Wantonness
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Definition and Nature
Wantonness, in a biblical context, refers to a state of moral and spiritual laxity characterized by unrestrained indulgence in sensual pleasures and a blatant disregard for moral boundaries. It is often associated with behaviors that are excessive, lascivious, and lacking in discipline or restraint. The term is used to describe actions that are driven by a desire for self-gratification without consideration for righteousness or the well-being of others.

Biblical References
The concept of wantonness is addressed in several passages throughout the Bible, where it is condemned as contrary to the will of God and the teachings of Christ. It is often listed among other sins that are indicative of a life lived according to the flesh rather than the Spirit.

1. Romans 13:13 : "Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy." Here, wantonness is implied in the call to avoid debauchery and sexual immorality, urging believers to live in a manner that reflects the light of Christ.

2. Galatians 5:19-21 : "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Wantonness is encompassed within the acts of the flesh, highlighting its incompatibility with the life of a believer.

3. 1 Peter 4:3 : "For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry." This passage reflects on the transformation expected in the life of a Christian, moving away from wanton behaviors that were once part of a sinful past.

Moral and Spiritual Implications
Wantonness is seen as a manifestation of living according to the desires of the flesh, which is in direct opposition to the life led by the Spirit. It represents a rejection of the self-control and holiness that God calls His people to embody. The Bible consistently warns against such behaviors, emphasizing the need for repentance and a turning away from sinful indulgence.

Consequences and Warnings
The scriptures provide stern warnings about the consequences of living in wantonness. Those who persist in such behaviors are said to be at risk of not inheriting the kingdom of God, as they are living in a manner that is incompatible with the values of the kingdom. The call to holiness and self-control is a recurring theme, urging believers to live lives that are pleasing to God and reflective of His righteousness.

Exhortation to Believers
Believers are exhorted to put aside wantonness and to clothe themselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, making no provision for the desires of the flesh (Romans 13:14). The Christian life is one of transformation, where the old self is put to death, and a new life in Christ is embraced. This involves a conscious effort to reject wanton behaviors and to pursue a life of holiness, guided by the Holy Spirit.

In summary, wantonness is a serious concern in the biblical narrative, representing a lifestyle that is antithetical to the teachings of Christ. It is a call to vigilance and spiritual discipline, urging believers to live in a manner that honors God and reflects His holiness.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(n.) Lack of restraint; recklessness; lasciviousness.
Greek
766. aselgeia -- licentiousness, wantonness
... licentiousness, wantonness. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: aselgeia
Phonetic Spelling: (as-elg'-ia) Short Definition: wantonness, lewdness ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/766.htm - 7k

5196. hubris -- wantonness, insolence, an act of wanton violence
... wantonness, insolence, an act of wanton violence. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: hubris Phonetic Spelling: (hoo'-bris) Short Definition: insult ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5196.htm - 7k

810. asotia -- unsavedness, ie wastefulness
... ie wastefulness. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: asotia Phonetic
Spelling: (as-o-tee'-ah) Short Definition: wantonness, profligacy Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/810.htm - 7k

4764. strenos -- insolent luxury
... insolent luxury. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: strenos Phonetic
Spelling: (stray'-nos) Short Definition: wantonness, luxury Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4764.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew
8586. taalulim -- wantonness, caprice
... 8585b, 8586. taalulim. 8587 . wantonness, caprice. Transliteration: taalulim
Phonetic Spelling: (tah-al-ool') Short Definition: children. ...
/hebrew/8586.htm - 6k

6349. pachaz -- wantonness, recklessness
... 6348, 6349. pachaz. 6350 . wantonness, recklessness. Transliteration: pachaz
Phonetic Spelling: (pakh'-az) Short Definition: uncontrolled. ...
/hebrew/6349.htm - 6k

5949. alilah -- wantonness, a deed
... 5948, 5949. alilah or alilah. 5950 . wantonness, a deed. Transliteration: alilah
or alilah Phonetic Spelling: (al-ee-law') Short Definition: deeds. ...
/hebrew/5949.htm - 6k

Library

Others of Your Writers, in their Wantonness, Even Minister to Your ...
... Chapter XV. Others of your writers, in their wantonness, even minister
to your pleasures by vilifying the? Others of your writers ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/chapter xv others of your.htm

The Conduct of Heretics: Its Frivolity, Worldliness, and ...
... Heretics. Chapter XLI."The Conduct of Heretics: Its Frivolity, Worldliness,
and Irregularity The Notorious Wantonness of Their Women. ...
/.../the prescription against heretics/chapter xli the conduct of heretics .htm

Easter Sunday
... saved them from it by this epistle admonishing and urging them to purge out the
leaven of license; for they had begun to practice great wantonness, and had ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/easter sunday.htm

The Epistle of Saint Jude.
... Who are godless, and turn the grace of God into wantonness. That Gospel
which is given us concerning the grace of God, and which ...
/.../the epistle of saint jude.htm

On a Holy Martyr's Day
... Now mark, it is to be counted as spiritual unchastity or wantonness, when a man
seeks himself too much, and with eager desire strives after warmth and sensible ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tauler/the inner way/sermon xxxi on a holy.htm

Sermon on a Martyr's Day
... Now mark: it is to be counted as spiritual unchastity or wantonness, when a man
seeks himself too much, and with eager desire strives after warmth and sensible ...
/.../xxvii sermon on a martyrs.htm

That a True Lover Despises Worldly Things and Desires Heavenly ...
... Truly if the sweetness of endless love be now biding in thy soul, withouten doubt
it destroys all wantonness of fleshly wickedness; and delighting thee in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter xxviii that a true.htm

