Definition and Meaning:
To hesitate is to pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness. In a biblical context, hesitation often reflects a lack of faith, doubt, or indecision in following God's commands or trusting in His promises.

Biblical Instances and Themes:

1. Lot's Wife (Genesis 19:16-26):
The account of Lot's wife is a poignant example of hesitation leading to dire consequences. As God prepared to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot and his family were instructed to flee without looking back. "But Lot hesitated, so the men seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and led them safely out of the city, because of the LORD’s compassion for them" (Genesis 19:16). Lot's hesitation required divine intervention to ensure his escape. However, his wife's ultimate hesitation and disobedience—looking back—resulted in her becoming a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26).

2. Gideon's Fleeces (Judges 6:36-40):
Gideon’s request for signs from God through the fleece is another instance of hesitation. Despite being called by God to save Israel from the Midianites, Gideon hesitated, seeking confirmation of God's will. He asked for a sign with the fleece, first requesting dew on the fleece only, and then dew on the ground only. This reflects a hesitancy to fully trust in God's promise without tangible evidence.

3. Peter Walking on Water (Matthew 14:28-31):
Peter's experience walking on water towards Jesus illustrates hesitation born from doubt. Initially, Peter stepped out of the boat in faith, but when he saw the wind, he hesitated and began to sink. Jesus immediately reached out to save him, saying, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:31). Peter's hesitation underscores the struggle between faith and doubt.

4. The Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17-22):
The encounter between Jesus and the rich young ruler highlights hesitation in the face of sacrifice. The young man approached Jesus, eager to inherit eternal life, but hesitated when Jesus instructed him to sell all he had and follow Him. "But the man was saddened by these words and went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth" (Mark 10:22). His hesitation to part with his possessions revealed a heart divided between earthly wealth and heavenly treasure.

5. Faith and Doubt (James 1:6-8):
The Epistle of James addresses the issue of hesitation in the context of prayer and faith. Believers are encouraged to ask God for wisdom without doubting, for "the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind" (James 1:6). Such hesitation renders a person double-minded and unstable, unable to receive from the Lord.

Theological Implications:

Hesitation in the biblical narrative often serves as a cautionary element, highlighting the importance of unwavering faith and obedience to God. It underscores the human tendency to doubt and the need for divine grace to overcome such inclinations. The Bible encourages believers to trust in God's promises and act decisively in faith, avoiding the pitfalls of hesitation that can lead to spiritual stagnation or missed opportunities for blessing.Ephesians 4:1-32
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation with which you are called,
Topicalbible.org

Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Topicalbible.org

John 19:35
And he that saw it bore record, and his record is true: and he knows that he said true, that you might believe.
Topicalbible.org

Luke 10:10-13
But into whatever city you enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,
Topicalbible.org

1. (v. i.) To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination; as, he hesitated whether to accept the offer or not; men often hesitate in forming a judgment.

2. (v. i.) To stammer; to falter in speaking.

3. (v. t.) To utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner.

3635. okneo -- to shrink (from doing), to hesitate (to do)
... to shrink (from doing), to hesitate (to do). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
okneo Phonetic Spelling: (ok-neh'-o) Short Definition: I delay, hesitate, am ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3635.htm - 6k

1252. diakrino -- to distinguish, to judge
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: diakrino Phonetic Spelling: (dee-ak-ree'-no)
Short Definition: I distinguish, discern, doubt, hesitate Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1252.htm - 9k

1019. braduno -- to retard, to be slow
... See 1021 (). Word Origin from bradus Definition to retard, to be slow NASB
Word Usage am delayed (1), slow (1). hesitate, delay, tarry. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1019.htm - 6k

1365. distazo -- twenty thousand
... thousand. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: distazo Phonetic Spelling:
(dis-tad'-zo) Short Definition: I waver, doubt Definition: I waver, doubt, hesitate. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1365.htm - 6k

4102. mahah -- to linger, tarry
... Apparently a denominative from mah; properly, to question or hesitate, ie (by
implication) to be reluctant -- delay, linger, stay selves, tarry. see HEBREW mah. ...
/hebrew/4102.htm - 6k

6452b. pasach -- to limp
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to limp NASB Word Usage became lame (1), hesitate
(1), leaped (1). 6452a, 6452b. pasach. 6453 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6452b.htm - 5k

6452. pacach -- to pass or spring over
... A primitive root; to hop, ie (figuratively) skip over (or spare); by implication,
to hesitate; also (literally) to limp, to dance -- halt, become lame, leap ...
/hebrew/6452.htm - 5k

