Definition and Usage:
The term "despite" in the biblical context often refers to feelings or actions of contempt, scorn, or disregard. It is used to describe attitudes or behaviors that show a lack of respect or value for something or someone, often in defiance of God's commands or authority.

Biblical References:

1. Hebrews 10:29 :
"How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?"
In this passage, the word "insulted" is synonymous with "despite," indicating a willful rejection and scorn of the grace offered through Jesus Christ. The verse warns of the severe consequences for those who treat the sacrifice of Christ with contempt.

2. Ezekiel 25:6 :
"For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the malice of your heart against the land of Israel...’"
Here, the actions of clapping and stamping feet are expressions of scorn and malice, showing a heart filled with despite against God's chosen people. This attitude is condemned by God, who sees and judges the intentions of the heart.

3. Proverbs 1:30 :
"They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof."
The term "despised" reflects an attitude of despite towards wisdom and correction. In Proverbs, this rejection of divine wisdom leads to one's downfall, illustrating the folly of disregarding God's guidance.

Theological Implications:

· Rejection of Divine Authority:
Despite is often associated with a rejection of God's authority and commands. It reflects a heart that is hardened and resistant to divine instruction, leading to spiritual peril.

· Consequences of Scorn:
The Bible consistently warns of the consequences of treating God, His Word, or His people with contempt. Such attitudes can lead to judgment and separation from God's blessings.

· Call to Humility and Repentance:
Scripture calls believers to humility and repentance, contrasting the attitude of despite. Recognizing one's own tendencies towards scorn and turning back to God is a recurring theme, emphasizing the need for a contrite heart.

Practical Application:

· Self-Examination:
Believers are encouraged to examine their hearts for any attitudes of despite towards God or others. This involves recognizing areas where one may be resisting God's authority or disregarding His commands.

· Cultivating Respect and Reverence:
The opposite of despite is reverence. Christians are called to cultivate a deep respect for God, His Word, and His creation, fostering an attitude of humility and obedience.

· Interpersonal Relationships:
In relationships with others, believers are urged to avoid contempt and scorn, instead showing love, respect, and understanding, reflecting the character of Christ in all interactions.1. (prep.) In spite of; notwithstanding; against, or in defiance of; as, despite his prejudices.

2. (n.) Malice; malignity; spite; malicious anger; contemptuous hate.

3. (n.) An act of malice, hatred, or defiance; contemptuous defiance; a deed of contempt.

4. (n.) To vex; to annoy; to offend contemptuously.

DESPITE; DESPITEFUL

de-spit', de-spit'-fool: "Despite" is from Latin despectus, "a looking down upon." As a noun (= "contempt") it is now generally used in its shortened form, "spite," while the longer form is used as a preposition (= "in spite of"). In English Versions of the Bible it is always a noun. In the Old Testament it translates Hebrew she'aT, in Ezekiel 25:6, and in the Revised Version (British and American) Ezekiel 25:15; Ezekiel 36:5 ("with despite of soul"). In Hebrews 10:29 ("hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace") it stands for Greek enubrizo, "to treat with contempt."

The adjective "despiteful" occurs in the King James Version Ezekiel 25:15; Ezekiel 36:5; Sirach 31:31 ("despiteful words," the Revised Version (British and American) "a word of reproach"); Romans 1:30 (the Revised Version (British and American) "insolent" = Greek hubristes, from huper, "above"; compare English "uppish").

D. Miall Edwards

4342. proskartereo -- to attend constantly
... [4342 means "to continue to do something with intense effort, with the possible
implication of despite difficulty -- 'to devote oneself to, to keep on, to ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4342.htm - 8k

1796. enubrizo -- to insult
... to insult, outrage. From en and hubrizo; to insult -- do despite unto. see GREEK
en. see GREEK hubrizo. (enubrisas) -- 1 Occurrence. 1795, 1796. enubrizo. 1797 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1796.htm - 7k

7589. sheat -- despite, contempt
... 7588, 7589. sheat. 7590 . despite, contempt. Transliteration: sheat
Phonetic Spelling: (sheh-awt') Short Definition: scorn. Word ...
/hebrew/7589.htm - 6k

7751c. shut -- to treat with despite
... 7751b, 7751c. shut. 7752 . to treat with despite. Transliteration: shut
Short Definition: despise. Word Origin a prim. root Definition ...
/hebrew/7751c.htm - 5k

