In biblical literature, the term "nor" is a conjunction used to connect two or more negative alternatives or to continue a negative thought. It is often found in lists of prohibitions or in expressions of what should not be done. The use of "nor" is significant in understanding the moral and ethical teachings of the Bible, as it often appears in commandments and instructions given by God to His people.

Scriptural Usage

The word "nor" is frequently used in the context of the Ten Commandments and other laws given to the Israelites. For example, in the Ten Commandments, we find the use of "nor" in Exodus 20:10 : "but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates." Here, "nor" is used to emphasize the comprehensive nature of the Sabbath rest, extending the prohibition of work to all members of the household and even to animals and foreigners.

In the New Testament, "nor" is used in various teachings of Jesus and the apostles to highlight behaviors and attitudes that are not in alignment with Christian values. For instance, in Galatians 3:28 , Paul writes, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." The use of "nor" here underscores the unity and equality of all believers in Christ, transcending social, ethnic, and gender distinctions.

Theological Implications

The use of "nor" in biblical texts often serves to clarify and reinforce the boundaries set by God for His people. It highlights the comprehensive nature of God's commandments and the inclusivity of His moral expectations. By listing what is not permissible, the Bible provides a clear framework for righteous living, helping believers to understand the full scope of God's will.

In the context of biblical covenants, "nor" can also signify the exclusivity of the relationship between God and His people. For example, in the covenantal language of the Old Testament, God often delineates what His people should not do in order to remain faithful to Him, using "nor" to list actions that would breach the covenant.

Moral and Ethical Considerations

The frequent use of "nor" in biblical prohibitions serves as a reminder of the high moral and ethical standards expected of believers. It calls for a comprehensive adherence to God's laws, not only in actions but also in thoughts and intentions. The conjunction "nor" helps to eliminate loopholes or exceptions, ensuring that the faithful understand the full extent of their obligations to God and to one another.

In summary, the word "nor" plays a crucial role in biblical texts by connecting negative alternatives and reinforcing the comprehensive nature of God's commandments. It serves as a tool for moral instruction, guiding believers in their pursuit of holiness and obedience to God's will.(conj.) A negative connective or particle, introducing the second member or clause of a negative proposition, following neither, or not, in the first member or clause (as or in affirmative propositions follows either). Nor is also used sometimes in the first member for neither, and sometimes the neither is omitted and implied by the use of nor.3383. mete -- neither, nor
... neither, nor. Part of Speech: Conjunction,Negative Transliteration: mete Phonetic
Spelling: (may'-teh) Short Definition: nor, neither, not even Definition: nor ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3383.htm - 7k

3777. oute -- and not, neither
... not, neither. Part of Speech: Conjunction,Negative Transliteration: oute Phonetic
Spelling: (oo'-teh) Short Definition: and not, neither, nor Definition: and not ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3777.htm - 7k

3761. oude -- and not, neither
... and not, neither. Part of Speech: Conjunction,Negative Transliteration: oude Phonetic
Spelling: (oo-deh') Short Definition: neither, nor, not even Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3761.htm - 8k

3366. mede -- but not, and not
... Conjunction,Negative Transliteration: mede Phonetic Spelling: (may-deh') Short
Definition: and not, not even Definition: and not, not even, neither nor. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3366.htm - 7k

915. barbaros -- barbarous, barbarian
... Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: barbaros Phonetic Spelling:
(bar'-bar-os) Short Definition: a foreigner who speaks neither Greek nor Latin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/915.htm - 7k

1491. eidos -- appearance, fashion, shape, sight.
... of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming"; and c)
the , in Jn 5:37: "You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1491.htm - 7k

3643. oligoreo -- to esteem lightly
... Job 5:17; Prov 3:11): "My son (ie true followers of the Lord), do not (3643 , negated
imperative) the training of the Lord, nor go on becoming undone when you ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3643.htm - 6k

3361. me -- not, that...not, lest (used for qualified negation)
... whereas ou expects an affirmative one)) whether -- any but (that), X forbear, +
God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3361.htm - 8k

1099. glukus -- sweet
... sweet, fresh. Of uncertain affinity; sweet (ie Not bitter nor salt) -- sweet, fresh.
(gluku) -- 4 Occurrences. 1098, 1099. glukus. 1100 . Strong's Numbers.
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1099.htm - 6k

4998. sophron -- of sound mind, self-controlled
... road"). 4998 ("acting in God's definition of") makes someone , ie from . is
not "one-size-fits-all" nor is it blandly static. Biblical ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4998.htm - 8k

3808. lo -- not
... adverb Definition not NASB Word Usage before (3), before* (5), behold (2), beyond
(2), breathless* (1), cannot (81), cannot their nor (1), cannot* (47 ...
/hebrew/3808.htm - 7k

369. ayin -- nothing, nought
... 2), has he no (1), has no (23), has none (1), has nothing (1), have (5), have i
no (1), have no (24), have none (2), have nothing (2), having a nor (1), having ...
/hebrew/369.htm - 7k

408. al -- not (a subjective neg.)
... particle Definition not (a subjective neg.) NASB Word Usage neither (1), neither
their nor (1), neither them nor (1), never (2), never* (2), no (46), none (2 ...
/hebrew/408.htm - 6k

1571. gam -- also, moreover, yea
... 15), however (1), indeed (21), itself (1), likewise (5), merely (1), moreover (17),
moreover* (1), neither* (5), neither (1), nevertheless (1), nor (4), nor ...
/hebrew/1571.htm - 6k

176. o -- or
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition or NASB Word Usage also (1), either (1), if
(2), if* (1), nor (1), or (294), otherwise (1), say (1), whether (8). ...
/hebrew/176.htm - 6k

