Jump to: ATS • ISBE • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical context, the concept of "answer" encompasses both the act of responding to questions or situations and the divine responses provided by God to His people. The term is used in various ways throughout Scripture, reflecting both human interaction and divine communication.Human Responses 1. Communication and Wisdom: The Bible emphasizes the importance of providing thoughtful and wise answers. Proverbs 15:1 states, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." This highlights the power of a well-considered response in maintaining peace and harmony. Similarly, Proverbs 15:28 notes, "The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil." 2. Truthfulness and Integrity: Believers are encouraged to answer truthfully and with integrity. Colossians 4:6 advises, "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." This underscores the importance of grace and truth in communication. 3. Defense of Faith: Christians are called to be prepared to answer questions about their faith. 1 Peter 3:15 instructs, "But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you, but respond with gentleness and respect." Divine Responses 1. God's Answers to Prayer: The Bible assures believers that God hears and answers prayers. In Jeremiah 33:3 , God promises, "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know." This verse reflects the assurance that God responds to the prayers of His people with wisdom and revelation. 2. God's Timing and Will: While God answers prayers, His responses are according to His perfect will and timing. Isaiah 65:24 declares, "Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear." This illustrates God's omniscience and readiness to respond even before requests are made. 3. Examples of Divine Answers: Throughout the Bible, there are numerous instances where God provides direct answers to His people. For example, in 1 Kings 18:24 , Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal, saying, "Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The God who answers by fire, He is God." This event demonstrates God's power and willingness to answer in a dramatic and unmistakable way. Judgment and Accountability 1. Answering to God: Ultimately, all individuals will answer to God for their actions. Romans 14:12 states, "So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God." This accountability underscores the seriousness of our responses and actions in life. 2. Final Judgment: In the context of the final judgment, Revelation 20:12 describes, "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books." This passage highlights the ultimate answering before God, where each person's life is reviewed. In summary, the concept of "answer" in the Bible is multifaceted, involving human communication, divine responses, and the ultimate accountability before God. The Scriptures provide guidance on how to answer wisely and truthfully while assuring believers of God's attentive and purposeful responses to their prayers. ATS Bible Dictionary AnswerBesides the common use of this word in the sense of to reply, it is very often used in the bible, following the Hebrew and Greek idioms, in the sense of to speak; meaning simply that one begins or resumes his discourse, Zechariah 3:4; 6:4; Matthew 11:25; 12:38; Luke 7:40. It also means, to sing in choruses or responses, 1 Samuel 18:7; and to give account of one's self in judgment, Genesis 30:33; Job 9:3. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) To speak in defense against; to reply to in defense; as, to answer a charge; to answer an accusation.2. (n.) To speak or write in return to, as in return to a call or question, or to a speech, declaration, argument, or the like; to reply to (a question, remark, etc.); to respond to. 3. (n.) To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification, and the like; to refute. 4. (n.) To be or act in return or response to. 5. (n.) To be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or satisfaction of, as an order, obligation, demand; as, he answered my claim upon him; the servant answered the bell. 6. (n.) To render account to or for. 7. (n.) To atone; to be punished for. 8. (n.) To be opposite to; to face. 9. (n.) To be or act an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay. 10. (n.) To be or act in accommodation, conformity, relation, or proportion to; to correspond to; to suit. 11. (v. i.) To speak or write by way of return (originally, to a charge), or in reply; to make response. 12. (v. i.) To make a satisfactory response or return. 13. (v. i.) To render account, or to be responsible; to be accountable; to make amends; as, the man must answer to his employer for the money entrusted to his care. 14. (v. i.) To be or act in return. 15. (v. i.) To be or act by way of compliance, fulfillment, reciprocation, or satisfaction; to serve the purpose; as, gypsum answers as a manure on some soils. 16. (v. i.) To be opposite, or to act in opposition. 17. (v. i.) To be or act as an equivalent, or as adequate or sufficient; as, a very few will answer. 18. (v. i.) To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation, correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to suit; -- usually with to. 19. (n.) A reply to a change; a defense. 20. (n.) Something said or written in reply to a question, a call, an argument, an address, or the like; a reply. 21. (n.) Something done in return for, or in consequence of, something else; a responsive action. 22. (n.) A solution, the result of a mathematical operation; as, the answer to a problem. 23. (n.) A counter-statement of facts in a course of pleadings; a confutation of what the other party has alleged; a responsive declaration by a witness in reply to a question. In Equity, it is the usual form of defense to the complainant's charges in his bill. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia ANSWERan'-ser: In our English Bible the word "answer" does not always mean a simple reply to a question. Greek 611. apokrinomai -- to answer ... to answer. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apokrinomai Phonetic Spelling: (ap-ok-ree'-nom-ahee) Short Definition: I answer, reply Definition: I answer ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/611.htm - 8k 470. antapokrinomai -- to answer again 5271. hupokrinomai -- to answer, reply, to answer on a stage, to ... 610. apokrima -- a judicial sentence, by ext. an answer 2036 -- answer, bid, bring word, command 3385. meti -- can this be? (interrog. particle expecting a neg. ... 5272. hupokrisis -- a reply, answer, playacting, hypocrisy 5537. chrematizo -- to transact business, to make answer 612. apokrisis -- an answering 5274. hupolambano -- to take or bear up, to receive, to assume Strong's Hebrew 6030a. anah -- to answer, respond... 6030, 6030a. anah. 6030b . to answer, respond. Transliteration: anah Short Definition: answered. Word Origin a prim. root Definition ... /hebrew/6030a.htm - 6k 4617. maaneh -- an answer, response 8666. teshubah -- a return, answer 6032. anah -- to answer 6030. anah -- to answer, respond 6600. pithgam -- a command, word, affair 7725. shub -- to turn back, return 1697. dabar -- speech, word 4405. millah -- a word, speech, utterance 559. amar -- to utter, say Library An Answer to the Jews The Answer to Trust The Answer to the First Letter. The Answer to the Second Letter. The Answer to the Fifth Letter. The Answer to a Sixth Letter, The Answer to the Third Letter. The Answer to the Fourth Letter. The Answer to Prayer The Answer to a Seventh Letter, Thesaurus Answer (2099 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) To speak in defense against; to reply to in defense; as, to answer a charge; to answer an accusation. ... /a/answer.htm - 10k Answer-saying (1 Occurrence) Respond (21 Occurrences) Plea (35 Occurrences) Advise (10 Occurrences) Counselling (9 Occurrences) Catechist Answerable (7 Occurrences) Questions (76 Occurrences) Somewhat (30 Occurrences) Resources What does it mean that Jesus is the answer? | GotQuestions.orgIs GotQuestions.org affiliated with the “Bible Answer Man,” Hank Hanegraaff? | GotQuestions.org Does God answer prayers? | GotQuestions.org Answer: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Answer (2099 Occurrences)Answer is used 2099 times in 12 translations. You can narrow your search using the Advanced Bible Search. Subtopics Related Terms Responsibility (17 Occurrences) |
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