Disdain, a term often associated with contempt or scorn, is a sentiment that is addressed in various contexts throughout the Bible. It reflects an attitude of superiority and a lack of respect for others, which is contrary to the humility and love that Scripture encourages believers to embody.

Biblical References and Context

1. Proverbs 6:16-19: The Bible explicitly lists disdainful attitudes among the things that the Lord detests. "There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict in the community." Here, "haughty eyes" can be understood as a metaphor for disdainful looks, reflecting an attitude of arrogance and contempt.

2. Proverbs 11:12: "Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding holds his peace." This verse highlights the foolishness of disdain, contrasting it with the wisdom of restraint and understanding. Disdain for others is seen as a lack of discernment and wisdom.

3. Luke 18:9-14: In the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, Jesus addresses the issue of self-righteousness and disdain. The Pharisee, who prays with contempt for others, is contrasted with the humble tax collector. "The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.'" This parable illustrates the danger of disdainful attitudes and the value of humility before God.

4. James 2:1-4: The epistle of James warns against showing favoritism, which often stems from disdain. "My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, 'Here is a seat of honor,' but say to the poor man, 'You must stand,' or, 'Sit at my feet,' have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?" This passage underscores the sinfulness of disdain based on social status or appearance.

Theological Implications

Disdain is fundamentally at odds with the Christian call to love and humility. The Bible consistently teaches that all humans are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and are deserving of respect and dignity. Disdain, therefore, is a violation of the command to love one's neighbor as oneself (Matthew 22:39).

The attitude of disdain is often rooted in pride, which is considered a grave sin in Christian theology. Pride leads individuals to elevate themselves above others, fostering a spirit of division and conflict. In contrast, humility is a virtue that aligns with the character of Christ, who, though being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage (Philippians 2:6).

Practical Application

Believers are called to examine their hearts for any traces of disdain and to repent of such attitudes. The Christian life is marked by a continual process of sanctification, where the Holy Spirit works to conform believers to the image of Christ. This includes cultivating a spirit of humility and love, seeking to serve others rather than looking down upon them.

In practical terms, Christians are encouraged to engage with others in a spirit of gentleness and respect, recognizing the inherent value of every individual. This involves listening, showing empathy, and refraining from judgmental attitudes. By doing so, believers reflect the love of Christ and bear witness to the transformative power of the Gospel.1. (n.) A feeling of contempt and aversion; the regarding anything as unworthy of or beneath one; scorn.

2. (v. t.) That which is worthy to be disdained or regarded with contempt and aversion.

3. (n.) The state of being despised; shame.

4. (v. t.) To think unworthy; to deem unsuitable or unbecoming; as, to disdain to do a mean act.

5. (v. t.) To reject as unworthy of one's self, or as not deserving one's notice; to look with scorn upon; to scorn, as base acts, character, etc.

6. (v. i.) To be filled with scorn; to feel contemptuous anger; to be haughty.

5243. huperephania -- haughtiness, disdain
... haughtiness, disdain. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: huperephania
Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-er-ay-fan-ee'-ah) Short Definition: pride, arrogance ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5243.htm - 6k

3456. mukterizo -- to turn up the nose or sneer at
... or sneer at. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: mukterizo Phonetic Spelling:
(mook-tay-rid'-zo) Short Definition: I sneer at, disdain Definition: (properly ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3456.htm - 6k

1609. ekptuo -- to spit out, to spurn
... to spit out, to spurn. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekptuo Phonetic Spelling:
(ek-ptoo'-o) Short Definition: I spit upon, disdain, reject, loathe ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1609.htm - 7k

2662. katapateo -- to tread down
... trample, tread underfoot. From kata and pateo; to trample down; figuratively, to
reject with disdain -- trample, tread (down, underfoot). see GREEK kata. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2662.htm - 6k

3988. ma'ac -- to reject
... abhor, cast away off, contemn, despise, disdain, become loathsome, refuse,
A primitive root; to spurn; also (intransitively) to ...
/hebrew/3988.htm - 5k

959. bazah -- to despise
... despise, disdain, contemptible, think to scorn, vile person. A primitive root;
to disesteem -- despise, disdain, contemn(-ptible), + think ...
/hebrew/959.htm - 6k

