The term "desist" is not frequently encountered in the Bible, but the concept of ceasing or refraining from certain actions is a recurring theme throughout Scripture. In the context of biblical teachings, desisting often involves stopping sinful behavior, refraining from actions that lead to unrighteousness, or halting activities that are contrary to God's will.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the idea of desisting is often associated with God's commands to His people to cease from idolatry and sinful practices. For example, in the book of Isaiah, the prophet calls the people of Israel to desist from their wicked ways and return to the Lord: "Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!" (Isaiah 1:16). Here, the call to desist is a call to repentance and a return to righteousness.

The Psalms also reflect the concept of desisting from anger and wrath. Psalm 37:8 advises, "Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm" . This verse highlights the importance of desisting from emotions and actions that lead to harm and conflict.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of desisting is closely linked to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles regarding sin and righteousness. Believers are encouraged to desist from sinful behaviors and to live in accordance with the Spirit. In Romans 6:12-13, Paul exhorts the believers, "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires. Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness" . Here, desisting from sin is part of the transformative process of living a life dedicated to God.

The apostle Peter also speaks to the need to desist from sinful desires, urging believers to live holy lives: "As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance" (1 Peter 1:14). This call to desist from former ways is a call to embrace a new identity in Christ.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the call to desist is an integral part of the process of sanctification. It involves a conscious decision to turn away from sin and to pursue holiness. This is not merely a human effort but is empowered by the Holy Spirit, who enables believers to overcome the desires of the flesh and to live in accordance with God's will.

The concept of desisting also underscores the importance of obedience and submission to God's authority. It is a recognition that God's ways are higher than human ways and that true fulfillment and peace are found in aligning one's life with His commands.

Practical Application

In practical terms, desisting involves a daily commitment to examine one's actions and attitudes in light of Scripture. It requires a willingness to repent and to seek God's guidance in overcoming areas of weakness. Believers are encouraged to rely on prayer, fellowship, and the study of God's Word as means of support in their efforts to desist from sin and to grow in righteousness.

In summary, while the specific term "desist" may not be prevalent in the biblical text, the underlying principle of ceasing from sin and turning towards God is a foundational aspect of the Christian faith. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers are called to desist from actions that are contrary to God's will and to pursue a life of holiness and obedience.(v. i.) To cease an action; to stop; as to cease and desist from an illegal enterprise; to forbear; -- often with from.447. aniemi -- to send up, produce, send back
... Definition: I let go, loosen, release, give up, neglect Definition: I send up, produce,
send back; I let go; I relax, loosen, hence met: I give up, desist from ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/447.htm - 7k

3973. pauo -- to make to cease, hinder
... cease, leave, refrain. A primary verb ("pause"); to stop (transitively or
intransitively), ie Restrain, quit, desist, come to an end -- cease, leave, refrain. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3973.htm - 7k

2664. katapauo -- to cause to cease, to rest
... cease, give rest. From kata and pauo; to settle down, ie (literally) to colonize,
or (figuratively) to (cause to) desist -- cease, (give) rest(-rain). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2664.htm - 6k

868. aphistemi -- to lead away, to depart from
... depart, fall away, refrain, withdraw self. From apo and histemi; to remove, ie
(actively) instigate to revolt; usually (reflexively) to desist, desert, etc. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/868.htm - 7k

7673. shabath -- to cease, desist, rest
... 7672, 7673. shabath. 7673a . to cease, desist, rest. Transliteration:
shabath Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-bath') Short Definition: to. ...
/hebrew/7673.htm - 5k

7673a. shabath -- to cease, desist, rest
... 7673, 7673a. shabath. 7673b . to cease, desist, rest. Transliteration:
shabath Short Definition: cease. Word Origin a prim. root ...
/hebrew/7673a.htm - 6k

2308. chadal -- to cease
... A primitive root; properly, to be flabby, ie (by implication) desist; (figuratively)
be lacking or idle -- cease, end, fall, forbear, forsake, leave (off), let ...
/hebrew/2308.htm - 6k

7725. shub -- to turn back, return
... 1), came again (1), came back (1), cause (1), certainly bring (1), certainly bring
them back (1), come back (10), converted (1), deluded (1), desist (2), draw ...
/hebrew/7725.htm - 9k

8058. shamat -- to let drop
... A primitive root; to fling down; incipiently to jostle; figuratively, to let alone,
desist, remit -- discontinue, overthrow, release, let rest, shake, stumble ...
/hebrew/8058.htm - 6k

988. batal -- to cease
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to cease NASB Word Usage stand idle (1). cease.
A primitive root; to desist from labor -- cease. 987, 988. batal. 989 . ...
/hebrew/988.htm - 5k