All Portions of Creation Attest the Excellence of the Creator ...
... Inconsistency Herein Exposed. Marcion's Own God Did Not Hesitate to Use the
Creator's Works in Instituting His Own Religion. Now, when ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xiv all portions of creation.htm

Of the Humility and Obedience of Abbot Patermucius, which He did ...
... Of the humility and obedience of Abbot Patermucius, which he did not hesitate to
make perfect by throwing his little boy into the river at the command of his ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xxvii of the humility.htm

Argument. --That Christ is God, is Proved by the Authority of the ...
... Why, then, should we hesitate to say what Scripture does not shrink from
declaring? Why shall the truth of faith hesitate in that ...
/.../chapter xii argument that christ is.htm

Taking it for Granted.
... "A man who attempts thus to injure you in your business by false representations,
will not hesitate to wrong you in other ways," said the acquaintance. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arthur/words for the wise/taking it for granted.htm

Jesus' Conception of Himself
... They proclaimed their messages with the sanction of a "Thus saith the Lord;" he
did not hesitate to oppose the letter of scripture as well as the tradition of ...
/.../rhees/the life of jesus of nazareth/iv jesus conception of himself.htm

The Work of Soul-Saving
... of sins.'"Jas.5:19[-20] We sometimes hesitate to speak of men being
converted and saved by men. Scripture here twice uses the ...
/.../murray/working for god/xxviii the work of soul-saving.htm

Caiaphas
... They hesitate, and are at a loss what to do. But however they may hesitate, there
is one man who knows his own mind"Caiaphas, the high priest. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/caiaphas.htm

Levi-Matthew
... Some of these disciples had friends dependent on them for support; but when they
received the Saviour's invitation, they did not hesitate, and inquire, How ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 28 levi-matthew.htm

The Servant-Lord
... 'Verily I say unto you,' if we had not His own word for it, we might hesitate
to believe. And while we have His own word for it, and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the servant-lord.htm

Psalm LXXXVI.
... Nor when anything is said of our Lord Jesus Christ, especially in prophecy, implying
a degree of humility below the dignity of God, let us hesitate to ascribe ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxxvi.htm

Hesitate (4 Occurrences)
... decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination; as,
he hesitated whether to accept the offer or not; men often hesitate in forming ...
/h/hesitate.htm - 7k

Falter (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (v. & n.) To hesitate; to speak brokenly or weakly; to stammer; as, his
tongue falters. ... 4. (v. & n.) To hesitate in purpose or action. ...
/f/falter.htm - 7k

Doubt (49 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To waver in opinion or judgment; to be in uncertainty as to belief respecting
anything; to hesitate in belief; to be undecided as to the truth of the ...
/d/doubt.htm - 24k

Stagger (20 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) To begin to doubt and waver in purposes; to become less confident or
determined; to hesitate. 4. (vt) To cause to reel or totter. ...
/s/stagger.htm - 13k

Virgin (62 Occurrences)
... We do not hesitate to refer the reader who is interested in discussions of this
sort to entirely satisfactory reviews of them found elsewhere (see Machen ...
/v/virgin.htm - 64k

Linger (7 Occurrences)
... 1. (v.) To delay; to loiter; to remain or wait long; to be slow or reluctant in
parting or moving; to be slow in deciding; to be in suspense; to hesitate. ...
/l/linger.htm - 8k

Force (250 Occurrences)
... 20. (vi) To make a difficult matter of anything; to labor; to hesitate;
hence, to force of, to make much account of; to regard. 21. ...
/f/force.htm - 40k

Deliberate (2 Occurrences)
... 5. (vi) To take counsel with one's self; to weigh the arguments for and against
a proposed course of action; to reflect; to consider; to hesitate in deciding ...
/d/deliberate.htm - 7k

Philemon (2 Occurrences)
... here (Philemon 1:2) Paul's "fellow-soldier." The relation between the apostle and
Philemon was so close and intimate that Paul does not hesitate to press him ...
/p/philemon.htm - 17k

Pause (4 Occurrences)
... wait; to rest. 8. (n.) To be intermitted; to cease; as, the music pauses.
9. (n.) To hesitate; to hold back; to delay. 10. (n.) To ...
/p/pause.htm - 8k

How can I know when God is telling me to do something? | GotQuestions.org

How is Jesus our Sabbath Rest? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Ezekiel in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Hesitate: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus