Topical Bible: Mischief

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Topical Encyclopedia

Definition and Nature:
Mischief, in the biblical context, refers to actions or intentions that cause harm, trouble, or evil. It is often associated with wickedness, deceit, and the intent to cause disruption or damage. The term is used to describe both the actions of individuals and the broader influence of evil in the world.

Biblical References:

1. Old Testament Usage:
· The concept of mischief is frequently addressed in the Old Testament, often in the context of wickedness and the actions of the ungodly. In Psalm 7:14 , it is written, "Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and births falsehood." Here, mischief is linked with the deceitful and harmful intentions of the wicked.
· Proverbs 24:8 states, "He who plots evil will be called a schemer." This verse highlights the premeditated nature of mischief, emphasizing the deliberate planning of harmful actions.

2. New Testament Insights:
· While the New Testament does not frequently use the term "mischief," the concept is present in discussions of sin and evil. In Acts 13:10 , Paul confronts Elymas the sorcerer, saying, "You son of the devil, full of every kind of deceit and trickery, will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord?" This rebuke underscores the association of mischief with deceit and opposition to God's truth.

Moral and Spiritual Implications:

· Condemnation of Mischief:
The Bible consistently condemns mischief as contrary to the character and will of God. It is seen as a manifestation of the sinful nature and a tool of the wicked to disrupt peace and righteousness. In Proverbs 6:16-19 , a list of things the Lord hates includes "a heart that devises wicked schemes," directly associating mischief with actions detestable to God.

· Consequences of Mischief:
Scripture warns of the consequences that befall those who engage in mischief. In Psalm 10:7 , it is said of the wicked, "His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and violence; trouble and malice are under his tongue." This passage illustrates the destructive outcomes of a life characterized by mischief, both for the individual and those affected by their actions.

· Call to Righteousness:
Believers are called to reject mischief and pursue righteousness. In 1 Peter 3:10-11 , it is written, "For, 'Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.'" This exhortation encourages Christians to actively avoid mischief and instead seek peace and goodness.

Conclusion:
The biblical perspective on mischief is clear in its denunciation of actions and intentions that cause harm and disrupt the divine order. Believers are urged to distance themselves from such behavior and to embody the virtues of truth, peace, and righteousness as reflections of their faith in God.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) Harm; damage; esp., disarrangement of order; trouble or vexation caused by human agency or by some living being, intentionally or not; often, calamity, mishap; trivial evil caused by thoughtlessness, or in sport.

2. (n.) Cause of trouble or vexation; trouble.

3. (v. t.) To do harm to.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

MISCHIEF

mis'-chif: The word, in the sense of "hurt" or "evil" befalling, plotted against, or done to, anyone, represents a variety of Hebrew terms (e.g. 'acon, the King James Version Genesis 42:4; Genesis 44:29 Exodus 21:22; ra`, 1 Samuel 23:9 2 Samuel 16:8; 1 Kings 11:25, etc.; `amal, Psalm 7:14, 16; Psalm 10:7, 14 Proverbs 24:2, etc.). Sometimes the Revised Version (British and American) changes the word, as to "evil" (Exodus 32:12, 22); in Acts 13:10, to "villany" (rhadiourgia).

In the Revised Version (British and American) Apocrypha the word is used for kaka, "evils," Additions to Esther 13:5 (compare Sirach 19:28); kakia, "evil," 1 Maccabees 7:23; and Latin malum, "evil," 2 Esdras 15:56. "Mischievous" is used, Additions to Esther 14:19, for ponereuomai, "to be evil." The use in the King James Version Apocrypha is considerably more extended (Sirach 11:33; 19:27; 27:27, etc.).

