Definition:
Maltreatment refers to the act of treating someone with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly. In a biblical context, maltreatment can encompass physical, emotional, or spiritual harm inflicted upon individuals or groups.

Biblical References and Context:
The Bible addresses the issue of maltreatment in various contexts, emphasizing the importance of justice, compassion, and the protection of the vulnerable. The Scriptures consistently call for the fair and kind treatment of others, reflecting God's character and His commandments.

1. Old Testament Teachings:
The Old Testament contains numerous laws and narratives that highlight the importance of treating others with respect and kindness. For instance, the Mosaic Law includes specific instructions to protect the rights of the poor, widows, orphans, and foreigners, who were often vulnerable to maltreatment.

· Exodus 22:21-22 : "You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt. You must not mistreat any widow or orphan."
· Leviticus 19:13 : "You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him. You must not withhold until morning the wages due a hired hand."

2. Prophetic Condemnation:
The prophets frequently condemned the maltreatment of the poor and marginalized, calling Israel to repentance and justice.

· Isaiah 1:17 : "Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow."
· Amos 5:11-12 : "Therefore, because you trample on the poor and exact a tax of grain from him, though you have built houses of hewn stone, you will not dwell in them; though you have planted pleasant vineyards, you will not drink their wine. For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are grievous—you oppress the righteous, taking bribes and depriving the poor of justice at the gates."

3. New Testament Teachings:
The New Testament continues the theme of advocating for the fair treatment of others, with Jesus and the apostles teaching love, mercy, and justice.

· Matthew 7:12 : "In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets."
· James 2:6 : "But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?"

4. Jesus' Example:
Jesus Christ exemplified the opposite of maltreatment through His life and ministry. He showed compassion to the marginalized, healed the sick, and spoke against the injustices of His time.

· Matthew 9:36 : "When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."

5. Apostolic Instructions:
The apostles instructed the early church to avoid maltreatment and to live in harmony, showing love and respect to all people.

· Ephesians 4:31-32 : "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you."
· 1 Peter 3:8-9 : "Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."

Theological Implications:
Maltreatment is fundamentally opposed to the biblical principles of love, justice, and mercy. The Scriptures call believers to reflect God's character by treating others with dignity and respect, advocating for the oppressed, and living out the gospel's transformative power in their relationships and communities.(v. t.) To treat ill; to abuse; to treat roughly.3075. lumainomai -- to outrage, to corrupt
... lumainomai Phonetic Spelling: (loo-mah'-ee-nom-ahee) Short Definition: I ravage,
harry, devastate Definition: I outrage, maltreat, corrupt, defile. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3075.htm - 6k

2558. kakoucheo -- to ill-treat
... to maltreat, torment. From a presumed compound of kakos and echo; to maltreat --
which suffer adversity, torment. see GREEK kakos. see GREEK echo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2558.htm - 6k

818. atimazo -- to dishonor
... From atimos; to render infamous, ie (by implication) contemn or maltreat -- despise,
dishonour, suffer shame, entreat shamefully. see GREEK atimos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/818.htm - 7k

821. atimoo -- handle shamefully.
... Word Origin variant reading for atimazo, qv. handle shamefully. From atimos; used
like atimazo, to maltreat -- handle shamefully. see GREEK atimos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/821.htm - 6k

2852. kolaphizo -- to strike with the fist
... the fist. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kolaphizo Phonetic Spelling:
(kol-af-id'-zo) Short Definition: I strike with the fist, maltreat Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2852.htm - 7k

4778. sugkakoucheomai -- to endure adversity with (pass.)
... suffer affliction with. From sun and kakoucheo; to maltreat in company with, ie
(passively) endure persecution together -- suffer affliction with. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4778.htm - 6k

3238. yanah -- to oppress, maltreat, perhaps suppress
... yanah. 3239 . to oppress, maltreat, perhaps suppress. Transliteration: yanah Phonetic
Spelling: (yaw-naw') Short Definition: oppress. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/3238.htm - 6k

2554. chamas -- to treat violently or wrong
... A primitive root; to be violent; by implication, to maltreat -- make bare, shake
off, violate, do violence, take away violently, wrong, imagine wrongfully. ...
/hebrew/2554.htm - 6k

8591. ta'a' -- to mock
... deceive, misuse A primitive root; to cheat; by analogy, to maltreat -- deceive,
misuse. 8590, 8591. ta'a'. 8591a . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8591.htm - 5k

