The concept of embarrassment, while not explicitly named in the Bible, is closely related to themes of shame, dishonor, and public exposure. Embarrassment can be understood as a feeling of self-consciousness, discomfort, or humiliation that arises from a situation where one's actions or circumstances are exposed to others, often leading to a sense of vulnerability or inadequacy.

Biblical Instances and Themes:

1. Adam and Eve's Shame: The earliest instance of a feeling akin to embarrassment can be found in the account of Adam and Eve. After disobeying God by eating from the Tree of Knowledge, they became aware of their nakedness and felt shame. Genesis 3:7 states, "Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves." This awareness and subsequent action to cover themselves indicate a profound sense of exposure and discomfort.

2. Public Exposure and Dishonor: In biblical times, public exposure often led to shame and embarrassment. For example, in the account of Noah, after the flood, Noah became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. Ham, his son, saw his father's nakedness and told his brothers, leading to Noah's embarrassment and a curse upon Ham's descendants (Genesis 9:20-25).

3. Peter's Denial: The Apostle Peter experienced a profound moment of embarrassment and shame when he denied knowing Jesus three times before the rooster crowed, as Jesus had predicted. Luke 22:61-62 recounts, "And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: 'Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly." Peter's weeping indicates a deep sense of regret and humiliation.

4. Cultural and Social Context: In the cultural context of the Bible, honor and shame were significant social values. Embarrassment often resulted from actions that brought dishonor to oneself or one's family. Proverbs 25:8-10 advises against hastily bringing a matter to court, warning that one might be put to shame: "Do not go out hastily to argue your case, or what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?"

5. Redemption from Shame: The Bible also speaks of redemption from shame and embarrassment through God's grace and forgiveness. Isaiah 54:4 offers comfort: "Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; do not fear disgrace, for you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood."

Theological Implications:

Embarrassment, as a form of shame, is often linked to the human condition of sin and the fall from grace. It serves as a reminder of human frailty and the need for divine grace and redemption. The Bible encourages believers to seek God's forgiveness and to live in a way that honors Him, thus avoiding situations that lead to shame and embarrassment. Through Christ, believers are offered a new identity, free from the shame of past sins, as expressed in Romans 10:11 : "For the Scripture says, 'Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.'"1. (v. t.) To hinder from freedom of thought, speech, or action by something which impedes or confuses mental action; to perplex; to discompose; to disconcert; as, laughter may embarrass an orator.

2. (v. t.) To hinder from liberty of movement; to impede; to obstruct; as, business is embarrassed; public affairs are embarrassed.

3. (v. t.) To involve in difficulties concerning money matters; to encumber with debt; to beset with urgent claims or demands; -- said of a person or his affairs; as, a man or his business is embarrassed when he can not meet his pecuniary engagements.

4. (v. t.) Embarrassment.

Christmas Day.
... as he is in himself; that he is a Spirit, not to be seen, not to be conceived of
as in any one place, or in any one form; what do we but embarrass our child's ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/arnold/the christian life/lecture xxii christmas day.htm

It is a Little Remarkable That, While Some Classes of Christians ...
... of the station, and of the momentous consequences depending on the influence he
may there exert, has a tendency to oppress and embarrass the conscientious man ...
/.../ware/hints on extemporaneous preaching/chapter i it is a.htm

Extracts No. viii.
... Neither do I perceive how this can embarrass your argument, as you have proposed
to consider them 'true, disjunctively,' as well as conjunctively. ...
/.../ballou/a series of letters in defence of divine revelation/extracts no viii.htm

1 John iii. 18-Sep
... God, he has begun not to have sins. If it were so, there would be no question
to embarrass us. For we should say, We have been sinners ...
/.../ten homilies on the epistle of john to the parthians/homily v 1 john iii.htm

Sunday-School Hymns.
... English of the lines, and the profusion of adoring epithets in the ancient poem
(no less than twenty-one different titles of Christ) would embarrass a modern ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter viii sunday-school hymns.htm

Since These Things are So, Because it were Too Long to Treat ...
... But for that we are men and among men do live, and I confess that I am not yet in
the number of them whom compensative sins embarrass not, it oft befalleth me ...
/.../augustine/against lying/section 35 since these things.htm

Works which Hallow the Sabbath
... commandment and men's exposition of it. He does not embarrass himself with two
controversies at once. At fit times He disputed Rabbinical ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/works which hallow the sabbath.htm

The Leaven of the Pharisees
... Moreover the demand would specially embarrass Jesus, because He alone was not
accustomed to invoke heaven: His miracles were wrought by the exertion of His own ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 8 11-21 the leaven of.htm

Account of Proceedings in the Peninsula
... and distinctness I shall at once enter upon my subject, abstaining from reflections
of every kind, which in most cases only tend to embarrass, being anxious to ...
/.../borrow/letters of george borrow/account of proceedings in the.htm

Order in which the Parables were Delivered. --Their Perfection. ...
... which were merely intended to complete it; for this, by diverting the mind from
the one truth to a variety of particulars, can only embarrass instead of ...
/.../section 69 order in which.htm

Embarrass (2 Occurrences)
... thought, speech, or action by something which impedes or confuses mental action;
to perplex; to discompose; to disconcert; as, laughter may embarrass an orator ...
/e/embarrass.htm - 7k

Cumber (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (vt) To rest upon as a troublesome or useless weight or load; to be burdensome
or oppressive to; to hinder or embarrass in attaining an object, to obstruct ...
/c/cumber.htm - 7k

Noadiah (2 Occurrences)
... Being bribed by them, she tried to stir up discontent among the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, and so to embarrass Nehemiah in his great work of rebuilding the ...
/n/noadiah.htm - 8k

Load (22 Occurrences)
... or in a cart; to charge with a load, as a gun; to furnish with a lading or cargo,
as a ship; hence, to add weight to, so as to oppress or embarrass; to heap ...
/l/load.htm - 14k

Gravel (3 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) To check or stop; to embarrass; to perplex. 6. (vt) To hurt or lame
(a horse) by gravel lodged between the shoe and foot. Int. ...
/g/gravel.htm - 9k

Wade (2 Occurrences)
... 4. (vi) Hence, to move with difficulty or labor; to proceed /lowly among objects
or circumstances that constantly hinder or embarrass; as, to wade through a ...
/w/wade.htm - 7k

Involve (2 Occurrences)
... 6. (vt) To envelop, enfold, entangle, or embarrass; as, to involve a person in debt
or misery. 7. (vt) To engage thoroughly; to occupy, employ, or absorb. ...
/i/involve.htm - 7k

Intrigue (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To carry on a secret and illicit love or amour. 3. (vt) To fill
with artifice and duplicity; to complicate; to embarrass. ...
/i/intrigue.htm - 7k

Embarrassed (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Embarrass. Multi-Version Concordance
Embarrassed (5 Occurrences). 2 Corinthians 7:14 For ...
/e/embarrassed.htm - 8k

Embarking (3 Occurrences)

/e/embarking.htm - 7k

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