James Orr

Greek

4468. rhadiourgia -- ease in doing, laziness, recklessness, hence ...
... mischief. From the same as rhaidiourgema; recklessness, ie (by extension) malignity --
mischief. see GREEK rhaidiourgema. (radiourgias) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4468.htm - 6k

4190. poneros -- toilsome, bad
... calamitous; also (passively) ill, ie Diseased; but especially (morally) culpable,
ie Derelict, vicious, facinorous; neuter (singular) mischief, malice, or ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4190.htm - 8k

3060. loidoros -- abusive, subst. railer
... railer, reviler. From loidos (mischief); abusive, ie A blackguard -- railer, reviler.
(loidoroi) -- 1 Occurrence. (loidoros) -- 1 Occurrence. 3059, 3060. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3060.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

4827. mera -- do mischief
... 4826, 4827. mera. 4828 . do mischief. Transliteration: mera Phonetic Spelling:
(may-rah') Short Definition: mischief. Word Origin from raa, qv. do mischief ...
/hebrew/4827.htm - 5k

2050. hathath -- imagine mischief
... 2049, 2050. hathath. 2051 . imagine mischief. Transliteration: hathath Phonetic
Spelling: (haw-thath') Short Definition: mischief. ... imagine mischief ...
/hebrew/2050.htm - 5k

611. ason -- mischief, evil, harm
... 610, 611. ason. 612 . mischief, evil, harm. Transliteration: ason Phonetic
Spelling: (aws-sone') Short Definition: harm. ... mischief. ...
/hebrew/611.htm - 5k

5999. amal -- trouble, labor, toil
... Origin from amal Definition trouble, labor, toil NASB Word Usage anguish (1), fruit
of his labor (1), fruit of my labor (3), labor (16), mischief (9), misery (1 ...
/hebrew/5999.htm - 6k

1942. havvah -- desire, chasm, destruction
... greed (1). calamity, iniquity, mischief, mischievous thing, naughtiness, naughty,
perverse thing,. From hava' (in the sense of eagerly ...
/hebrew/1942.htm - 6k

205. aven -- trouble, sorrow, wickedness
... 15), wrong (1), wrongdoers (1). affliction, evil, false, idol, iniquity,
mischief, mourner, naught,. From an unused root perhaps ...
/hebrew/205.htm - 6k

2154. zimmah -- a plan, device, wickedness
... 1), wicked schemes (1), wickedness (2). heinous crime, lewdly mischief, wicked
device. Or zammah {zam-maw'}; from zamam; a plan, especially ...
/hebrew/2154.htm - 6k

1943. hovah -- a ruin, disaster
... Word Origin from havah Definition a ruin, disaster NASB Word Usage disaster (3).
mischief. Another form for havvah; ruin -- mischief. see HEBREW havvah. ...
/hebrew/1943.htm - 6k

6145. ar -- perhaps adversary
... enemies (1). enemy. From uwr; a foe (as watchful for mischief) -- enemy. see
HEBREW uwr. 6144, 6145. ar. 6146 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6145.htm - 6k

7489. ra'a' -- to be evil, bad
... do) evil (doer, entreat, man), show self friendly (by mistake for ra'ah), do harm,
(do) hurt, (behave self, deal) ill, X indeed, do mischief, punish, still, vex ...
/hebrew/7489.htm - 6k

Library

Song 20. Against Idleness and Mischief.
... Divine Songs Song 20. Against idleness and mischief. Against idleness and mischief.
8,6,8,6. ... I would be busy too: For Satan finds some mischief still. ...
/.../watts/divine and moral songs/song 20 against idleness and.htm

Song 20. Against Idleness and Mischief.
... Song 20. Against Idleness and Mischief. ... 3 In works of labour or of skill I would
be busy too: For Satan finds some mischief still For idle hands to do. ...
/.../watts/divine songs for children/song 20 against idleness and.htm

Fun and Mischief. His Little Cousin and the "Gnats. " the Aurora ...
... PART I."AUTOBIOGRAPHY. CHAPTER IV. Fun and Mischief. His Little Cousin and the
"Gnats." The Aurora Borealis. ... Love of Justice. No Surrender. Fun and Mischief. ...
/.../chapter iv fun and mischief.htm

He Abandons the School-Room. Remarkable Meeting Near Alexandria. ...
... Establishes a Church. Mischief-making Preachers. Long and Severe Attack of Typhoid
Fever. ... Incidents. Establishes a Church. Mischief-making Preachers. ...
/.../chapter xi he abandons the.htm

What Afterward Befell the Seditious when they had done a Great ...
... CHAPTER 7. What Afterward Befell The Seditious When They Had Done A Great Deal Of
Mischief, And Suffered Many Misfortunes; As Also How Caesar Became Master Of ...
/.../chapter 7 what afterward befell.htm