518. im -- if
... 1), more of her than* (1), more than* (1), most assuredly* (1), never (2), never*
(1), nevertheless* (1), no (6), no means (1), none (1), nor (7), nothing (1 ...
/hebrew/518.htm - 6k

4480. min -- from
... mere (1), Mine (2), more (7), more...than (6), more than (43), more* (2),
more...than (33), most (1), never* (2), no (10), no more (1), no* (1), nor (2), ...
/hebrew/4480.htm - 8k

6571. parash -- a horse, steed
... horseman From parash; a steed (as stretched out to a vehicle, not single nor for
mounting (compare cuwc)); also (by implication) a driver (in a chariot), ie ...
/hebrew/6571.htm - 5k

1115. bilti -- not, except
... not, except NASB Word Usage besides (2), except (3), except* (1), less than* (1),
moreover (1), neither (1), no (15), no longer (1), no* (1), nor (2), nothing ...
/hebrew/1115.htm - 6k

3588. ki -- that, for, when
... 1), last* (1), more of her than* (1), more than* (1), more* (1), moreover* (1),
much more* (8), much* (10), nevertheless (1), nevertheless* (4), nor* (1), now ...
/hebrew/3588.htm - 7k

Nor is it Only You that are Safe...
... Book III. Chapter 8. " 9. Nor is it only you that are safe? "9. Nor is
it only you that are safe, whatever we may be, because ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 8 9 nor.htm

Nor is it to the Point to Say that the Very Smallest and Briefest. ...
... Book 2 Chapter 34. Nor is it to the point to say that the very smallest
and briefest? 34. Nor is it to the point to say that the ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 34 nor is it.htm

Nor have I Undertaken that in the Present Discourse...
... Section 25. Nor have I undertaken that in the present discourse? 25. Nor
have I undertaken that in the present discourse, as it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/against lying/section 25 nor have i.htm

And I was not Worthy, nor was I Such that the Lord Should Grant...
... Section 15. And I was not worthy, nor was I such that the Lord should
grant? 15. And I was not worthy, nor was I such that the ...
/.../patrick/the confession of st patrick/section 15 and i was.htm

This Opinion is Neither Heretical nor Allied to any Heresy
... THIRD PART I. THIS OPINION IS NEITHER HERETICAL NOR ALLIED TO ANY HERESY. ... The First
is, that this opinion is neither heretical, nor allied to heresy. ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/i this opinion is neither.htm

Argument: nor Can it be Said that the Christians Conceal what they ...
... Chapter XXXII."Argument: Nor Can It Be Said that the Christians Conceal What They
Worship Because They Have No Temples and No Altars, Inasmuch as They are ...
/.../felix/the octavius of minucius felix/chapter xxxii argument nor can it.htm

That Neither the Whole Universe nor the Elements are God, nor are ...
... the divine institutes. Book II. Of the Origin of Error. Chap. vI."that neither the
whole universe nor the elements are god, nor are they possessed of life. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap vi that neither the whole.htm

Nor is this an Opinion Confined to Ourselves Alone. ...
... Section III. Nor is this an opinion confined to ourselves alone.? Nor is
this an opinion confined to ourselves alone. For it was ...
/.../the paschal canon of anatolius of alexandria/section iii nor is this.htm

Nor, in that the Law Orders a Man to be Purified Even after ...
... Section 23. Nor, in that the Law orders a man to be purified even after
intercourse? 23. Nor, in that the Law orders a man to ...
/.../augustine/on the good of marriage/section 23 nor in that.htm

Writing iv. Nor Indeed is this Incapable of Proof, Neither is it a ...
... Writing IV. Nor indeed is this incapable of proof, neither is it a rash conjecture.?
Nor indeed is this incapable of proof, neither is it a rash conjecture. ...
/.../africanus/the writings of julius africanus/writing iv nor indeed is.htm

Nor (6640 Occurrences)
...Nor is also used sometimes in the first member for neither, and sometimes the neither
is omitted and implied by the use of nor. ...Nor (6640 Occurrences). ...
/n/nor.htm - 7k

Nica'nor (1 Occurrence)
Nica'nor. Nicanor, Nica'nor. Nice . Multi-Version Concordance
Nica'nor (1 Occurrence). Acts 6:5 And the thing was pleasing ...
/n/nica'nor.htm - 6k

Stays (21 Occurrences)
... You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male
servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is ...
/s/stays.htm - 12k

Aphek (9 Occurrences)
... (2) (Greek Taphek or Apheka): A city in the lot of Asher (Joshua 13:4). The inhabitants
were not ejected by Asher, nor is it said that they became tributary ...
/a/aphek.htm - 11k

Zidon (25 Occurrences)
... Judges 1:31 Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants
of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor...
/z/zidon.htm - 17k

Covet (14 Occurrences)
... You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant,
nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's." (WEB ...
/c/covet.htm - 12k

Accho (1 Occurrence)
... Judges 1:31 Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants
of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor...
/a/accho.htm - 7k

Aczib (4 Occurrences)
... Judges 1:31 Asher didn't drive out the inhabitants of Acco, nor the inhabitants
of Sidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob ...
/a/aczib.htm - 7k

Ahlab (1 Occurrence)
... Judges 1:31 Asher didn't drive out the inhabitants of Acco, nor the inhabitants
of Sidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob ...
/a/ahlab.htm - 7k

Achzib (4 Occurrences)
... Judges 1:31 Asher didn't drive out the inhabitants of Acco, nor the inhabitants
of Sidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob ...
/a/achzib.htm - 10k

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