In the context of biblical literature, an injunction refers to a command or authoritative order given by God, prophets, or leaders to the people. These directives are often intended to guide behavior, establish laws, or ensure adherence to God's will. Injunctions are found throughout the Bible and serve as a means of maintaining covenantal relationships between God and His people.

Old Testament Injunctions

In the Old Testament, injunctions are frequently delivered through the Law, particularly the Mosaic Law, which encompasses a wide range of commandments and statutes. One of the most significant collections of injunctions is the Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. These commandments serve as foundational ethical and moral guidelines for the Israelites.

In addition to the Ten Commandments, the Mosaic Law includes numerous other injunctions concerning worship, social justice, and personal conduct. For example, Leviticus 19:18 commands, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." This injunction emphasizes the importance of love and forgiveness within the community.

Prophets also delivered divine injunctions, often calling the people to repentance and adherence to God's commands. For instance, the prophet Micah summarizes God's requirements in Micah 6:8: "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

New Testament Injunctions

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ issues several injunctions that expand upon and fulfill the Old Testament Law. His teachings often focus on the spirit of the law rather than mere legalistic adherence. In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus summarizes the law with two primary injunctions: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

The apostolic writings also contain numerous injunctions for the early Christian communities. The Apostle Paul, for example, provides ethical instructions in his epistles. In Romans 12:2, he exhorts believers, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God."

Purpose and Significance

Injunctions in the Bible serve several purposes. They are intended to guide the moral and spiritual conduct of individuals and communities, ensuring that they live in accordance with God's will. These commands also function as a means of establishing and maintaining a covenantal relationship between God and His people, emphasizing obedience, faithfulness, and love.

Furthermore, biblical injunctions often reflect the character and nature of God, revealing His holiness, justice, and mercy. By adhering to these divine commands, believers are called to reflect God's character in their own lives, serving as witnesses to His truth and love in the world.1. (n.) A mandate; a directive; a prohibition; as an injunction against the sale of a property.

2. (n.) That which is enjoined; an order; a mandate; a decree; a command; a precept; a direction.

3. (n.) A writ or process, granted by a court of equity, and, income cases, under statutes, by a court of law, whereby a party is required to do or to refrain from doing certain acts, according to the exigency of the writ.

1778. entalma -- an injunction, ie religious precept
... an injunction, ie religious precept. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration:
entalma Phonetic Spelling: (en'-tal-mah) Short Definition: an injunction ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1778.htm - 6k

1785. entole -- an injunction, order, command
... an injunction, order, command. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: entole
Phonetic Spelling: (en-tol-ay') Short Definition: an ordinance, injunction ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1785.htm - 7k

3852. paraggelia -- an instruction, a command
... Transliteration: paraggelia Phonetic Spelling: (par-ang-gel-ee'-ah) Short Definition:
a command, charge Definition: a command, charge, injunction; a precept ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3852.htm - 7k

2003. epitage -- a command
... authority, commandment. From epitasso; an injunction or decree; by implication,
authoritativeness -- authority, commandment. see GREEK epitasso. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2003.htm - 7k

1291. diastello -- to set apart, fig. to distinguish, to charge ...
... [1291 () means "to command (charge) "; "originally, . .to '; hence, 'to ,'
and so of a commandment or injunction to " (as), ie is " ().]. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1291.htm - 7k

633. esar -- an interdict
... 632, 633. esar. 634 . an interdict. Transliteration: esar Phonetic Spelling:
(es-sawr') Short Definition: injunction. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/633.htm - 6k

6673. tsav -- perhaps command
... commandment, precept. Or tsav {tsawv}; from tsavah; an injunction -- commandment,
precept. see HEBREW tsavah. 6672b, 6673. tsav. 6674 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6673.htm - 6k

Man Needs no Injunction to Love Himself and his Own Body.
... Book I. Chapter 23."Man Needs No Injunction to Love Himself and His Own
Body. 22. Those things which are objects of use are not ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 23 man needs no injunction.htm

If, for These and Other Such Rules, You Insist Upon Having ...
... Chapter IV. If, for these and other such rules, you insist upon having
positive Scripture injunction? If, for these and other ...
/.../tertullian/the chaplet or de corona/chapter iv if for these.htm

