In the context of the Bible, a "mistake" can be understood as an error or misjudgment that deviates from God's will or commandments. While the term "mistake" itself is not frequently used in Scripture, the concept is evident throughout biblical narratives and teachings. Mistakes can arise from human fallibility, lack of wisdom, or misunderstanding of God's instructions.

Old Testament Examples

1. Adam and Eve (Genesis 3): The first recorded mistake in the Bible is the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. They ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, despite God's clear command not to do so. This act of disobedience brought sin into the world. Genesis 3:6 states, "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it."

2. Moses Striking the Rock (Numbers 20:7-12): Moses made a mistake when he struck the rock to bring forth water instead of speaking to it as God had commanded. This act of disobedience resulted in Moses being denied entry into the Promised Land. Numbers 20:11-12 recounts, "Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink. But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 'Because you did not trust Me enough to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them.'"

3. David's Census (2 Samuel 24): King David made a mistake by ordering a census of Israel, which was against God's will. This act led to a plague upon Israel as a consequence. 2 Samuel 24:10 states, "After David had numbered the troops, his conscience was stricken, and he said to the LORD, 'I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, please take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.'"

New Testament Teachings

1. Peter's Denial (Matthew 26:69-75): The Apostle Peter made a mistake by denying Jesus three times out of fear and pressure. This event highlights human weakness and the potential for error even among the faithful. Matthew 26:74-75 records, "At that, he began to curse and swear to them, 'I do not know the man!' And immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: 'Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly."

2. Paul's Rebuke of Peter (Galatians 2:11-14): The Apostle Paul recounts a mistake made by Peter when he withdrew from eating with Gentile believers out of fear of criticism from Jewish Christians. Paul confronted Peter for not acting in line with the truth of the gospel. Galatians 2:11-12 states, "When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood to be condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group."

Theological Implications

Mistakes in the Bible often serve as lessons in humility, repentance, and reliance on God's grace. They underscore the importance of obedience to God's commands and the need for discernment and wisdom. The Bible teaches that while humans are prone to error, God's forgiveness and redemption are available to those who repent and seek His guidance. Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Practical Application

Believers are encouraged to learn from the mistakes of biblical figures and to seek God's wisdom in their own lives. James 1:5 offers guidance, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." Through prayer, study of Scripture, and fellowship with other believers, Christians can strive to avoid mistakes and grow in their faith.1. (v. t.) To make or form amiss; to spoil in making.

2. (v. t.) To take or choose wrongly.

3. (v. t.) To take in a wrong sense; to misunderstand misapprehend, or misconceive; as, to mistake a remark; to mistake one's meaning.

4. (v. t.) To substitute in thought or perception; as, to mistake one person for another.

5. (v. t.) To have a wrong idea of in respect of character, qualities, etc.; to misjudge.

6. (v. i.) To err in knowledge, perception, opinion, or judgment; to commit an unintentional error.

7. (n.) An apprehending wrongly; a misconception; a misunderstanding; a fault in opinion or judgment; an unintentional error of conduct.

8. (n.) Misconception, error, which when non-negligent may be ground for rescinding a contract, or for refusing to perform it.

2581. Kananaios -- Cananaean, Aramaic for Zealot, surname of one ...
... Canaanite. Of Chaldee origin (compare qanna'); zealous; Cananites, an epithet --
Canaanite (by mistake for a derivative from Chanaan). see GREEK Chanaan. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2581.htm - 7k

264. hamartano -- to miss the mark, do wrong, sin
... hamartano Phonetic Spelling: (ham-ar-tan'-o) Short Definition: I sin Definition:
originally: I miss the mark, hence (a) I make a mistake, (b) I sin, commit a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/264.htm - 9k

1728. enarchomai -- to begin, to make a beginning
... to begin. From en and archomai; to commence on -- rule (by mistake for archo). see
GREEK en. see GREEK archomai. see GREEK archo. (enarxamenoi) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1728.htm - 6k

4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... do not struggle in the power of the will . . . what a mistake to take our belief
in God and call of faith . . . Christ, the living word, is our sufficiency . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k

4870. mishgeh -- a mistake
... 4869, 4870. mishgeh. 4871 . a mistake. Transliteration: mishgeh Phonetic
Spelling: (mish-gay') Short Definition: mistake. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/4870.htm - 6k

6031. anah -- to be bowed down or afflicted
... literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various applications,
as follows) -- abase self, afflict(-ion, self), answer (by mistake for anah ...
/hebrew/6031.htm - 6k

3860. lahen -- on this account, therefore
... Word Origin from a preposition prefix and hen Definition on this account, therefore
NASB Word Usage therefore (2). for them by mistake for prepositional suffix. ...
/hebrew/3860.htm - 6k

6030. anah -- to answer, respond
... To begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce -- give account,
afflict (by mistake for anah), (cause to, give) answer, bring low (by ...
/hebrew/6030.htm - 6k

7684. shegagah -- sin of error or inadvertance
... Word Origin from shagag Definition sin of error or inadvertance NASB Word
Usage error (5), mistake (1), unintentionally (14). error ...
/hebrew/7684.htm - 6k

7489. ra'a' -- to be evil, bad
... by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing, ie Bad
(physically, socially or morally) -- afflict, associate selves (by mistake for ra ...
/hebrew/7489.htm - 6k

