Definition and Meaning:
The term "aloof" generally refers to being distant, detached, or uninvolved, either physically or emotionally. In a biblical context, it often describes a lack of engagement or concern, particularly in relationships or spiritual matters.

Biblical Usage and Context:
While the specific word "aloof" may not frequently appear in most English translations of the Bible, the concept is present in various passages that describe individuals or groups who are emotionally or spiritually distant. This detachment can manifest in several ways, including indifference to the suffering of others, a lack of participation in communal worship, or a failure to engage with God's commandments.

Scriptural Examples:

1. Indifference to Suffering:
In the book of Job, Job's friends initially come to comfort him but eventually become critical and unsympathetic. Their emotional distance and lack of true understanding can be seen as a form of aloofness. Job laments their behavior, saying, "My relatives stay far away, and my friends have turned against me" (Job 19:13). This illustrates how aloofness can exacerbate the suffering of those in distress.

2. Spiritual Detachment:
The prophets often rebuked the Israelites for their spiritual aloofness, particularly when they turned away from God to follow idols. In Isaiah, God expresses His frustration with the people's superficial worship: "These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me" (Isaiah 29:13). This passage highlights the danger of being spiritually aloof, where outward actions do not reflect true devotion.

3. Failure to Act Justly:
In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus contrasts the aloofness of the priest and the Levite, who pass by the injured man without helping, with the compassion of the Samaritan. The priest and Levite's decision to remain uninvolved serves as a warning against the sin of omission and the importance of active compassion.

Theological Implications:
Aloofness, particularly in a spiritual sense, is often seen as a barrier to genuine relationship with God and others. It can lead to a hardened heart, making it difficult to respond to God's call or to the needs of those around us. The Bible encourages believers to be engaged and compassionate, reflecting God's love and justice in their interactions.

Practical Application:
Christians are called to overcome aloofness by actively participating in their faith communities, showing empathy and support to those in need, and maintaining a close relationship with God through prayer and obedience. By doing so, they fulfill the commandment to love God and neighbor, as emphasized in Matthew 22:37-39.

Related Concepts:
· Compassion
· Empathy
· Indifference
· Spiritual Apathy
· Community Engagement

Further Reading:
For more on the dangers of spiritual aloofness and the call to active faith, see the books of Isaiah and James, as well as Jesus' teachings in the Gospels.(adv.) Without sympathy or desire to associate with others.

4724. stello -- to arrange, prepare, gather up, hence to restrain
... stel'-lo) Short Definition: I arrange, take care, withdraw from Definition: I set,
arrange; mid: I provide for, take care, withdraw from, hold aloof, avoid. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4724.htm - 6k

873. aphorizo -- to mark off by boundaries from, ie set apart
... Word Origin from apo and horizo Definition to mark off by boundaries from, ie set
apart NASB Word Usage hold...aloof (1), ostracize (1), separate (2 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/873.htm - 8k

817. ater -- without
... in the absence of, without. A particle probably akin to aneu; aloof, ie Apart from
(literally or figuratively) -- in the absence of, without. see GREEK aneu. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/817.htm - 6k

4026. periistemi -- to stand around, turn around (to avoid)
... From peri and histemi; to stand all around, ie (near) to be a bystander, or (aloof)
to keep away from -- avoid, shun, stand by (round about). see GREEK peri. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4026.htm - 8k

5048. neged -- in front of, in sight of, opposite to
... Word Origin from nagad Definition in front of, in sight of, opposite to NASB Word
Usage against (3), aloof* (3), away (1), before (60), broad (1), demoralized ...
/hebrew/5048.htm - 6k

5144. nazar -- to dedicate, consecrate
... A primitive root; to hold aloof, ie (intransitivey) abstain (from food and drink,
from impurity, and even from divine worship (ie Apostatize)); specifically ...
/hebrew/5144.htm - 5k

7368. rachaq -- to be or become far or distant
... 1), remove you far (1), remove...far (1), removed and far (1), removed my far (2),
removed them far (1), removed...far (1), shun (1), stand aloof (1), went far ...
/hebrew/7368.htm - 6k

4480. min -- from
... 2), across* (3), addition* (1), after (16), after* (5), against (13), against*
(7), all (1), all alone* (1), all* (4), alone (2), alone* (2), aloof* (3), among ...
/hebrew/4480.htm - 8k