And First, Indeed in Enjoining us to Pray, He by the Very ...
... Of Prayer. John Calvin Chapter 13 And first, indeed in enjoining us to pray,
he by the very injunction convicts us? And first, indeed ...
/.../calvin/of prayer--a perpetual exercise of faith/chapter 13 and first indeed.htm

Relation of the Former Commission Given by Jesus to the Disciples ...
... Book XII. 15. Relation of the Former Commission Given by Jesus to the Disciples,
to His Present Injunction of Silence. Belief and Knowledge Contrasted. ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/15 relation of the former.htm

Relation of Moses and Elijah to Jesus. The Injunction of Silence.
... Book XII. 43. Relation of Moses and Elijah to Jesus. The Injunction of
Silence. But after these things it is written that, when ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/43 relation of moses and.htm

Discourse Pronounced at a Feast against the Hypocrisy of the ...
... But, on the other hand, where Christ employs this mode of teaching, the peculiar
kind of special injunction that he gives is always determined by the character ...
/.../section 166 discourse pronounced at.htm

Growth
... advance. Immortal hope animates his dying injunction: 'Grow! grow ... day. But
there is another side to the injunction besides that. We ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/growth.htm

With, Before, After
... Observe how 'walk before Me' is dovetailed, as it were, between the revelation
'I am the Almighty God' and the injunction 'Be thou perfect.' The realisation of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/with before after.htm

You Observe How He Treats Ambrose. First, He Calls Him a Crow and ...
... Is this the fairness of a Christian? Is it thus that we are to observe the injunction
of the Apostle, "Do nothing through faction or through vain glory"? ...
/.../25 you observe how he.htm

Death to Sin through Christ
... For if there were no ground for realization this, the injunction would be most
absurd. ... What is implied in complying with this injunction. ...
/.../finney/sermons on gospel themes/xxiii death to sin through.htm

Injunction (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A mandate; a directive; a prohibition; as an
injunction against the sale of a property. ...Injunction (8 Occurrences). ...
/i/injunction.htm - 9k

Strange (234 Occurrences)
... As, however, the injunction to take fire for the censers of the incense offering
only from the coals of the altar is not found before (Leviticus 16:12 ...
/s/strange.htm - 45k

Laodiceans (2 Occurrences)
... Of course, it closes with an injunction to the Laodiceans to exchange
epistles with the Colossians. The apostle's injunction in ...
/l/laodiceans.htm - 28k

Frontlets (3 Occurrences)
... The meaning of the injunction to the Israelites, with regard to the statues and
precepts given them, that they should "bind them for a sign upon their hand ...
/f/frontlets.htm - 9k

Muzzle (4 Occurrences)
... MUZZLE. muz'l (chacam; phimoo) According to the Deuteronomic injunction (Deuteronomy
25:4), the ox was not to be muzzled while treading the grain, ie threshing. ...
/m/muzzle.htm - 9k

Command (442 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To order with authority; to lay injunction
upon; to direct; to bid; to charge. 2. (vt) To exercise ...
/c/command.htm - 36k

Charge (379 Occurrences)
... 20. (vt) Heed; care; anxiety; trouble. 21. (vt) Harm. 22. (n.) An order; a
mandate or command; an injunction. 23. (n.) An address (esp. ...
/c/charge.htm - 41k

Fire (602 Occurrences)
... As, however, the injunction to take fire for the censers of the incense offering
only from the coals of the altar is not found before (Leviticus 16:12 ...
/f/fire.htm - 78k

Subapostolic
... Had the episcopate, in the post-New Testament sense of mono-episcopate, been
apostolically enjoined, surely the injunction would have been obeyed or enforced ...
/s/subapostolic.htm - 38k

Sub-apostolic
... Had the episcopate, in the post-New Testament sense of mono-episcopate, been
apostolically enjoined, surely the injunction would have been obeyed or enforced ...
/s/sub-apostolic.htm - 38k

What is transcendental meditation? | GotQuestions.org

Summary of the Song of Solomon - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that we should not let our left hand know what our right hand is doing (Matthew 6:3 4)? | GotQuestions.org

Injunction: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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