Topical Bible: Warn

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Topical Encyclopedia

The concept of warning is a significant theme throughout the Bible, serving as a divine tool for guidance, correction, and protection. Warnings in Scripture are often issued by God, prophets, apostles, and Jesus Christ Himself, urging individuals and nations to turn from sin, heed divine instruction, and avoid impending judgment or disaster.

Old Testament Warnings

In the Old Testament, God frequently warns His people through prophets. For instance, in the book of Ezekiel, God appoints Ezekiel as a watchman for the house of Israel, saying, "When I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, but I will hold you responsible for his blood" (Ezekiel 3:18). This passage underscores the responsibility of the prophet to deliver God's warnings faithfully.

The account of Noah is another prominent example. God warns Noah of the impending flood and instructs him to build an ark to save his family and the animals (Genesis 6:13-22). Noah's obedience to God's warning exemplifies faith and righteousness.

Warnings in the Law

The Mosaic Law contains numerous warnings intended to guide the Israelites in their covenant relationship with God. Deuteronomy 28 outlines blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, serving as a comprehensive warning to the nation of Israel. The Israelites are cautioned against idolatry, injustice, and neglecting the commandments, with clear consequences for failing to heed these warnings.

New Testament Warnings

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ issues warnings about spiritual vigilance and the coming judgment. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus warns, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it" (Matthew 7:13). This warning emphasizes the importance of choosing the path of righteousness and the difficulty of the journey.

The Apostle Paul also provides numerous warnings in his epistles. In 1 Corinthians 10:12, he cautions believers, "So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall" . Paul warns against complacency and the dangers of overconfidence in one's spiritual state.

Warnings in Revelation

The book of Revelation contains apocalyptic warnings about the end times. The letters to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 include specific warnings to each church, urging repentance and faithfulness. Revelation 3:3 warns the church in Sardis, "Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you" .

Purpose and Response to Warnings

Biblical warnings serve to call individuals and communities to repentance, encourage moral and spiritual vigilance, and prevent spiritual and physical harm. The appropriate response to divine warnings is repentance, obedience, and faith. Throughout Scripture, those who heed God's warnings are often spared from judgment and receive His blessings, while those who ignore them face dire consequences.

Warnings in the Bible are not merely punitive but are expressions of God's love and desire for His people to live in accordance with His will. They are integral to the biblical narrative, reflecting God's justice, mercy, and sovereignty.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (v. t.) To refuse.

2. (v. t.) To make ware or aware; to give previous information to; to give notice to; to notify; to admonish; hence, to notify or summon by authority; as, to warn a town meeting; to warn a tenant to quit a house.

3. (v. t.) To give notice to, of approaching or probable danger or evil; to caution against anything that may prove injurious.

4. (v. t.) To ward off.

Greek

3560. noutheteo -- to admonish, exhort
... to admonish, exhort. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: noutheteo Phonetic Spelling:
(noo-thet-eh'-o) Short Definition: I admonish, warn, counsel Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3560.htm - 7k

5263. hupodeiknumi -- to show secretly, to show by tracing out, to ...
... known. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: hupodeiknumi Phonetic Spelling:
(hoop-od-ike'-noo-mee) Short Definition: I show plainly, teach, warn Definition: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5263.htm - 6k

2008. epitimao -- to honor, to mete out due measure, hence to ...
... to censure. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epitimao Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-ee-tee-mah'-o) Short Definition: I rebuke, chide, admonish, warn Definition: ( ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2008.htm - 8k

5537. chrematizo -- to transact business, to make answer
... transact business, to make answer. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: chrematizo
Phonetic Spelling: (khray-mat-id'-zo) Short Definition: I warn, am publicly ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5537.htm - 8k

546. apeileo -- to threaten
... by threatening. Word Origin from apeile Definition to threaten NASB Word Usage
uttered...threats (1), warn (1). threaten. Of uncertain ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/546.htm - 6k

4302. prolego -- to say beforehand, ie to predict
... Gal 5:21; 1 Thes 3:4). To this by () requires us to have a holy boldness to share
an important opinion (judgment) to warn or prepare someone. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4302.htm - 7k

1263. diamarturomai -- to affirm solemnly
... testified (2), solemnly testifies (1), solemnly testifying (3), solemnly warned
(1), solemnly witnessed (1), testified (1), testify solemnly (1), warn (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1263.htm - 8k

Strong's Hebrew

2094b. zahar -- to warn
... 2094a, 2094b. zahar. 2095 . to warn. Transliteration: zahar Short Definition:
warned. Word Origin a prim. root Definition to warn ...
/hebrew/2094b.htm - 5k

