The term "despiteful" is used in the Bible to describe attitudes and actions characterized by malice, contempt, and a deliberate intention to harm or insult others. This behavior is often associated with a hardened heart and a rejection of God's commandments, reflecting a sinful nature that stands in opposition to the virtues of love, kindness, and forgiveness that are central to Christian teaching.

Biblical References:

1. Romans 1:28-30 : In the Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans, he provides a vivid description of the moral decline of humanity when they turn away from God. He writes, "And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful; they invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents." The term "despiteful" is closely related to the behaviors listed here, particularly insolence and malice, which reflect a willful disregard for others and for God.

2. Ezekiel 25:15-17 : The prophet Ezekiel speaks against the Philistines, who acted with "despiteful hearts" against the Israelites. "This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because the Philistines acted in vengeance and took revenge with malice in their hearts, and with ancient hostility sought to destroy Judah, therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will stretch out My hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy the remnant along the coast. I will execute great vengeance against them with furious reproofs. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I lay My vengeance upon them.’" Here, the despiteful actions of the Philistines are met with divine judgment, illustrating God's intolerance for such behavior.

Theological Implications:

From a theological perspective, despitefulness is a manifestation of the sinful nature that separates humanity from God. It is a direct violation of the command to love one's neighbor as oneself (Matthew 22:39) and stands in stark contrast to the fruit of the Spirit, which includes love, kindness, and gentleness (Galatians 5:22-23). Despiteful behavior is indicative of a heart that has not been transformed by the grace of God and is resistant to the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

Moral and Ethical Considerations:

Christians are called to reject despitefulness and instead embrace a life of humility, compassion, and forgiveness. The teachings of Jesus emphasize the importance of loving one's enemies and praying for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44). This radical love is a hallmark of Christian ethics and serves as a powerful witness to the transformative power of the Gospel.

Practical Application:

Believers are encouraged to examine their hearts and actions for any traces of despitefulness and to seek repentance and reconciliation where necessary. The community of faith is to be marked by mutual love and respect, fostering an environment where despitefulness has no place. Through prayer, study of Scripture, and reliance on the Holy Spirit, Christians can cultivate a character that reflects the love and grace of Christ, standing as a testament to the redemptive work of God in the world.(a.) Full of despite; expressing malice or contemptuous hate; malicious.DESPITE; DESPITEFUL

de-spit', de-spit'-fool: "Despite" is from Latin despectus, "a looking down upon." As a noun (= "contempt") it is now generally used in its shortened form, "spite," while the longer form is used as a preposition (= "in spite of"). In English Versions of the Bible it is always a noun. In the Old Testament it translates Hebrew she'aT, in Ezekiel 25:6, and in the Revised Version (British and American) Ezekiel 25:15; Ezekiel 36:5 ("with despite of soul"). In Hebrews 10:29 ("hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace") it stands for Greek enubrizo, "to treat with contempt."

The adjective "despiteful" occurs in the King James Version Ezekiel 25:15; Ezekiel 36:5; Sirach 31:31 ("despiteful words," the Revised Version (British and American) "a word of reproach"); Romans 1:30 (the Revised Version (British and American) "insolent" = Greek hubristes, from huper, "above"; compare English "uppish").

D. Miall Edwards

5197. hubristes -- a violent, insolent man
... violent, injurious. From hubrizo; an insulter, ie Maltreater -- despiteful, injurious.
see GREEK hubrizo. (ubristas) -- 1 Occurrence. (ubristen) -- 1 Occurrence ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5197.htm - 7k7589. sheat -- despite, contempt
... Word Origin from shut Definition despite, contempt NASB Word Usage scorn (3).
despiteful. From an unused root meaning to push aside; contempt -- despite(-ful). ...
/hebrew/7589.htm - 6k

Claim to be Treated as Others are when Accused.
... 703] been convicted of crime"it will devolve on you, illustrious and benevolent
and most learned sovereigns, to remove by law this despiteful treatment, so ...
/.../athenagoras/a plea for the christians/chapter ii claim to be treated.htm

How a Man Shall Know when his Thought is no Sin; and if it be Sin ...
... Or else a fell disdain and a manner of loathsomeness of their person, with
despiteful and condemning thoughts, the which is called Envy. ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the tenth chapter.htm

Matt. xxvii. 27-29.
... ought to have been awestruck, when they ought to have wept, which even the people
did, this they did not, but, on the contrary, were despiteful, and insolent ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxxxvii matt xxvii 27-29.htm

Rom. I. 28
... Ver.30. "Whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful," and classing things
which to many seem indifferent among his charges, he further strengthens his ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily v rom i 28.htm

Psalm XX.
... 4. "Be mindful of all Thy sacrifice" (ver.3). Make us mindful of all Thy injuries
and despiteful treatment, which Thou hast borne for us. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xx.htm

Sin and the Penalty of Sin the Same.
... wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit,
malignity; whisperers, backbiters, odious to God, despiteful, proud, boasters ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 24 xxii sin and the.htm

Whether the Sole Motive of Anger is Slight or Contempt?
... ii, 2, viz. "contempt," "despiteful treatment," ie hindering one from doing one's
will, and "insolence": and all motives of anger are reduced to these three. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the sole motive of.htm

Guilt of Neglecting the Heathen.
... wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit,
malignity; whisperers, back-biters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters ...
/.../dibble/thoughts on missions/chapter iii guilt of neglecting.htm

A Caution against Bigotry
... fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate,
deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, despiteful, proud, boasters ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 38 a caution against.htm

An Hymn of Heavenly Love
... He freely gave to be both rent and torn. Of cruel hands, who with despiteful
shame. Reviling Him, that them most vile became [27] ,. ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/iv an hymn of heavenly.htm

Despiteful (3 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DESPITE; DESPITEFUL. de ... D. Miall Edwards.
Multi-Version Concordance Despiteful (3 Occurrences). Romans ...
/d/despiteful.htm - 8k

Despite (18 Occurrences)
... of contempt. 4. (n.) To vex; to annoy; to offend contemptuously. Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia. DESPITE; DESPITEFUL. de-spit', de ...
/d/despite.htm - 13k

Inventers (1 Occurrence)
... Inventers (1 Occurrence). Romans 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud,
boasters, inventers of evil things, disobedient to parents, (WBS). ...
/i/inventers.htm - 6k

Idumea (5 Occurrences)
... residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into
their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to ...
/i/idumea.htm - 8k

Injurious (8 Occurrences)
... So in 1 Timothy 1:13. In Romans 1:30 the same adjective is translated "insolent"
(the King James Version "despiteful"). Multi-Version Concordance ...
/i/injurious.htm - 9k

Despitefully (3 Occurrences)

/d/despitefully.htm - 7k

Proud (96 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Romans 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors
of evil things, disobedient to parents, (KJV DBY WBS YLT). ...
/p/proud.htm - 33k

Boasters (6 Occurrences)
... Romans 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors
of evil things, disobedient to parents, (KJV DBY WBS YLT). ...
/b/boasters.htm - 8k

Contumely (2 Occurrences)
... (n.) Rudeness compounded of haughtiness and contempt; scornful insolence; despiteful
treatment; disdain; contemptuousness in act or speech; disgrace. ...
/c/contumely.htm - 7k

Hatred (30 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 25:15 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge,
and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the ...
/h/hatred.htm - 17k

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