The Misdoings of Severian
... respect the man. And should we not fight, Serapion, against these intense
feelings of dislike and disdain for our fellow-men? We all ...
/.../chapter xlii the misdoings of.htm

But, My Opponents Ask, if Christ came as the Saviour of Men...
... implored to deign to accept the gift of salvation from God; and must God's gracious
mercy be poured into your bosom while you reject it with disdain, and flee ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/64 but my opponents ask.htm

A Desperate Case --How to Meet It
... for be you whomsoever you may, there are pardons on his lips; there are blessings
in his hands; there is love in his heart; and he will not disdain to receive ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/a desperate casehow to meet.htm

St. Ambrose Examines and Refutes the Heretical Argument that ...
... when Christ wills to be with us, as He Himself said: "Father, I will that they whom
Thou hast given Me be with Me where I am," [1113] would He disdain to be ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter viii st ambrose examines.htm

Love is not Condemned, but Love in God, in whom There is Rest ...
... 4); for, "lest man should disdain to imitate a humble man, God humbled Himself,
so that the pride of the human race might not disdain to walk in the footsteps ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter xii love is not condemned.htm

The Collar of Gold
... There was a pronounced curve of her mouth, a slight tension in the chiseled
nostril"in fact, an indefinable disdain that had not been there before. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter ix the collar of.htm

John Chapter i. 19-33
... That thou mightest not disdain to receive the baptism of the Lord. ... If I come
to the servant, dost thou disdain to come to the Lord? ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate iv john chapter i.htm

1 Timothy v. 8
... And if thou givest to the poor, disdain not thyself to give it, for it is not to
the poor that it is given, but to Christ; and who is so wretched, as to ...
/.../homily xiv 1 timothy v.htm

Hail, Jesus;
... 82. And being Creator of heaven and earth, the King of kings and Lord of
angels, didst not disdain to be comforted by an angel; 83. ...
/.../baker/holy wisdom or directions for the prayer of contemplation/hail jesus.htm

Psalm CXXV.
... It hath been thy lot to become a Christian, and to have a man for thy master: thou
wast not made a Christian, that thou mightest disdain to be a servant. ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxxv.htm

Disdain (6 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To think unworthy; to deem unsuitable or unbecoming; as, to disdain to
do a mean act. ... Multi-Version Concordance Disdain (6 Occurrences). ...
/d/disdain.htm - 9k

Scorn (65 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Extreme and lofty contempt; haughty disregard; that disdain which springs
from the opinion of the utter meanness and unworthiness of an object. ...
/s/scorn.htm - 31k

Disdainful (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Full of disdain; expressing disdain; scornful;
contemptuous; haughty. Multi-Version Concordance Disdainful (1 Occurrence). ...
/d/disdainful.htm - 6k

Disdained (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp. & pp) of Disdain. 2. (a.) Disdainful.
Multi-Version Concordance Disdained (6 Occurrences). 1 Samuel ...
/d/disdained.htm - 8k

Spurn (13 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To drive back or away, as with the foot; to kick. 2. (vt) To reject with
disdain; to scorn to receive or accept; to treat with contempt. ...
/s/spurn.htm - 10k

Discussions (11 Occurrences)

/d/discussions.htm - 9k

Tryphaena (1 Occurrence)
... He describes them as those "who labor in the Lord." "The names, which might be rendered
`Dainty' and `Disdain' (see James 5:5 Isaiah 66:11), are ...
/t/tryphaena.htm - 7k

Revengefully (2 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 25:15 Thus saith the Lord GOD: Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge,
and have taken vengeance with disdain of soul to destroy, for the old ...
/r/revengefully.htm - 7k

Despise (64 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To look down upon with disfavor or contempt; to contemn;
to scorn; to disdain; to have a low opinion or contemptuous dislike of. ...
/d/despise.htm - 25k

Michal (18 Occurrences)
... The next scene in which she figures indicates that her love had cooled and had even
turned to disdain, for after David's enthusiastic joy and ecstatic dancing ...
/m/michal.htm - 16k

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