"Full of all Subtlety and all Mischief. "
... Book III. Chapter XLII.""Full of All Subtlety and All Mischief.". But Peter,
when he heard him speak thus, grinding his teeth, and ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter xlii full of all subtlety.htm

That the Devils, in Suffering Either False or True Crimes to be ...
... Book II. Chapter 10."That the Devils, in Suffering Either False or True Crimes
to Be Laid to Their Charge, Meant to Do Men a Mischief. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 10 that the devils in.htm

Concerning Zamaris, the Babylonian Jew; Concerning the Plots Laid ...
... of that country, which might make his own country difficult to be assaulted, and
whence he might be at hand to make sallies upon them, and do them a mischief. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 concerning zamaris the.htm

The Locust-Swarms
... Joel begins his prophecy by bitter lamentation over the mischief which the swarms
of insects had done; such as had never been in his days, nor in the days of ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xx the locust-swarms.htm

Saul's War with the Amalekites, and Conquest of Them.
... That accordingly God said to him, that "because the Amalekites did the Hebrews a
great deal of mischief while they were in the wilderness, and when, upon their ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 sauls war with.htm

Thesaurus

Mischief (64 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To do harm to. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MISCHIEF. mis ... James
Orr. Multi-Version Concordance Mischief (64 Occurrences). Acts ...
/m/mischief.htm - 26k

Mischief-maker (2 Occurrences)
Mischief-maker. Mischief, Mischief-maker. Mischiefs . Noah Webster's Dictionary
(n.) One who makes mischief; one who excites or instigates quarrels or enmity ...
/m/mischief-maker.htm - 7k

Deviseth (12 Occurrences)
... (ASV). Psalms 36:4 He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way
that is not good; he abhorreth not evil. (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT). ...
/d/deviseth.htm - 9k

Befall (25 Occurrences)
... Genesis 42:4 But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren;
for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him. ...
/b/befall.htm - 13k

Devises (11 Occurrences)
... Psalms 94:20 Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with you, which brings
about mischief by statute? ... Proverbs 16:27 A worthless man devises mischief. ...
/d/devises.htm - 9k

Conceive (23 Occurrences)
... 3:16; Genesis 4:1 Psalm 51:5. Metaphorically, applied to the start and growth within
the heart, of thought, purpose, desire, eg "conceive mischief" (Job 15:35 ...
/c/conceive.htm - 14k

Devise (41 Occurrences)
... (See RSV NIV). Psalms 62:3 Till when do ye devise mischief against a man? ... (DBY NAS
NIV). Psalms 140:2 those who devise mischief in their hearts. ...
/d/devise.htm - 19k

Plot (53 Occurrences)
... 10. (vi) To form a scheme of mischief against another, especially against
a government or those who administer it; to conspire. 11. ...
/p/plot.htm - 22k

On (40792 Occurrences)
... 6. (prep.) In addition to; besides; -- indicating multiplication or succession in
a series; as, heaps on heaps; mischief on mischief; loss on loss; thought on ...
/o/on.htm - 17k

Rumour (13 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 7:26 Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour;
then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from ...
/r/rumour.htm - 10k

Resources

Who was Philo of Alexandria? | GotQuestions.org

Who/what is Krampus and what does it have to do with Christmas? | GotQuestions.org

Why did Jesus allow the demons to enter the herd of pigs? | GotQuestions.org

Mischief: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Mischief (64 Occurrences)

Acts 9:13
"Lord," answered Ananias, "I have heard about that man from many, and I have heard of the great mischief he has done to Thy people in Jerusalem;
(WEY)

Acts 13:10
And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
(KJV WBS)

Acts 24:5
For we have found this man Paul a source of mischief and a disturber of the peace among all the Jews throughout the Empire, and a ringleader in the heresy of the Nazarenes.
(WEY)

Romans 1:29
Their hearts overflowed with all sorts of dishonesty, mischief, greed, malice. They were full of envy and murder, and were quarrelsome, crafty, and spiteful.
(WEY)

James 3:8
But the tongue no man or woman is able to tame. It is an ever-busy mischief, and is full of deadly poison.
(WEY)

Genesis 42:4
But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Genesis 42:38
And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Genesis 44:29
And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Exodus 5:19
And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, when it was said, Ye shall not diminish aught from your bricks, your daily tasks.
(See JPS)

Exodus 21:22
If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Exodus 21:23
And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Exodus 32:12
Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.
(KJV)

Exodus 32:22
And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.
(KJV DBY WBS)

Deuteronomy 29:21
and Jehovah will separate him for mischief out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that is written in this book of the law.
(DBY)

Deuteronomy 31:29
For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and will turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and mischief will befall you at the end of days; because ye do evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.
(DBY)

Judges 15:3
And Samson said unto them, This time shall I be blameless in regard of the Philistines, when I do them a mischief.
(See JPS ASV DBY RSV)

1 Samuel 23:9
David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod here."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

2 Samuel 16:8
Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned! Yahweh has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son! Behold, you are caught by your own mischief, because you are a man of blood!"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

1 Kings 11:25
He was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, besides the mischief that Hadad did : and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

1 Kings 20:7
Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, "Please notice how this man seeks mischief; for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I didn't deny him."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

2 Kings 7:9
Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.
(KJV WBS)

Nehemiah 6:2
that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Esther 8:3
Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and begged him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Job 4:8
According as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, And sow trouble, reap the same.
(See JPS DBY)

Job 15:35
They conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. Their heart prepares deceit."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Psalms 7:14
Behold, he travails with iniquity. Yes, he has conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Psalms 7:16
His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Psalms 10:7
His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Psalms 10:14
Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.
(KJV ASV WBS NAS)

Psalms 21:11
For they intended evil against you. They plotted evil against you which cannot succeed.
(See RSV)

Psalms 26:10
In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.
(KJV WBS)

Psalms 28:3
Don't draw me away with the wicked, with the workers of iniquity who speak peace with their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Psalms 36:3
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit. He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
(See RSV)

Psalms 36:4
He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.
(KJV WBS RSV)

Psalms 41:6
If he comes to see me, he speaks falsehood. His heart gathers iniquity to itself. When he goes abroad, he tells it.
(See RSV)

Psalms 52:1
For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, "David has come to Abimelech's house." Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man? God's loving kindness endures continually.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS RSV)

Psalms 55:3
Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they cast iniquity upon me, And in anger they persecute me.
(See JPS)

Psalms 55:10
Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Psalms 62:3
How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Psalms 94:20
Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with you, which brings about mischief by statute?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:150
They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.
(KJV DBY WBS)

Psalms 140:2
those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Psalms 140:9
As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Proverbs 4:16
For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
(KJV DBY WBS)

Proverbs 6:14
Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.
(KJV DBY WBS)

Proverbs 6:18
a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief,
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Proverbs 10:23
It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
(KJV WBS)

Proverbs 11:6
The righteousness of the upright delivereth them, And in mischief the treacherous are captured.
(YLT)

Proverbs 11:27
He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
(KJV DBY WBS)

Proverbs 12:21
No mischief shall happen to the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Proverbs 13:17
A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
(KJV WBS)

Proverbs 16:27
A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
(WEB ASV)

Proverbs 17:20
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
(KJV ASV WBS)

Proverbs 24:2
for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about mischief.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Proverbs 24:16
For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
(KJV WBS)

Proverbs 28:14
Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
(KJV ASV WBS)

Isaiah 47:11
Therefore evil will come on you; you won't know when it dawns: and mischief wil fall on you; you will not be able to put it away: and desolation shall come on you suddenly, which you don't know.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Isaiah 59:4
None sues in righteousness, and none pleads in truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 7:26
Mischief shall come on mischief, and rumor shall be on rumor; and they shall seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the elders.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 11:2
Then said he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city:
(KJV WBS)

Daniel 11:27
As for both these kings, their hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table: but it shall not prosper; for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Hosea 7:15
Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Micah 7:3
On the evil 'are' both hands to do 'it' well, The prince is asking -- also the judge -- for recompence, And the great -- he is speaking the mischief of his soul, And they wrap it up.
(YLT)

Habakkuk 1:3
Why dost thou show me iniquity, and look upon perverseness? for destruction and violence are before me; and there is strife, and contention riseth up.
(See JPS)

Subtopics

Mischief

Related Terms

Industrious (2 Occurrences)

Mischiefs (6 Occurrences)

Mischief (64 Occurrences)