1082. balag -- to gleam, smile
... A primitive root; to break off or loose (in a favorable or unfavorable sense), ie
Desist (from grief) or invade (with destruction) -- comfort, (recover ...
/hebrew/1082.htm - 6k

2976. yaash -- to despair
... A primitive root; to desist, ie (figuratively) to despond -- (cause to) despair,
one that is desperate, be no hope. 2975, 2976. yaash. 2977 . ...
/hebrew/2976.htm - 6k

Letter xii (AD 1127) to Louis, King of France
... for his hostility to and injuries inflicted upon the Bishop of Paris, and declare
that they will bring the cause before the Pope if the King does not desist. ...
/.../some letters of saint bernard abbot of clairvaux/letter xii a d 1127 to.htm

How the Holy Pope Gregory Sent Augustine, with Other Monks, to ...
... holy Pope Gregory sent Augustine, with other monks, to preach to the English nation,
and encouraged them by a letter of exhortation, not to desist from their ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xxiii how the holy.htm

Of the Crowd of the Devils, and the Disturbance which they Always ...
... with open face, they would be stimulated to a greater pitch of insanity, as there
would not be a single moment in which they would see them desist from their ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xii of the crowd.htm

Fruitless Counsel.
... But still we would not consent, but even counselled him to desist from such madness,
saying to him: We, O Simon, remembering our friendship towards you from ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xxviii fruitless counsel.htm

How those are to be Admonished who Desire not the Things of Others ...
... be admonished are those who neither desire what belongs to others nor bestow what
is their own, and those who give of what they have, and yet desist not from ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter xxi how those are.htm

Matt. xv. 21, 22
... Was she silent, and did she desist? ... But it is not so with us; rather, when we fail
to obtain, we desist; whereas it ought to make us the more urgent. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lii matt xv 21.htm

Acts XXI
... We are not to understand that these entreaties were dictated by the Spirit; for
this would have made it Paul's duty to desist from his purpose; but the ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxi.htm

Matt. xxvii. 45-48.
... For if ye had attained to it, in the first place, not even so ought I to desist,
for fear of making you the more remiss; yet had ye attained, I might have ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxxxviii matt xxvii 45-48.htm

Correspondence of St. Chrysostom with the Bishop of Rome.
... point. For even after what I have mentioned he did not desist from his
deeds of iniquity, but sought to renew the former attack. ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/correspondence of st chrysostom with 2.htm

How Deceitful the Love of this World Is, and How Amiable God Is.
... Alas! Thou gentle Wisdom, did they but know it and feel it surely they would desist.
Eternal Wisdom."Listen to a wonderful and lamentable thing. ...
/.../suso/a little book of eternal wisdom/chapter vi how deceitful the.htm

Desist (12 Occurrences)
... (vi) To cease an action; to stop; as to cease and desist from an illegal enterprise;
to forbear; -- often with from. ...Desist (12 Occurrences). ...
/d/desist.htm - 9k

Leave (341 Occurrences)
... 7. (v.) To cease from; to desist from; to abstain from. ... 12. (vi) To depart; to set
out. 13. (vi) To cease; to desist; to leave off. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/l/leave.htm - 35k

Sabbath (126 Occurrences)
... sab'-ath (shabbath, shabbathon; sabbaton, ta sabbata; the root shabhath in Hebrew
means "to desist," "cease," "rest"): I. ORIGIN OF THE SABBATH 1. The Biblical ...
/s/sabbath.htm - 86k

Desirous (31 Occurrences)

/d/desirous.htm - 15k

To-night (15 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 15:16 And Samuel saith unto Saul, 'Desist, and I declare to thee that which
Jehovah hath spoken unto me to-night;' and he saith to him, 'Speak.' (YLT). ...
/t/to-night.htm - 11k

Rest (831 Occurrences)
... 12. (n.) To cease from action or motion, especially from action which has
caused weariness; to desist from labor or exertion. 13. ...
/r/rest.htm - 47k

Recede (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To withdraw a claim or pretension; to desist; to relinquish what had been
proposed or asserted; as, to recede from a demand or proposition. ...
/r/recede.htm - 7k

Depart (211 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi) To forsake; to abandon; to desist or deviate (from); not to adhere to; --
with from; as, we can not depart from our rules; to depart from a title or ...
/d/depart.htm - 36k

Desisted (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Desist. Multi-Version Concordance
Desisted (1 Occurrence). Judges 8:3 Into your hand hath ...
/d/desisted.htm - 6k

Pharaohnecoh
... According to Herodotus he was obliged to desist from the undertaking in consequence
of the mortality among the laborers, and it was left to Darius to complete. ...
/p/pharaohnecoh.htm - 11k

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