The term "spiteful" refers to a disposition characterized by malice, vindictiveness, or a desire to harm others. In the context of the Bible, spitefulness is considered a sinful attitude that is contrary to the teachings of love, forgiveness, and kindness that are central to Christian doctrine.

Biblical References:

1. Proverbs 24:29 · "Do not say, 'I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man for his work.'" This verse warns against the natural human inclination to retaliate or act out of spite. Instead, it encourages believers to refrain from seeking revenge, which is often motivated by spite.

2. Romans 12:19 · "Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: 'Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.'" The Apostle Paul admonishes Christians to avoid taking revenge, which is often driven by spite. Instead, they are to trust in God's justice.

3. 1 Peter 3:9 · "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." This passage emphasizes the Christian calling to respond to wrongdoing not with spite, but with blessing and kindness.

4. Ephesians 4:31-32 · "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you." Here, Paul lists malice, which includes spitefulness, as behaviors to be eradicated from the Christian life, advocating instead for kindness and forgiveness.

Theological Implications:

Spitefulness is antithetical to the character of God, who is described as loving, merciful, and just. Christians are called to emulate these divine attributes in their interactions with others. The presence of spite in one's heart can hinder spiritual growth and damage relationships within the community of believers.

Practical Application:

Believers are encouraged to examine their hearts for any traces of spite and to seek the Holy Spirit's help in cultivating a spirit of love and forgiveness. This involves actively choosing to bless those who may have wronged them and trusting God to handle matters of justice. By doing so, Christians demonstrate the transformative power of the Gospel in their lives and bear witness to the love of Christ.(a.) Filled with, or showing, spite; having a desire to vex, annoy, or injure; malignant; malicious; as, a spiteful person or act.1908. epereazo -- to revile
... Word Origin from epereia (spiteful abuse) Definition to revile NASB Word
Usage mistreat (1), revile (1). mistreat, falsely accuse. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1908.htm - 7k

Agree with Thine Adversary
... As long as you are hypocrites, with your mouths full of the cant of religion, and
your hearts full of all mean and spiteful passions; as long as you cannot of ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xxvii agree with thine.htm

Letter iv. --To Cynegius .
... I write thus much by way of preface, because of the sad tragedy which some spiteful
power has been playing among people of long-standing nobility. ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/letter iv to cynegius.htm

Preface of Dr. Martin Luther.
... I am still living, writing, preaching, and lecturing daily; [and] yet there are
found such spiteful men, not only among the adversaries, but also false ...
/.../luther/the smalcald articles/preface of dr martin luther.htm

The Exordium or Introduction
... All contemptuous, spiteful, haughty, calumniating expressions must be avoided and
not so much as even insinuated to the defamation of any particular person or ...
/.../kleiser/the training of a public speaker/the exordium or introduction.htm

The Folly of Slander. Part 2.
... He is [Greek] (the slanderer); Satan, the spiteful adversary; the old snake or dragon,
hissing out lies, and spitting forth venom of calumnious accusation; the ...
/.../barrow/sermons on evil-speaking by isaac barrow/the folly of slander part 2.htm

The Penitent Thief
... Hear those spiteful Pharisees mocking among themselves: "He saved others; Himself
He cannot save." The account also says that the two thieves "cast the same in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/men of the bible/vii the penitent thief.htm

The Power of Sorrow.
... ourselves hardly treated, as if we had been defrauded of a right; rebellious hard
feelings come; then it is you see people become bitter, spiteful, discontented ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/viii the power of sorrow.htm

The Pride of Amaryllis
... "And siege is laid.". John looked ruefully at the fruit. "Perhaps," he said after
thought, "were Ia thrifty man and a spiteful one, I would not eat them. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the city of delight/chapter xiv the pride of.htm

Terror by Night
... They fancied that the forests, the fens, the caves, were full of spiteful and ugly
spirits, who tempted men to danger and to death; and when they prayed to be ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon xvi terror by night.htm

The Apostle of the Gentiles.
... that the rude people of Lycaonia fancied them gods in the likeness of men, and had
well-nigh done sacrifice to them, though afterwards the spiteful Jews led ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xxii the apostle of.htm

Spiteful (1 Occurrence)
... (a.) Filled with, or showing, spite; having a desire to vex, annoy, or injure;
malignant; malicious; as, a spiteful person or act. ...Spiteful (1 Occurrence). ...
/s/spiteful.htm - 6k

Revenge (13 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To inflict injury for, in a spiteful, wrong, or malignant spirit; to wreak
vengeance for maliciously. 3. (vi) To take vengeance; -- with. ...
/r/revenge.htm - 12k

Spite (28 Occurrences)

/s/spite.htm - 14k

Quarrelsome (9 Occurrences)
... dishonesty, mischief, greed, malice. They were full of envy and murder, and
were quarrelsome, crafty, and spiteful. (WEY). 1 Timothy 3 ...
/q/quarrelsome.htm - 8k

Venomous (4 Occurrences)
... 3. (a.) Noxious; mischievous; malignant; spiteful; as, a venomous progeny; a venomous
writer. Multi-Version Concordance Venomous (4 Occurrences). ...
/v/venomous.htm - 8k

Vicious (3 Occurrences)
... 5. (a.) Not well tamed or broken; given to bad tricks; unruly; refractory; as, a
vicious horse. 6. (a.) Bitter; spiteful; malignant. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/v/vicious.htm - 7k

Overflowed (14 Occurrences)
... dishonesty, mischief, greed, malice. They were full of envy and murder, and
were quarrelsome, crafty, and spiteful. (WEY). Romans 5:20 ...
/o/overflowed.htm - 10k

Greed (19 Occurrences)
... mischief, greed, malice. They were full of envy and murder, and were quarrelsome,
crafty, and spiteful. (WEY NAS NIV). 1 Corinthians ...
/g/greed.htm - 12k

Ill-natured (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Of habitual bad temper; surly; peevish; fractious; cross; crabbed; as, an
ill-natured person. 2. (a.) Dictated by, or indicating, ill nature; spiteful. ...
/i/ill-natured.htm - 7k

Revenger (5 Occurrences)
... are synonymous in that they are both used to express the infliction of punishment
upon the wrongdoer, but "to take revenge" may also imply a spiteful, wrong or ...
/r/revenger.htm - 9k

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Spiteful: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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