8442. toah -- a wandering, error
... abominable custom, thing, abomination. Feminine active participle of ta'ah; mistake,
ie (morally) impiety, or (political) injury -- error, hinder. ...
/hebrew/8442.htm - 6k

4879. meshugah -- error
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition error NASB Word Usage error (1). error.
From an unused root meaning to stray; mistake -- error. 4878, 4879. ...
/hebrew/4879.htm - 5k

7904. shakah -- perhaps to roam
... roam. A primitive root; to roam (through lust) -- in the morning (by mistake for
shakam). see HEBREW shakam. 7903, 7904. shakah. 7905 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7904.htm - 6k

5307. naphal -- to fall, lie
... let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing),
fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for palal ...
/hebrew/5307.htm - 7k

A Common Mistake and Lame Excuse
... THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL A COMMON MISTAKE AND LAME EXCUSE. '... He prophesieth
of the times that are far off.'"Ezekiel 12:27. Human ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/a common mistake and lame.htm

But Here Lies the Great Mistake, or Rather Idolatrous Abuse of all ...
... Address 157: But here lies the great mistake, or rather idolatrous abuse
of all God's outward dispensations.? But here lies the ...
/.../address 157 0 0 but here lies.htm

Mistake About Simon Magus.
... Homily II. Chapter XVIII."Mistake About Simon Magus. "Since, then, as I
said, some men do not know the rule of combination, thence ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xviii mistake about simon magus.htm

A Twofold Mistake Respecting Infants.
... A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of
Infants Chapter 64."A Twofold Mistake Respecting Infants. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 64 a twofold mistake respecting.htm

A Father's Mistake.
... A Father's Mistake. There is a little story that has gone the round of the American
press that made a great impression upon me as a father. ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/a fathers mistake.htm

Conflicts with Giant Mistake
... CHAPTER EIGHT CONFLICTS WITH GIANT MISTAKE. CONFLICTS WITH GIANT MISTAKE ... But at
first Mistake assumes all the characteristics of a true giant. ...
/.../berry/adventures in the land of canaan/chapter eight conflicts with giant.htm

Rehoboam's Great Mistake
... THE OLD TESTAMENT REHOBOAM'S GREAT MISTAKE. When Solomon died, Rehoboam
his son ruled after him. As soon as Jeroboam, who was still ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/rehoboams great mistake.htm

Self-Guidance a Mistake.
... THE ASSISTANCE RENDERED BY THE FATHERLY PROVIDENCE OF GOD TO THOSE SOULS WHO HAVE
ABANDONED THEMSELVES TO HIM: SECTION VIII."Self-guidance a Mistake. ...
/.../abandonment to divine providence/section viii self-guidance a mistake.htm

A Boy's Mistake --A Sad Reconciliation.
... A Boy's Mistake"A Sad Reconciliation. There was an Englishman who had an only
son; and only sons are often petted, and humored, and ruined. ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/a boys mistakea sad reconciliation.htm

Of the Impiety of Porphyry, which is Worse than Even the Mistake ...
... Book X. Chapter 27."Of the Impiety of Porphyry, Which is Worse Than Even
the Mistake of Apuleius. How much more tolerable and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 27 of the impiety of.htm

Mistake (5 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To take in a wrong sense; to misunderstand misapprehend, or misconceive;
as, to mistake a remark; to mistake one's meaning. ...Mistake (5 Occurrences). ...
/m/mistake.htm - 8k

Error (90 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A wandering or deviation from the right course or standard; irregularity;
mistake; inaccuracy; something made wrong or left wrong; as, an error in ...
/e/error.htm - 38k

Err (41 Occurrences)
... aimed at. 3. (vi) To miss intellectual truth; to fall into error; to mistake
in judgment or opinion; to be mistaken. 4. (vi) To ...
/e/err.htm - 22k

Rehoboam (42 Occurrences)
... territory of the tribe of Benjamin. The mistake of Rehoboam, was the common
mistake of despots. He presumed too much on privilege ...
/r/rehoboam.htm - 34k

Trip (4 Occurrences)
... 4. (ni) Fig.: To be guilty of a misstep; to commit an offense against morality,
propriety, or rule; to err; to mistake; to fail. ...
/t/trip.htm - 9k

Miss (7 Occurrences)
... 13. (n.) Loss; want; felt absence. 14. (n.) Mistake; error; fault. 15. (n.) Harm
from mistake. Multi-Version Concordance Miss (7 Occurrences). ...
/m/miss.htm - 10k

Hadad (38 Occurrences)
... ha'-dad: (1) (chadhadh, "sharpness"): One of the twelve sons of Ishmael (Genesis
25:15, where the King James Version, following a mistake in Hebrew text, has ...
/h/hadad.htm - 21k

Strange (234 Occurrences)
... probable that Moses had forbidden Aaron and his sons to place strange fire upon
the altar.") A verbal injunction of Moses must have preceded the fatal mistake. ...
/s/strange.htm - 45k

On (40792 Occurrences)
... Only the placing of the vowel-points makes any difference. If there is a mistake,
it is a mistake of the Massoretes, not of the Hebrew writer. ...
/o/on.htm - 17k

Mist (17 Occurrences)

/m/mist.htm - 12k

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