2095. zehar -- to warn.
... 2094b, 2095. zehar. 2096 . to warn. Transliteration ... heed. Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to zahar Definition to warn. take heed ...
/hebrew/2095.htm - 5k

5749b. ud -- to bear witness
... Definition to bear witness NASB Word Usage admonish (2), admonished (6), call (5),
called (1), gave witness (1), give warning (1), solemnly warn (2), solemnly ...
/hebrew/5749b.htm - 5k

2094. zahar -- to be light or shining
... admonish, shine, teach, give warning A primitive root; to gleam; figuratively, to
enlighten (by caution) -- admonish, shine, teach, (give) warn(-ing). ...
/hebrew/2094.htm - 5k

Library

I Write These Things to Warn You.
... Chapter XI."I write these things to warn you. These things [I address
to you], my beloved, not that I know any of you to be in ...
/.../the epistle of ignatius to the magnesians/chapter xi i write these things.htm

Accordingly, I Think that it is Well to Warn Studious and Able ...
... Book 2 Chapter 58. Accordingly, I think that it is well to warn studious
and able young men? 58. Accordingly, I think that it ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 58 accordingly i think.htm

The Removal of Our Children by Such Awful Strokes May Warn us of ...
... 2. THE Removal of our Children by such awful Strokes may warn us of the
Approach of our own Death. HEREBY GOD doth very sensibly ...
/.../2 the removal of our.htm

Thou Shalt in any Wise Rebuke Thy Neighbor, and not Suffer Sin ...
... we shall reprove his sins. Love to the intemperate induces us to warn
him of the consequences of his course. Suppose we see our ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/thou shalt in any wise.htm

A Consecrated Ministry
... the Lord declares: "O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel;
therefore thou shalt hear the word at My mouth, and warn them from Me. ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 34 a consecrated ministry.htm

True Christianity Defended
... 1. "When I bring the sword upon a land, saith the Lord, if the watchman blow the
trumpet, and warn the people; then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 134 true christianity defended.htm

Jeremiah's Roll Burned and Reproduced
... Even His love must compel God to punish, and to warn before He does. Surely that
is kind. ... Blindness to all signs and hostility to the men that warn. ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture h/jeremiahs roll burned and reproduced.htm

On the Character and Teaching of the Bishop.
... When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn
the wicked from his wickedness, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec ii on the character and.htm

Knowing that a Man is not Justified by the Work of the Law, but by ...
... Now, suppose it was your duty, on the first of January, to warn a certain individual,
who is now dead. Are you under obligation to warn that individual? No. ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/knowing that a man is.htm

1 John iv. 1-3
... extinguished. Against both these errors, Paul thought it necessary to warn
the church at Thessalonica. (1 Thess. v.19, ff.). The ...
//christianbookshelf.org/neander/the first epistle of john/1 john iv 3-jan.htm

Thesaurus

Warn (35 Occurrences)
... To make ware or aware; to give previous information to; to give notice to; to notify;
to admonish; hence, to notify or summon by authority; as, to warn a town ...
/w/warn.htm - 17k

Admonish (13 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To warn or notify of a fault; to reprove
gently or kindly, but seriously; to exhort. 2. (vt) To ...
/a/admonish.htm - 10k

Warning (30 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Warn. 2. (a.) Giving previous
notice; cautioning; admonishing; as, a warning voice. 3. (n.) Previous notice. ...
/w/warning.htm - 15k

Dissuade (2 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 3:18 When I tell the wicked, You shall surely die; and you give him no warning,
nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the ...
/d/dissuade.htm - 7k

Accountable (10 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 3:18 When I tell the wicked, You shall surely die; and you give him no warning,
nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the ...
/a/accountable.htm - 10k

Warned (63 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Warn. Multi-Version Concordance
Warned (63 Occurrences). Matthew 2:12 Being warned in a ...
/w/warned.htm - 25k

Speakest (30 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest
him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save ...
/s/speakest.htm - 15k

Require (46 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 3:18 When I tell the wicked, You shall surely die; and you give him no warning,
nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the ...
/r/require.htm - 22k

Killing (41 Occurrences)
... Luke 12:5 I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who after killing has power to
throw into Gehenna: yes, I say to you, fear him. (WEY YLT NIV). ...
/k/killing.htm - 19k

Killed (352 Occurrences)
... (See NAS NIV). Luke 12:5 But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear him, who
after he has killed, has power to cast into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear him. ...
/k/killed.htm - 36k

Resources

Why did Jesus warn against saying the word 'raca' in Matthew 5:22? | GotQuestions.org

