The term "incite" refers to the act of stirring up, urging, or provoking someone to take action, often in a negative or disruptive manner. In the context of the Bible, incitement can be seen in various narratives where individuals or groups are provoked to act against God's will or to engage in sinful behavior. The concept of incitement is significant in understanding the moral and spiritual challenges faced by biblical characters and the consequences of their actions.

Old Testament Examples

One of the most notable examples of incitement in the Old Testament is found in the account of the Israelites' rebellion against Moses and Aaron. In Numbers 16, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram incite a rebellion against the leadership appointed by God. They challenge Moses and Aaron, questioning their authority and leading 250 community leaders to rise up against them. This act of incitement results in severe consequences, as God intervenes to affirm His chosen leaders and punish the rebels: "The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, all Korah’s men and all their possessions" (Numbers 16:32).

Another instance is seen in the account of Absalom, the son of King David, who incites a rebellion against his father. In 2 Samuel 15, Absalom conspires to win the hearts of the people of Israel by presenting himself as a more just and accessible leader than David. His actions lead to a civil war, causing great turmoil and division within the kingdom. This narrative highlights the destructive power of incitement when it is used to undermine God-ordained authority.

New Testament Insights

In the New Testament, incitement is often associated with the opposition to the early Christian church. In Acts 13:50, the Jewish leaders in Pisidian Antioch incite prominent women and leading men of the city against Paul and Barnabas, leading to their expulsion from the region: "But the Jews incited the religious women of prominence and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district" (Acts 13:50). This reflects the challenges faced by the apostles as they spread the Gospel and the resistance they encountered from those who felt threatened by their message.

The Apostle Paul also warns against incitement within the church. In his letters, he frequently addresses issues of division and strife, urging believers to live in harmony and avoid actions that would incite discord. In Galatians 5:26, Paul admonishes the church: "Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another" . This exhortation underscores the importance of fostering unity and love within the Christian community.

Moral and Spiritual Implications

The Bible's treatment of incitement serves as a cautionary tale about the power of words and actions to influence others, for better or worse. It emphasizes the responsibility of individuals to use their influence wisely and to seek God's guidance in their interactions with others. Incitement, when used to provoke rebellion or sin, is portrayed as contrary to God's will and often leads to judgment and destruction.

The biblical narratives also highlight the importance of discernment and the need to resist being swayed by those who seek to incite us away from God's path. Believers are called to be vigilant, to test the spirits, and to remain steadfast in their faith, ensuring that their actions align with the teachings of Scripture and the example of Christ.(v. t.) To provoke; to stir up; to rouse; as, to incite a riot.374. anapeitho -- to persuade
... Transliteration: anapeitho Phonetic Spelling: (an-ap-i'-tho) Short Definition: I
urge by evil persuasion, I tempt Definition: I persuade, incite, seduce, tempt ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/374.htm - 5k

3951. parotruno -- to urge on, to stir up
... to urge on, to stir up. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: parotruno Phonetic
Spelling: (par-ot-roo'-no) Short Definition: I stir up, incite Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3951.htm - 6k

2042. erethizo -- to stir up
... erethizo Phonetic Spelling: (er-eth-id'-zo) Short Definition: I stir up, provoke
Definition: I stir up, arouse to anger, provoke, irritate, incite. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2042.htm - 6k

2753. keleuo -- to command
... order, command. From a primary kello (to urge on); "hail"; to incite by word, ie
Order -- bid, (at, give) command(-ment). (ekeleuon) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2753.htm - 6k

4264. probibazo -- to lead forward, lead on
... Transliteration: probibazo Phonetic Spelling: (prob-ib-ad'-zo) Short Definition:
I urge forward Definition: I lead forward, lead on; met: I induce, incite, urge ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4264.htm - 6k

3947. paroxuno -- to sharpen, fig. to stimulate, to provoke
... 3947 (from 3844 , "alongside" and , "a sharp edge") -- properly, cut close alongside,
ie to incite ("jab") someone and stimulate their feelings (emotions ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3947.htm - 7k

4531. saleuo -- to agitate, shake, by ext. to cast down
... From salos; to waver, ie Agitate, rock, topple or (by implication) destroy;
figuratively, to disturb, incite -- move, shake (together), which can(-not) be ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4531.htm - 7k

5068. nadab -- to incite, impel
... 5067b, 5068. nadab. 5069 . to incite, impel. Transliteration: nadab Phonetic
Spelling: (naw-dab') Short Definition: willingly. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5068.htm - 6k

5496. suth -- to incite, allure, instigate
... 5495, 5496. suth. 5497 . to incite, allure, instigate. Transliteration: suth
Phonetic Spelling: (sooth) Short Definition: incited. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5496.htm - 6k

