In the context of the Bible, "harming" refers to causing physical, emotional, or spiritual injury or damage to others. The Scriptures provide numerous teachings and commandments that address the issue of harming others, emphasizing the importance of love, compassion, and justice.

Old Testament Teachings

The Old Testament lays a foundational understanding of the prohibition against harming others. The Ten Commandments, given to Moses on Mount Sinai, include the commandment, "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13). This commandment underscores the sanctity of human life and the prohibition against taking it unjustly.

The Law of Moses further elaborates on the consequences of causing harm. For instance, Exodus 21:18-19 addresses personal injury: "If men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or his fist, and he does not die but is confined to bed, then the one who struck him shall go unpunished if the other can get up and walk around outside with his staff. Nevertheless, he must pay for the injured man’s lost time and see that he is fully healed" . This passage highlights the principle of restitution and responsibility for one's actions.

Wisdom Literature

The wisdom literature of the Old Testament, particularly the Book of Proverbs, frequently warns against harmful behavior. Proverbs 3:29 advises, "Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trusts you and dwells beside you" . This verse emphasizes the importance of maintaining trust and peace within the community.

Prophetic Warnings

The prophets often spoke against the harm caused by injustice and oppression. Micah 2:1-2 condemns those who plot harm: "Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning light they accomplish it because it is in the power of their hands. They covet fields and seize them; they take houses and deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance" . The prophets called for repentance and a return to righteous living.

New Testament Teachings

The New Testament continues the theme of prohibiting harm, with a focus on love and forgiveness. Jesus Christ, in His Sermon on the Mount, teaches, "You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder,’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment" (Matthew 5:21-22). Here, Jesus expands the understanding of harm to include anger and hatred, which can lead to destructive actions.

The Apostle Paul, in his letters, frequently exhorts believers to live in peace and avoid harm. Romans 12:17-18 instructs, "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone" . This teaching encourages believers to seek reconciliation and avoid retaliation.

Spiritual Harm

The Bible also addresses spiritual harm, warning against false teachings and leading others astray. Jesus warns in Matthew 18:6, "But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea" . This severe warning highlights the gravity of causing spiritual harm to others.

Conclusion

The biblical perspective on harming is clear: believers are called to love their neighbors, seek peace, and avoid causing harm in any form. The teachings of both the Old and New Testaments emphasize the importance of living righteously and treating others with kindness and respect.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Harm.7489a. raa -- to be evil, bad
... wickedly (1), done wickedly (1), done wrong (1), evil (7), evildoer (2), evildoers
(16), evildoing (1), grieved (1), hard (1), harm (1), harming (1), hostile (3 ...
/hebrew/7489a.htm - 6k

The Battle of Life
... Law is meant to prevent, if possible, men harming each other by their own selfishness,
by those lusts of the flesh which tempt every man to seek his own ...
/.../kingsley/the water of life and other sermons/sermon vii the battle of.htm

A view of Jesus.
... Praise the Lord! Nothing can harm us, for every harmful and harming thing
is beneath the feet of our Lord. So we need not fear. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/how to live a holy life/a view of jesus.htm

To Sister Daniella of Orvieto Clothed with the Habit of Saint ...
... like an indiscreet robber, who wants to give honour to himself, and, seeking his
own honour and pleasure, does not mind insulting God and harming his neighbour ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to sister daniella of orvieto.htm

David the Outcast.
... my master," he said "to stretch forth my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed
of the Lord," and in this way he kept his servants from harming Saul, and ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxii david the outcast.htm

Matt. v. 38, 39, 40
... that it was not of an eye that He was speaking before, when He made the law to pluck
out the offending eye, but of him who by his friendship is harming us, and ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xviii matt v 38.htm

A Gluttonous Man and a Winebibber
... 'When He was reviled He reviled not again.' If ever He did allude to them it was
for the sake of the people who were harming themselves by uttering them. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/a gluttonous man and a.htm

The Sucker from the Felled Oak
... a period of decay for the Israelitish monarchy, and it was the very burden of his
message as to Assyria that it should pass away without harming that monarchy. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the sucker from the felled.htm

A Revelation on the Trial of Perfect Chastity.
... steadfast, and that carnal heat is still and quiet within you, then the touch of
this visible flame also shall pass over you gently and without harming you as ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter x a revelation on.htm

On the Fast of the Tenth Month.
... acts of godliness, dearly-beloved, which commend us more and more to God, there
is no doubt that our enemy, who is so eager and so skilled in harming us, is ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leo/writings of leo the great/sermon xvi on the fast.htm

Epistle Lxi. To Gennadius, Patrician and Exarch of Africa.
... all these things, greeting your Eminence I demand of you that you suffer them to
be done no more; but straightly order him to abstain from harming the Church ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle lxi to gennadius patrician.htm

Harming (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Harm. Multi-Version Concordance
Harming (3 Occurrences). 1 Samuel 24:9 David said ...
/h/harming.htm - 7k

Harmful (8 Occurrences)

/h/harmful.htm - 8k

Harmless (7 Occurrences)

/h/harmless.htm - 8k

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