5921. al -- upon, above, over
... connection (1), conquer* (1), consider* (3), considered* (2), contrary (1),
corresponding (2), corresponding* (1), crowns (1), defiance* (1), despite (1), due ...
/hebrew/5921.htm - 8k

Despite the Devil, Man May, by God's Help, be Perfected.
... A Treatise on nature and grace, against pelagius; Chapter 68 [LVIII.]"
Despite the Devil, Man May, by God's Help, Be Perfected. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 68 lviii despite the devil.htm

Castus of Sicca Said: He who Presumes to Follow Custom in Despite ...
... Book VI. Chapter 35. " 67. Castus of Sicca said: He who presumes to
follow custom in despite of? "67. Castus of Sicca [1723 ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 35 67 castus.htm

Whether one Ought to be Withdrawn from Entering Religion through ...
... Dist. liii, can. Legem.). Therefore seemingly much less may children enter
religion in despite of their duty to their parents. On ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether one ought to be 2.htm

Forasmuch Then as the Letter Owed Its Origin to a False Story, and ...
... So easily is my conduct made matter of accusation by them, and so ready are they
to vent their calumnies in despite of that Scripture, which says, Love not to ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/21 forasmuch then as the.htm

Hebrews x. 26, 27
... worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of
the covenant an unholy [a common] thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xx hebrews x 26.htm

Prayer and Importunity (Continued)
... Despite the seeming unconcern of our Lord, however, and despite the rebuke of an
impatient and quick-tempered crowd, the blind beggar still cries, and ...
/.../bounds/the necessity of prayer/vii prayer and importunity continued.htm

Journey to Jerusalem. Ten Lepers. Concerning the Kingdom.
... In the leper-houses at Jerusalem Mohammedans and Jews now live together despite
the rancor existing between the healthy representatives of these two religions ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xcv journey to jerusalem ten.htm

Manuscripts and Books
... Despite the fact that Clement's Letter was widely read in Christian antiquity, and
at one time formed part of the New Testament canon in Egypt and Syria, its ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/manuscripts and books.htm

Attributes of Love.
... in the New Testament, means perseverance under trials, continuance, bearing up under
affliction, or privations, steadfastness of purpose in despite of obstacles ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xv attributes of love.htm

The Jewish Dispersion in the West - the Hellenists - Origin of ...
... Despite their intense nationalism, all unconsciously to themselves, their mental
characteristics and tendencies were in the opposite direction from those of ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ii the jewish dispersion.htm

Despite (18 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (prep.) In spite of; notwithstanding; against, or
in defiance of; as, despite his prejudices. ...DESPITE; DESPITEFUL. ...
/d/despite.htm - 13k

Despiteful (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Full of despite; expressing malice or contemptuous
hate; malicious. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DESPITE; DESPITEFUL. ...
/d/despiteful.htm - 8k

Disdain (6 Occurrences)
... as at the time of the reproach of the daughters of Syria, and of all that are round
about her, the daughters of the Philistines, that do despite unto thee ...
/d/disdain.htm - 9k

Malice (24 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 25:6 For thus says the Lord Yahweh: Because you have clapped your hands,
and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced with all the despite of your soul ...
/m/malice.htm - 15k

Salvation (386 Occurrences)
... by the prophets throughout (from, say, Amos 3:2 to Matthew 3:9). And yet even the
prophets admit a real truth in the attitude, for, despite Israel's sins ...
/s/salvation.htm - 67k

Pauline
... Sins of deed and of word might perhaps be overcome, but sins of evil desires stayed
with him, despite his full knowledge of the Law that branded them as sinful ...
/p/pauline.htm - 38k

Scorned (18 Occurrences)
... was uncovered, as at the time of the reproach of the daughters of Syria, and of
all who are around her, the daughters of the Philistines, who do despite to you ...
/s/scorned.htm - 11k

Scorn (65 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 25:6 For thus says the Lord Yahweh: Because you have clapped your hands,
and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced with all the despite of your soul ...
/s/scorn.htm - 31k

Trade (33 Occurrences)
... 2. Position of Palestine: Any road map of the ancient world shows that Palestine,
despite its lack of harbors, occupied an extremely important position as ...
/t/trade.htm - 40k

Wisdom (320 Occurrences)
... cases. For Greece the case is clearer, and Greek influence is obvious in
Wisdom, despite the particularistic smugness of the author. ...
/w/wisdom.htm - 101k

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