Letter xxii. (AD 392. )
... The words of the chosen vessel are these: "Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in
chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying: but put ye on the Lord ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter xxii a d 392.htm

Of the Sheepskin and the Goatskin.
... deserts, and in mountains, and in dens, and in caves of the earth." [659] And this
garment of goatskin signifies that having destroyed all wantonness of carnal ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter vii of the sheepskin.htm

That the Mind is not Intoxicated by Wine Alone.
... The belly when filled with all kinds of food gives birth to seeds of wantonness,
nor can the mind, when choked with the weight of food, keep the guidance and ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter vi that the mind.htm

Thesaurus
Wantonness (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Lack of restraint; recklessness; lasciviousness.
Multi-Version Concordance Wantonness (6 Occurrences). ...
/w/wantonness.htm - 8k

Lasciviousness (9 Occurrences)
... la-siv'-i-us-nes (aselgeia, "licentiousness," "wantonness," "unbridled lust,"
"shamelessness," "outrageousness"): 1. Sources: Etymologists assign three ...
/l/lasciviousness.htm - 11k

Wanton (20 Occurrences)
... lasciviously. 10. (vt) To cause to become wanton; also, to waste in wantonness.
Multi-Version Concordance Wanton (20 Occurrences). ...
/w/wanton.htm - 13k

Chambering (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary (Romans 13:13), wantonness, impurity. Noah Webster's
Dictionary. 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Chamber. 2. (n.) Lewdness. Int. ...
/c/chambering.htm - 7k

Wantonly (8 Occurrences)

/w/wantonly.htm - 9k

Wants (49 Occurrences)

/w/wants.htm - 20k

Vanity (100 Occurrences)
... 2 Peter 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through
the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean ...
/v/vanity.htm - 39k

Vileness (5 Occurrences)
... their young men, neither shall He have compassion on their fatherless and widows;
for every one is ungodly and an evil-doer, and every mouth speaketh wantonness...
/v/vileness.htm - 8k

Folly (68 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) Scandalous crime; sin; specifically, as applied to a woman, wantonness.
4. (n.) The result of a foolish action or enterprise. Int. ...
/f/folly.htm - 39k

Resources
Wantonness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Wantonness (6 Occurrences)

2 Peter 2:18
For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
(KJV WBS)

Genesis 49:6
My soul, come not into their council; Mine honour, be not united with their assembly; For in their anger they slew men, And in their wantonness houghed oxen.
(DBY RSV)

Judges 20:6
And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel; for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.
(See JPS DBY RSV)

Judges 20:10
and we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victuals for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel.
(See JPS)

Isaiah 9:17
Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, neither will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows; for every one is profane and an evil-doer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
(See JPS)

Jeremiah 23:32
Behold, I am against them that prophesy lying dreams, saith Jehovah, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their vain boasting: yet I sent them not, nor commanded them; neither do they profit this people at all, saith Jehovah.
(See JPS)

Subtopics

Wantonness

Related Terms

Wishes (37 Occurrences)

Relieve (14 Occurrences)

Pattern (28 Occurrences)

Sufficient (28 Occurrences)

Wantonness (6 Occurrences)

Minister (150 Occurrences)

Fully (153 Occurrences)

Utility (1 Occurrence)

Ours (63 Occurrences)

Odor (46 Occurrences)

Oppresses (6 Occurrences)

Oaks (14 Occurrences)

Jehovah-jireh (1 Occurrence)

Jehovahjireh (1 Occurrence)

Language (112 Occurrences)

Lose (59 Occurrences)

Generously (12 Occurrences)

Generous (17 Occurrences)

Want (607 Occurrences)

Imprisonment (15 Occurrences)

Inn (7 Occurrences)

Friendship (13 Occurrences)

Fellowsoldier (2 Occurrences)

Feed (117 Occurrences)

Filleth (16 Occurrences)

Fragrant (30 Occurrences)

Failed (58 Occurrences)

Foemen (1 Occurrence)

Trusts (35 Occurrences)

Terebinths (12 Occurrences)

Trample (34 Occurrences)

Trampled (41 Occurrences)

Tending (11 Occurrences)

Talmud

Trust (201 Occurrences)

Tune (15 Occurrences)

Tend (24 Occurrences)

Ripe (29 Occurrences)

Rendering (10 Occurrences)

Rendered (30 Occurrences)

Results (16 Occurrences)

Resources (5 Occurrences)

Representative (10 Occurrences)

Rescue (92 Occurrences)

Entertainment (2 Occurrences)

Epicureans (1 Occurrence)

Enmity (23 Occurrences)

Desires (151 Occurrences)

Deny (48 Occurrences)

Dependent (35 Occurrences)

Manna (19 Occurrences)

Ministered (53 Occurrences)

Miktam (6 Occurrences)

Material (61 Occurrences)

Plains (31 Occurrences)

Poem (6 Occurrences)

Plenty (43 Occurrences)

Presents (38 Occurrences)

Practice (71 Occurrences)

Bondservant (34 Occurrences)

Blows (105 Occurrences)

Bray (3 Occurrences)

But (42052 Occurrences)

Cup (86 Occurrences)

Chooses (36 Occurrences)

Creatures (83 Occurrences)

Companion (44 Occurrences)

Carnal (11 Occurrences)

Chaldea (8 Occurrences)

Commodious (1 Occurrence)

Chorus (4 Occurrences)

Ararat (4 Occurrences)

Abstinence (2 Occurrences)

Anthropomorphism

Awakens (4 Occurrences)

Ant (1 Occurrence)

Apply (19 Occurrences)

Wantonly
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