If our salvation is eternally secure, why does the Bible warn so strongly against apostasy? | GotQuestions.org

What are watchmen in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Warn: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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

Concordance

Warn (35 Occurrences)

Luke 12:5
But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear him, who after he has killed, has power to cast into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Luke 16:28
For I have five brothers. Let him earnestly warn them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'
(WEY NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 4:17
but that it may spread no further toward the people, let us strictly threaten them no more to speak in this name to any man.'
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 20:31
Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
(KJV WBS YLT NIV)

Romans 12:3
For through the authority graciously given to me I warn every individual among you not to value himself unduly, but to cultivate sobriety of judgement in accordance with the amount of faith which God has allotted to each one.
(WEY)

1 Corinthians 4:14
I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
(KJV WBS NIV)

1 Corinthians 7:29
Yet of this I warn you, brethren: the time has been shortened--so that henceforth those who have wives should be as though they had none,
(WEY)

2 Corinthians 13:2
Those who cling to their old sins, and indeed all of you, I have forewarned and still forewarn (as I did on my second visit when present, so I do now, though absent)
(Root in WEY RSV NIV)

Galatians 5:21
envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
(Root in WEB WEY ASV NAS RSV NIV)

Ephesians 4:17
Therefore I warn you, and I implore you in the name of the Master, no longer to live as the Gentiles in their perverseness live,
(WEY)

1 Thessalonians 5:14
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
(KJV WBS NIV)

2 Thessalonians 3:15
Don't count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
(See RSV NIV)

1 Timothy 4:6
If you warn the brethren of these dangers you will be a good and faithful servant of Christ Jesus, inwardly feeding on the lessons of the faith and of the sound teaching of which you have been, and are, so close a follower.
(WEY)

Titus 3:10
Avoid a factious man after a first and second warning;
(Root in WEB NAS NIV)

Revelation 22:18
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book.
(See RSV NIV)

Exodus 19:21
Yahweh said to Moses, "Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to Yahweh to gaze, and many of them perish.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 8:19
And it shall be, if thou shalt forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I forewarn you this day that ye shall surely perish.
(Root in JPS RSV)

1 Samuel 8:9
Now therefore hearken unto their voice; howbeit thou shalt earnestly forewarn them, and shalt declare unto them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.'
(Root in JPS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 2:42
The king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, "Didn't I adjure you by Yahweh, and warn you, saying,'Know for certain, that on the day you go out, and walk abroad any where, you shall surely die?' You said to me,'The saying that I have heard is good.'
(WEB JPS NAS NIV)

2 Kings 6:10
The king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of; and he saved himself there, not once nor twice.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 9:29
and didst forewarn them, that Thou mightest bring them back unto Thy law; yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto Thy commandments, but sinned against Thine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live by them, and presented a stubborn shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
(Root in JPS RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 9:30
Yet many years didst Thou extend mercy unto them, and didst forewarn them by Thy spirit through Thy prophets; yet would they not give ear; therefore gavest Thou them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.
(Root in JPS RSV)

Psalms 81:8
"Hear, my people, and I will testify to you, Israel, if you would listen to me!
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 4:16
Make this come to the minds of the nations, make a statement openly against Jerusalem, that attackers are coming from a far country and their voices will be loud against the towns of Judah.
(See RSV)

Jeremiah 42:19
The LORD hath spoken concerning you, O remnant of Judah: Go ye not into Egypt; know certainly that I have forewarned you this day.
(Root in JPS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 3:17
Son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 3:18
When I tell the wicked, You shall surely die; and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at your hand.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 3:19
Yet if you warn the wicked, and he doesn't turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 3:20
Again, when a righteous man does turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die: because you have not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at your hand.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 3:21
Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man, that the righteous not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning; and you have delivered your soul.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 33:3
if, when he sees the sword come on the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 33:6
But if the watchman sees the sword come, and doesn't blow the trumpet, and the people aren't warned, and the sword comes, and take any person from among them; he is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 33:7
So you, son of man, I have set you a watchman to the house of Israel; therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 33:8
When I tell the wicked, O wicked man, you shall surely die, and you don't speak to warn the wicked from his way; that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at your hand.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 33:9
Nevertheless, if you warn the wicked of his way to turn from it, and he doesn't turn from his way; he shall die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your soul.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Warn

Related Terms

Warn (35 Occurrences)

Vipers (10 Occurrences)

Offspring (186 Occurrences)

Johanan (31 Occurrences)

Withdrew (55 Occurrences)

Warns (4 Occurrences)

Warning (30 Occurrences)

Warneth (1 Occurrence)

Wealthy (22 Occurrences)