2787. charar -- to be hot or scorched, to burn
... A primitive root; to glow, ie Literally (to melt, burn, dry up) or figuratively
(to show or incite passion -- be angry, burn, dry, kindle. 2786, 2787. ...
/hebrew/2787.htm - 6k

5526a. sakak -- to overshadow, screen, cover
... root Definition to overshadow, screen, cover NASB Word Usage cover (2), covered
(4), covering (3), covers (1), incite (1), made a covering (1), relieve* (1 ...
/hebrew/5526a.htm - 5k

5927. alah -- to go up, ascend, climb
... 1), go (140), goes (6), going (8), gone (18), gone away (2), got back (1), grew
(3), grow (2), grow back (1), grows (1), imported* (2), incite (1), included (1 ...
/hebrew/5927.htm - 8k

Demons Incite to Idolatry.
... Book IV. Chapter XIX."Demons Incite to Idolatry. "There is also another
error of the demons, which they suggest to the senses ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter xix demons incite to idolatry.htm

How Powerfully the Evil Spirits Incite Men to Wicked Actions, by ...
... Book II. Chapter 25."How Powerfully the Evil Spirits Incite Men to Wicked Actions,
by Giving Them the Quasi-Divine Authority of Their Example. ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 25 how powerfully the evil.htm

Whether God Should be Praised with the Lips?
... Further, men are praised with the lips that they may be encouraged to do better:
since just as being praised makes the wicked proud, so does it incite the good ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether god should be praised.htm

Translated from Latin of Rufinus.
... may happen to us human beings from without; and these, coming in contact with our
sense of sight, or hearing, or any other of our senses, may incite and arouse ...
/.../origen/origen de principiis/translated from latin of rufinus.htm

Rom. xv. 25-27
... to bear it in this way than if he had said it in the form of exhortation; as then
he would have seemed to be insulting them, if, with a view to incite them, he ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxx rom xv 25-27.htm

The Pietist and the Perfectionist.
... Holiness wants to be noticed; hence you incite them to a display of their good
works. What is this but to cultivate a spirit of Pharisaism? ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xi the pietist and the.htm

The Difference Between Matters of Precept and of Counsel is ...
... there is grace. A commandment is given to enforce what is according to nature,
a counsel to incite us to follow grace. And, therefore ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xii the difference between.htm

Observe Now How by Such Statements He Depreciates those Amongst us ...
... them to "workers in wool in private houses, and to leather-cutters, and to fullers,
and to the most rustic of mankind, who carefully incite young boys to ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter lvi observe now how.htm

How we Forsake Divine Love for that of Creatures.
... us to the pride of a worldly life, or a good delightful to sense to carry us to
concupiscence of the flesh, or a good tending towards wealth, to incite us to ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter iii how we forsake.htm

Whether Conscience be a Power?
... attributed to conscience. For conscience is said to witness, to bind, or
incite, and also to accuse, torment, or rebuke. And all ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether conscience be a power.htm

Incite (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To provoke; to stir up; to rouse; as, to incite
a riot. Multi-Version Concordance Incite (5 Occurrences). ...
/i/incite.htm - 7k

Incited (10 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Incite. Multi-Version Concordance
Incited (10 Occurrences). Acts 13:50 But the Jews stirred ...
/i/incited.htm - 9k

Exhort (37 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To incite by words or advice; to animate or urge by arguments, as to a good
deed or laudable conduct; to address exhortation to; to urge strongly; hence ...
/e/exhort.htm - 17k

Spur (3 Occurrences)
... 18. (vt) To prick with spurs; to incite to a more hasty pace; to urge or
goad; as, to spur a horse. 19. (vt) To urge or encourage ...
/s/spur.htm - 9k

Quicken (16 Occurrences)
... 1. (v.) To make alive; to vivify; to revive or resuscitate, as from death or
an inanimate state; hence, to excite; to, stimulate; to incite. ...
/q/quicken.htm - 13k

Kindle (25 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) Fig.: To inflame, as the passions; to rouse; to provoke; to excite to action;
to heat; to fire; to animate; to incite; as, to kindle anger or wrath; to ...
/k/kindle.htm - 15k

Induce (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (vt) To draw on; to overspread. 3. (vt) To lead on; to influence; to
prevail on; to incite; to move by persuasion or influence. ...
/i/induce.htm - 7k

Incidents (1 Occurrence)

/i/incidents.htm - 6k

Incentive (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) That which induces action, motivation; as a work incentive; that which incites,
or has a tendency to incite, to determination or action; that which ...
/i/incentive.htm - 7k

Impulse (18 Occurrences)
... violent impulse to the will. 5. (vt) To impel; to incite. Multi-Version
Concordance Impulse (18 Occurrences). John 1:13 who were ...
/i/impulse.htm - 12k

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