5953. alal -- to act severely
... A primitive root; to effect thoroughly; specifically, to glean (also figuratively);
by implication (in a bad sense) to overdo, ie Maltreat, be saucy to, pain ...
/hebrew/5953.htm - 5k

The Gnostic Aims at the Nearest Likeness Possible to God and his ...
... And as those who maltreat property insult the owners, and those who maltreat soldiers
insult the commander, so also the ill-usage of His consecrated ones is ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter iii the gnostic aims at.htm

To the Rev. A. Brandram
... Castile to seize the New Testament wherever it might be exposed for sale, but at
the same time to be particularly careful not to detain or maltreat the person ...
/.../borrow/letters of george borrow/to the rev a brandram 58.htm

He Endeavours to Prove this Opinion from Isaiah and the Apocalypse ...
... They shall not hurt or maltreat each other on the holy mountain, saith the Lord.'
[2269] Now we have understood that the expression used among these words ...
/.../chapter lxxxi he endeavours to prove.htm

Concerning Macedonius, Theodulus, Gratian, Busiris, Basil, and ...
... He belonged to the heresy denominated Eucratites; the governor of the province
apprehended and designed to maltreat him for ridiculing the pagans. ...
/.../chapter xi concerning macedonius theodulus gratian.htm

Second Tractate. On Providence (1).
... groups concordant and helpful in contrast with groups discordant and combative;
sometimes of choice and sometimes incidentally, the parts maltreat each other ...
/.../plotinus/the six enneads/second tractate on providence 1.htm

His Charge of Cowardice is Baseless: for Basil Displayed the ...
... he said, could not succeed with men who cared only for the empire of Christ, and
for the Powers that never die; with all their wish to maltreat him, they could ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 12 his charge of.htm

Deified and Stoned
... 'Scoff at us, fight with us, maltreat us, and we will endure; but do not make gods
of us.' I do not know that their 'successors' have always felt exactly so. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/deified and stoned.htm

To Olympias. Why do You Lament? Why do You Belabour Yourself...
... was there, and ordered him to afford me every possible means of repose, and if any
of the monks should make an assault, wishing to insult or maltreat me, he ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/chrysostom/on the priesthood/to olympias why do you.htm

Letter viii. To Demophilus, Therapeutes. About Minding Ones Own ...
... But, let Demophilus apportion their due to reason and anger and passion; and let
him not maltreat the regulation of himself, but let the superior reason bear ...
/.../letters of dionysius the areopagite/letter viii to demophilus therapeutes.htm

The Revolt of Babylon.
... spectacle. He leaped from his throne and rushed toward Zopyrus, demanding who
had dared to maltreat one of his generals in such a manner. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/darius the great/chapter vii the revolt of.htm

Maltreat (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To treat ill; to abuse; to treat roughly.
Multi-Version Concordance Maltreat (1 Occurrence). Acts ...
/m/maltreat.htm - 6k

Maltanneus

/m/maltanneus.htm - 6k

Movement (1 Occurrence)
... Acts 14:5 And when a hostile movement was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with the
sanction of their magistrates, to maltreat and stone them, (WEY). ...
/m/movement.htm - 7k

Magistrates (18 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Acts 14:5 And when a hostile movement was made by both Gentiles and Jews,
with the sanction of their magistrates, to maltreat and stone them, (WEY). ...
/m/magistrates.htm - 12k

Maltreated (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Maltreat. Multi-Version Concordance
Maltreated (2 Occurrences). Matthew 22:6 and the rest ...
/m/maltreated.htm - 7k

Abuse (17 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To use ill; to maltreat; to act injuriously to; to punish or to tax excessively;
to hurt; as, to abuse prisoners, to abuse one's powers, one's patience ...
/a/abuse.htm - 13k

Assassinate (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To assail with murderous intent; hence, by extended meaning, to maltreat
exceedingly. 3. (n.) An assassination, murder, or murderous assault. ...
/a/assassinate.htm - 7k

Sanction (2 Occurrences)
... Acts 14:5 And when a hostile movement was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with the
sanction of their magistrates, to maltreat and stone them, (WEY). ...
/s/sanction.htm - 7k

Hostile (25 Occurrences)
... Acts 14:5 And when a hostile movement was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with the
sanction of their magistrates, to maltreat and stone them, (WEY). ...
/h/hostile.htm - 13k

Maltreat: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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