Let us Stand Aloof from Such Heretics.
... Chapter VII."Let us stand aloof from such heretics. They abstain from the
Eucharist and from prayer, [1016] because they confess ...
/.../the epistle of ignatius to the smyrnaeans/chapter vii let us stand aloof.htm

Recreant Reuben
... II. The reason for standing aloof. Reuben 'abode in the sheepfolds to hear the pipings
to the flocks.' For Dan his ships, for Asher his havens held them apart. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/recreant reuben.htm

War! War! War!
... Not that this nation of England should touch it; God forbid. If tyrants fight,
let them fight; let free men stand aloof. ... We stand aloof. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/war war war.htm

Fifth Tractate. On Love.
... neither desirous nor capable of descending to this sphere, never having developed
the downward tendency, a divine Hypostasis essentially aloof, so unreservedly ...
//christianbookshelf.org/plotinus/the six enneads/fifth tractate on love.htm

Epistle xii. --To the Alexandrians.
... training and probation. For it by no means kept aloof from us, although
it spread with greatest violence among the heathen. 4. To ...
/.../dionysius/the works of dionysius/epistle xii to the alexandrians.htm

On Admonition and Repentance.
... 2. Thou canst not hear His words, while thou dost not know thyself; and if thou
keepest His judgments while thy understanding is aloof from Him, who will give ...
/.../hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/on admonition and repentance.htm

St. Chrysostom as a Homilist.
... Even when severely rebuking, when blazing with indignation, he never seems alien,
never stands aloof, but throws himself among them, in a very transport of ...
/.../st chrysostom as a homilist.htm

Rom. I. 8
... For even when I was hindered he means, I did not stand aloof from the attempt, but
I kept attempting always yet was always hindered, yet never did I stand ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily ii rom i 8.htm

Toleration
... to visit that man's soul, and cherish it, and teach it, and shape it (be it ever
so little) into His own likeness: and shall we dare to stand aloof from him ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon xxi toleration.htm

Guelf and Ghibelline. (ii)
... Thus when Frederick reached Palestine the Templars and Hospitallers held aloof,
while the Mendicant Orders preached against him; and when, in accordance with ...
/.../medley/the church and the empire/chapter xv guelf and ghibelline.htm

Aloof (15 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Aloof (15 Occurrences). ... (See NAS). 1 Thessalonians
5:22 Hold yourselves aloof from every form of evil. (WEY DBY). ...
/a/aloof.htm - 10k

Refrain (33 Occurrences)
... govern. 2. (vt) To abstain from. 3. (vi) To keep one's self from action
or interference; to hold aloof; to forbear; to abstain. 4 ...
/r/refrain.htm - 16k

Alongside (10 Occurrences)

/a/alongside.htm - 10k

Quarreling (17 Occurrences)
... end. (See RSV). Proverbs 20:3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife;
but every fool will be quarreling. (WEB RSV). Proverbs ...
/q/quarreling.htm - 11k

Quarrelling (5 Occurrences)
... is quarrelling. (ASV). Proverbs 20:3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof
from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling. (ASV). ...
/q/quarrelling.htm - 8k

Origin (25 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Acts 5:38 And now I tell you to hold aloof from these men and leave them
alone--for if this scheme or work is of human origin, it will come to nothing. ...
/o/origin.htm - 13k

Justus (3 Occurrences)
... there had lost its first warmth, and when in consequence, probably, of their fear
of persecution, most of them had proved untrue and were holding aloof from him ...
/j/justus.htm - 12k

Lovers (57 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Psalms 38:11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague.
My kinsmen stand far away. (WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT). ...
/l/lovers.htm - 24k

Greedy (24 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 5:10 not that in this world you are to keep wholly aloof from such
as they, any more than from people who are avaricious and greedy of gain, or ...
/g/greedy.htm - 13k

Wholly (67 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 5:10 not that in this world you are to keep wholly aloof from such
as they, any more than from people who are avaricious and greedy of gain, or ...
/w/wholly.htm - 26k

What does the Bible say about the evangelization of children? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that God is transcendent? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Isaiah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Aloof: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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