An interdict, in a biblical and historical context, refers to a prohibition or authoritative decree that restricts certain activities or practices. While the term "interdict" itself is not explicitly found in the Bible, the concept is evident throughout Scripture, where God or His appointed leaders impose restrictions or commands to guide the behavior and worship of His people.

Biblical Examples of Interdicts

1. The Garden of Eden: The first interdict in the Bible is found in Genesis 2:16-17, where God commands Adam, "You may eat freely from every tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die." This divine prohibition was intended to test obedience and trust in God's provision.

2. The Ten Commandments: In Exodus 20, God delivers the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai. These commandments serve as divine interdicts, outlining prohibitions against idolatry, murder, theft, and other sinful behaviors. They are foundational to the moral and spiritual life of the Israelites and, by extension, to Christian ethics.

3. The Ban on Canaanite Practices: In Deuteronomy 18:9-14, God instructs the Israelites not to imitate the detestable practices of the nations they are dispossessing. This includes prohibitions against child sacrifice, divination, and sorcery. Such interdicts were meant to preserve the holiness and distinctiveness of God's people.

4. The Dietary Laws: Leviticus 11 details dietary restrictions for the Israelites, distinguishing between clean and unclean animals. These interdicts served both as a means of maintaining ritual purity and as a symbol of Israel's separation from other nations.

5. The Sabbath Rest: The command to observe the Sabbath, found in Exodus 20:8-11, is an interdict against work on the seventh day. It is a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, emphasizing rest and worship.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of interdicts evolves with the coming of Christ, who fulfills the Law. While the ceremonial and dietary laws are no longer binding on Christians (Acts 10:9-16; Colossians 2:16-17), moral prohibitions remain relevant. The apostolic decrees in Acts 15:28-29, for instance, instruct Gentile believers to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, blood, and sexual immorality, reflecting a continued concern for holiness and community integrity.

Church Authority and Interdicts

Historically, the Church has exercised the authority to impose interdicts as a means of discipline and correction. This is seen in the practice of excommunication or the withholding of sacraments from individuals or communities in serious sin, as outlined in Matthew 18:15-17 and 1 Corinthians 5:1-5. Such measures are intended to bring about repentance and restoration.

Theological Significance

Interdicts in the Bible underscore the holiness of God and the call for His people to live in obedience and separation from sin. They serve as reminders of the covenant relationship between God and His people, highlighting the importance of faithfulness and the consequences of disobedience. Through Christ, believers are empowered to live in accordance with God's will, guided by the Holy Spirit and the teachings of Scripture.1. (v.) To forbid; to prohibit; as, to interdict contact with foreign nations.

2. (n.) To lay under an interdict; to cut off from the enjoyment of religious privileges, as a city, a church, an individual.

3. (n.) A prohibitory order or decree; a prohibition.

4. (n.) A prohibition of the pope, by which the clergy or laymen are restrained from performing, or from attending, divine service, or from administering the offices or enjoying the privileges of the church.

5. (n.) An order of the court of session, having the like purpose and effect with a writ of injunction out of chancery in England and America.

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

Some Notes on Tauler's Life
... Moreover, the controversy is mixed up with a further question, as to whether Tauler
did or did not submit to the Papal interdict, under which Strasburg (and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tauler/the inner way/ii some notes on taulers.htm

The Vengeance of Rome
... In this time of pestilence and famine, and deprived of their former teachers by
the interdict, they hung upon the words of their faithful preacher, and he had ...
/.../bevan/three friends of god/chapter xxxv the vengeance of.htm

Letter xiii (AD 1127) to the Same Pope, in the Name of Geoffrey ...
... The interdict of the bishops of France had put pressure upon him, and he had promised
to make restitution, when the absolution of Honorius rendered him ...
/.../some letters of saint bernard abbot of clairvaux/letter xiii a d 1127 to.htm

An Argument for the Exclusive Worship of this God, Who, While He ...
... worshipped together, why is not He selected who forbids those others to be worshipped;
and why are not those deities abandoned, who do not interdict Him from ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxi an argument for the.htm

Of the Fact that the False Gods do not Forbid Others to be ...
... prevent that supernal mind from being worshipped, from which he is said to have
emanated: if, on the same principle also, Saturn cannot interdict the worship ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxv of the fact that.htm

Of the Removal of the Remains of John and of the Faith of ...
... and as it was the time for the banquet, and his guests were assembled, he said that
he could not partake of the entertainment before the interdict was taken off ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter xxxvi of the removal of.htm

Of the Verdict of the Apostles, Assembled in Council, Upon the ...
... this place withal there has been preserved to adultery and fornication the post
of their own honour between idolatry and murder: for the interdict upon "blood ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/on modesty/chapter xii of the verdict of.htm

Innocent the Third (Ad 1198-1216)
... England. Both in France and in England, Innocent made use of what was
called an interdict to make people submit to his will. By ...
/.../chapter xiii innocent the third.htm

Brief Table of Contemporary Public Events
... Florence. The city is placed under an Interdict. ... successor. In July, peace is
made with Florence, and the Interdict upon the city is raised. ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/brief table of contemporary public.htm

Dark Times and Bright Times. AD 1253-1500
... The Pope now laid Germany under an interdict, which was not removed from
some districts for twenty-six years. During an interdict ...
/.../winkworth/christian singers of germany/chapter iv dark times and.htm

Interdict (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v.) To forbid; to prohibit; as, to interdict contact
with foreign nations. ... Multi-Version Concordance Interdict (6 Occurrences). ...
/i/interdict.htm - 9k

Media (14 Occurrences)
... Daniel 6:8 Now, O king, thou dost establish the interdict, and sign the writing,
that it is not to be changed, as a law of Media and Persia, that doth not pass ...
/m/media.htm - 15k

Intercourse (6 Occurrences)

/i/intercourse.htm - 8k

Interest (35 Occurrences)

/i/interest.htm - 21k

Forbid (46 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (pp) of Forbid. 2. (vt) To command against,
or contrary to; to prohibit; to interdict. 3. (vt) To deny ...
/f/forbid.htm - 23k

Tumultuously (4 Occurrences)
... these men assembled together unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king,
that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no interdict nor statute ...
/t/tumultuously.htm - 7k

Prohibition (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A declaration or injunction forbidding
some action; interdict. 2. (n.) Specifically, the forbidding ...
/p/prohibition.htm - 7k

Prohibit (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (vt) To forbid by authority; to interdict; as, God prohibited Adam from eating
of the fruit of a certain tree; we prohibit a person from doing a thing, and ...
/p/prohibit.htm - 7k

Ban (12 Occurrences)
... or other crimes. 7. (vt) To curse; to invoke evil upon. 8. (vt) To forbid;
to interdict. 9. (vi) To curse; to swear. 10. (n.) An ...
/b/ban.htm - 11k

Altered (4 Occurrences)
... Daniel 6:8 Now, O king, establish the interdict, and sign the writing, that it be
not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth ...
/a/altered.htm - 7k

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