty, both in historical narratives and in moral teachings, highlighting the destructive nature of such behavior and its consequences.

Old Testament Examples

1. Cain and Abel: The first act of cruelty recorded in the Bible is the murder of Abel by his brother Cain. Driven by jealousy and anger, Cain's act of fratricide is condemned by God, who says, "What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground" (Genesis 4:10). This event sets a precedent for the destructive nature of unchecked anger and violence.

2. The Egyptians' Oppression of the Israelites: The Israelites' enslavement in Egypt is marked by severe cruelty. The Egyptians subjected them to harsh labor and oppression, as described in Exodus 1:13-14: "They worked the Israelites ruthlessly and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields." This cruelty led to God's intervention and the eventual liberation of the Israelites.

3. Assyrian and Babylonian Conquests: The Assyrian and Babylonian empires are depicted as instruments of God's judgment, yet their methods are often cruel. The Assyrians, in particular, were known for their brutal military tactics and treatment of captives, as seen in the accounts of their conquests in 2 Kings 17 and 2 Kings 18.

New Testament Teachings

1. Herod's Massacre of the Innocents: In the New Testament, King Herod's order to kill all male infants in Bethlehem in an attempt to eliminate the newborn Jesus is a stark example of cruelty. Matthew 2:16 describes Herod's actions: "When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he sent and killed all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under."

2. The Crucifixion of Jesus: The crucifixion is the ultimate act of cruelty, where Jesus, though innocent, is subjected to a brutal and humiliating death. The Gospels detail the physical and emotional suffering Jesus endured, highlighting the cruelty of the Roman execution method and the mockery by onlookers (Matthew 27:27-31, Mark 15:16-20).

Moral Teachings Against Cruelty

1. Proverbs and Wisdom Literature: The wisdom literature of the Bible frequently condemns cruelty and advocates for kindness and justice. Proverbs 11:17 states, "A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself." This reflects the biblical principle that cruelty ultimately leads to one's downfall.

2. Jesus' Teachings: Jesus emphasized love, mercy, and forgiveness, countering the cruelty prevalent in society. In the Sermon on the Mount, He taught, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" (Matthew 5:7). His teachings call for a radical departure from cruelty, urging followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:44).

3. Pauline Epistles: The Apostle Paul, in his letters, often contrasts the works of the flesh, which include cruelty, with the fruit of the Spirit, which embodies love, kindness, and gentleness (Galatians 5:19-23). He exhorts believers to "be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32).

Divine Justice and Cruelty

The Bible consistently portrays God as a just judge who abhors cruelty and will ultimately hold the cruel accountable. The prophetic books often speak of God's judgment against nations and individuals who perpetrate cruelty, emphasizing that divine justice will prevail. For instance, in Isaiah 13:11, God declares, "I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity; I will end the arrogance of the proud and humble the pride of the ruthless."

In summary, the Bible presents cruelty as a manifestation of human sinfulness that stands in stark contrast to the character of God. Through narratives, laws, and teachings, Scripture calls for a rejection of cruelty and an embrace of compassion, justice, and mercy.(n.) Plural of Cruelty.

That the Cruelties which Occurred in the Sack of Rome were in ...
... The City of God.Book I. Chapter 7."That the Cruelties Which Occurred in the Sack
of Rome Were in Accordance with the Custom of War, Whereas the Acts of ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 7 that the cruelties which.htm

Of the victory of Sylla, the Avenger of the Cruelties of Marius.
... Book III. Chapter 28."Of the Victory of Sylla, the Avenger of the Cruelties
of Marius. Then followed the victory of Sylla, the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 28 of the victory of.htm

Of Antichrist, and his Ruin: and of the Slaying the Witnesses.
... advantages. These cruelties are THY cursed deeds, O Antichrist! ... cruel!". In Bunyan's
time great cruelties were practised to compel uniformity. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/of antichrist and his ruin .htm

The Emperor Thankfully Ascribes his victories and all Other ...
... themselves, when they beheld the very executioners who tortured the bodies of their
holy victims wearied out, and disgusted at the cruelties; [3485] the bonds ...
/.../the life of constantine/chapter xxii the emperor thankfully ascribes.htm

Synodical Letter from the Council at Constantinople.
... land. Others, worn away with various cruelties, still bear in their bodies
the scars of their wounds and the marks of Christ. [842]. ...
/.../chapter ix synodical letter from the.htm

Council of Constantinople.
... land. Others, worn away with various cruelties, still bear in their bodies
the scars of their wounds and the marks of Christ. Who ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/council of constantinople.htm

The Mouth of the Beast.
... saints, and overcame them. Dissenters from the Papacy were subjected to
unheard of cruelties and persecutions. And they whose names ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the mouth of the beast.htm

The Burning of Athens.
... stratagem."A spectral army."Thessalian cavalry."Pitfall for the cavalry."They
are caught in it."Advance of the army."Cruelties and atrocities ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/xerxes/chapter x the burning of.htm

The Crucifixion.
... us. I mean, consider how very horrible it is to read the accounts which
sometimes meet us of cruelties exercised on brute animals. ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon x the crucifixion.htm

The First-Fruits of the Gentiles
... Besides their falsehoods and abhorrent dark cruelties and lustfulnesses, they enshrine
confessions of wants which the King in the cradle alone can supply. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the first-fruits of the gentiles.htm

Cruelties (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Plural of Cruelty. Multi-Version Concordance
Cruelties (1 Occurrence). 2 Chronicles 16:10 Then Asa ...
/c/cruelties.htm - 6k

Cruelty (8 Occurrences)
... commanded by God. But this answer if we recognize the fact, which Jesus emphasizes,
that the in attendant cruelties and horrors. The Old ...
/c/cruelty.htm - 16k

Cruelly (26 Occurrences)

/c/cruelly.htm - 14k

Exorcism
... and Assyria, 146). In this direction the absurdities and cruelties of
superstition have carried men to extreme lengths. In the case ...
/e/exorcism.htm - 14k

Exorcist (1 Occurrence)
... and Assyria, 146). In this direction the absurdities and cruelties of
superstition have carried men to extreme lengths. In the case ...
/e/exorcist.htm - 15k

Bloody (19 Occurrences)
... is called "the bloody city" (Nahum 3:1). The capital here virtually stands for the
kingdom, and history bears witness to the enormous cruelties perpetrated by ...
/b/bloody.htm - 17k

Chemosh (8 Occurrences)
... of all this was seen in the moral and spiritual deterioration of Solomon himself
there is no indication that the immoralities and cruelties associated with ...
/c/chemosh.htm - 20k

Caesarea (20 Occurrences)
... Riots between Gentiles and Jews in Caesarea gave rise to the war (BJ, II, xiii,
7;. xiv, 4). Terrible cruelties were practiced on the Jews under Felix and ...
/c/caesarea.htm - 20k

Cruel (196 Occurrences)
... commanded by God. But this answer if we recognize the fact, which Jesus emphasizes,
that the in attendant cruelties and horrors. The Old ...
/c/cruel.htm - 42k

Alcimus
... The favor with which Alcimus was received by the Jews at Jerusalem on account
of his Aaronic descent was soon turned to hate by his cruelties. ...
/a/alcimus.htm - 7k

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