In the context of the Bible, the term "denounce" refers to the act of publicly declaring a person, action, or belief to be wrong or evil. This concept is prevalent throughout the Scriptures, where prophets, apostles, and even Jesus Himself denounce sin, false teachings, and unrighteousness.

Old Testament Usage

The Old Testament frequently records instances where prophets were called by God to denounce the sins of Israel and surrounding nations. For example, the prophet Jeremiah was tasked with proclaiming God's judgment against the people of Judah for their idolatry and disobedience. In Jeremiah 1:10 , God says to Jeremiah, "See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant." This mandate included denouncing the people's sins and calling them to repentance.

Similarly, the prophet Amos denounced the social injustices and religious hypocrisy of Israel. In Amos 5:21-24 , God, through Amos, declares, "I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; I will have no regard for your peace offerings of fattened cattle. But let justice roll on like a river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ Himself often denounced the religious leaders of His day for their hypocrisy and legalism. In Matthew 23, Jesus delivers a series of "woes" to the scribes and Pharisees, denouncing their behavior. Matthew 23:27-28 states, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."

The apostles also engaged in denouncing false teachings and immoral behavior within the early church. The Apostle Paul, in his letters, often warned against false teachers and urged believers to hold fast to the truth. In Galatians 1:8-9 , Paul writes, "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse! As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse!"

Theological Implications

Denouncing sin and falsehood is an integral part of maintaining the purity and integrity of the faith. It serves as a call to repentance and a warning against the consequences of disobedience to God's commands. The act of denouncing is not merely an expression of judgment but is often accompanied by a call to return to righteousness and truth.

Practical Application

For believers today, the biblical principle of denouncing sin and falsehood remains relevant. Christians are called to stand firm in their faith, to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), and to expose the deeds of darkness (Ephesians 5:11). This requires discernment, courage, and a commitment to uphold the teachings of Scripture in a world that often opposes them.1. (v. t.) To declare; to publicly proclaim; as to denounce an injustice.

2. (v. t.) To proclaim in a threatening manner; to threaten by some outward sign or expression.

3. (v. t.) To point out as deserving of reprehension or punishment, etc.; to accuse in a threatening manner; to invoke censure upon; to stigmatize.

DENOUNCE

de-nouns': Occurs in Deuteronomy 30:18: "I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish." It is used here in the obsolete sense of "to declare," to make known in a solemn manner. It is not found in the Bible with the regular meaning of "to censure," "arraign," etc.

3679. oneidizo -- to reproach
... Word Origin from oneidos Definition to reproach NASB Word Usage denounce (1), insult
(2), insulting (2), reproach (1), reproached (2), reviled (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3679.htm - 7k5046. nagad -- to be conspicuous
... answered (3), another (1), certainly told (1), confess (1), confront* (1), declare
(46), declared (13), declares (6), declaring (4), denounce (2), describe (1 ...
/hebrew/5046.htm - 6k

2194. zaam -- to be indignant
... root Definition to be indignant NASB Word Usage abhor (1), angry (1), become enraged
(1), been indignant (1), cursed (2), denounce (2), denounced (1 ...
/hebrew/2194.htm - 6k

Whether the Precept of Fraternal Correction Demands that a Private ...
... admonition should precede public denunciation. Objection 3: Further, it is
a graver matter to accuse than to denounce. Now one may go ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the precept of fraternal.htm

Who are These Men who are Wont to Dispute at Such Great Length in ...
... Anastasius and Theophilus, Venerius and Chromatius, and the whole council of the
Catholics both in the East and in the West, who publicly denounce him as a ...
/.../22 who are these men.htm

The Cardinal was Seated, -- He Rose as Moretti Appeared. ...
... And I find these heretics kept in countenance by Cardinal Felix Bonpre, whose
reputation for justice and holiness should surely move him to denounce them were ...
/.../corelli/the master-christian/xv the cardinal was seated.htm

God's Word not to be Refused
... They ought to denounce themselves, and patiently seek mercy, but this is not palatable
to them; they would rather denounce the preacher, or denounce the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 61 1915/gods word not to be.htm

Whether He Sins who Demands an Oath of a Perjurer?
... to it: if he do not utter it, he shall bear his iniquity." Hence it would seem that
when a man knows another to be swearing falsely, he is bound to denounce him ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether he sins who demands.htm

Whether it is Necessary to Proceed by Way of Accusation for the ...
... But this happens in marriage, for if he was silent at first when the marriage was
being contracted, he cannot denounce the marriage afterwards without laying ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is necessary to 4.htm

Fresh Troubles
... advanced into the assembly, holding in his hand a written document, and with an
air and tone of intense indignation cried that he had come to denounce a series ...
/.../chapter xxxviii fresh troubles.htm

Protest and Agony. (I, iv. 10, 19, vi. 11, xi. 18-xii. 6, xv. 10 ...
... Sympathetic with the aims and the start of the greatest reform in Israel's history,
he grew sceptical of its progress and had to denounce the dogmas into which ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/1 protest and agony i.htm

The Last Days of Augusta, 1560-1572.
... He must eschew the gatherings of Waldenses, Picards and all other apostates, denounce
their teaching as depraved, and recognise the Church of Rome as the one ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter xl the last days.htm

The Method of the New Theology, and Some of Its Applications
... it is submitted to. I am not sure but that if Christ were among us He would
not denounce the Pharisee as He did of old. But it is ...
/.../berkhof/new evangelism and other papers/the method of the new.htm

Denounce (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To declare; to publicly proclaim; as to denounce
an injustice. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DENOUNCE. ...
/d/denounce.htm - 9k

Revenge (13 Occurrences)
...Denounce, and we will denounce him, say all my familiar friends, those who watch
for my fall; perhaps he will be persuaded, and we shall prevail against him ...
/r/revenge.htm - 12k

Defaming (3 Occurrences)
...Denounce, and we will denounce him, say all my familiar friends, those who watch
for my fall; perhaps he will be persuaded, and we shall prevail against him ...
/d/defaming.htm - 8k

Persuaded (40 Occurrences)
...Denounce, and we will denounce him, say all my familiar friends, those who watch
for my fall; perhaps he will be persuaded, and we shall prevail against him ...
/p/persuaded.htm - 18k

Slip (22 Occurrences)
...Denounce, and we will denounce him, say all my familiar friends, those who watch
for my fall; perhaps he will be persuaded, and we shall prevail against him ...
/s/slip.htm - 16k

Prevail (50 Occurrences)
...Denounce, and we will denounce him, say all my familiar friends, those who watch
for my fall; perhaps he will be persuaded, and we shall prevail against him ...
/p/prevail.htm - 22k

Familiar (35 Occurrences)
...Denounce, and we will denounce him, say all my familiar friends, those who watch
for my fall; perhaps he will be persuaded, and we shall prevail against him ...
/f/familiar.htm - 22k

Perhaps (89 Occurrences)
...Denounce, and we will denounce him, say all my familiar friends, those who watch
for my fall; perhaps he will be persuaded, and we shall prevail against him ...
/p/perhaps.htm - 34k

Jude (4 Occurrences)
... What they do not know, as something lofty and noble, they deride and denounce; what
they know is that which ministers to their disordered appetites and their ...
/j/jude.htm - 40k

Gehazi (14 Occurrences)
... On this latter occasion he was guilty of duplicity and dishonesty of conduct, causing
Elisha to denounce his crime with righteous sternness, and pass on him ...
/g/gehazi.htm - 19k

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