The concept of "prohibit" in the Bible is closely related to the idea of divine commandments, laws, and moral boundaries set by God for His people. Throughout Scripture, prohibitions serve as guidelines to maintain holiness, righteousness, and order within the community of believers. These prohibitions are often expressed through direct commandments, warnings, and teachings that delineate what is forbidden in the sight of God.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, prohibitions are primarily found within the Mosaic Law, which was given to the Israelites as a covenantal framework for living in accordance with God's will. The Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, contain several prohibitions, such as "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13) and "You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14). These commandments establish fundamental moral boundaries that reflect God's holy nature.

Leviticus, a book dedicated to laws and regulations, contains numerous prohibitions concerning ritual purity, dietary restrictions, and moral conduct. For example, Leviticus 19:11 states, "You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another" . These prohibitions are intended to set the Israelites apart as a holy nation, distinct from surrounding pagan cultures.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, Jesus and the apostles reaffirm and expand upon the moral prohibitions found in the Old Testament. Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, intensifies the understanding of the law by addressing the heart's intentions behind actions. For instance, He teaches, "You have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'Do not murder,' and 'Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment" (Matthew 5:21-22). Here, Jesus prohibits not only the act of murder but also the harboring of anger and hatred.

The apostle Paul, in his epistles, provides further guidance on Christian conduct, often listing behaviors that are prohibited for believers. In Galatians 5:19-21, Paul warns against "the works of the flesh," which include sexual immorality, idolatry, and jealousy, among others. He states, "I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:21).

Purpose and Significance

The prohibitions in Scripture serve several purposes. They are designed to protect individuals and communities from the destructive consequences of sin, to promote justice and righteousness, and to foster a relationship with God based on obedience and trust. By adhering to these prohibitions, believers demonstrate their commitment to living a life that honors God and reflects His character.

Moreover, prohibitions highlight the need for grace and redemption. The law reveals human inability to achieve righteousness through works alone, pointing to the necessity of faith in Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the law on behalf of humanity. As Paul writes in Romans 3:20, "Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin" .

In summary, biblical prohibitions are integral to understanding God's expectations for His people. They underscore the importance of holiness, guide moral behavior, and ultimately point to the redemptive work of Christ, who empowers believers to live in accordance with God's will.1. (v. t.) 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 also the doing of the thing; as, the law prohibits men from stealing, or it prohibits stealing.

2. (v. t.) To hinder; to debar; to prevent; to preclude.

1254. diakoluo -- to hinder
... forbid. From dia and koluo; to hinder altogether, ie Utterly prohibit -- forbid.
see GREEK dia. see GREEK koluo. (diekoluen) -- 1 Occurrence. 1253, 1254. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1254.htm - 6k

1291. diastello -- to set apart, fig. to distinguish, to charge ...
... Spelling: (dee-as-tel'-lom-ahee) Short Definition: I give a commission, order
Definition: I give a commission (instructions), order; I admonish, prohibit. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1291.htm - 7k

5077. nadah -- to put away, exclude
... Or nada (2 Kings 17:21) {naw-daw'}; a primitive root; properly, to toss; figuratively,
to exclude, ie Banish, postpone, prohibit -- cast out, drive, put far ...
/hebrew/5077.htm - 6k

3607. kala -- to shut up, restrain, withhold
... A primitive root; to restrict, by act (hold back or in) or word (prohibit) -- finish,
forbid, keep (back), refrain, restrain, retain, shut up, be stayed ...
/hebrew/3607.htm - 6k

Why the Manich??ans Prohibit the Use of Flesh.
... On the Morals of the Manich??ans. Chapter 15. "Why the Manich??ans Prohibit
the Use of Flesh. 36. It is worth while to take note ...
/.../chapter 15 name the manichaeans.htm

Whether the New Law Ought to Prescribe or Prohibit any External ...
... OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE CONTAINED IN THE NEW LAW (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether the
New Law ought to prescribe or prohibit any external acts? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the new law ought.htm

Article xxii (X): of Both Kinds in the Lord's Supper.
... nothing; we but leave the prudent reader to determine what should be held concerning
the divine ordinance [whether it is proper to prohibit and change an ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 27 article xxii x .htm

Miscellaneous Subjects.
... To explain some texts that seem to prohibit women from laboring in the gospel and
to prove positively to you that women did so labor in the morning light of ...
/.../orr/the gospel day /chapter xvi miscellaneous subjects.htm

Human Government.
... vegetables as it does of men. The question is, what kind of killing does
this commandment prohibit? Certainly not all killing of ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xxi human government.htm

Of the Anger of God and Man.
... But, however, the matter is not so; for if He should altogether prohibit anger,
He Himself would have been in some measure the censurer of His own workmanship ...
/.../chap xxi of the anger of.htm

In the Attribute of Justice, Marcion's God is Hopelessly Weak and ...
... Nay, it was his duty even to have permitted what he was about to prohibit in
so unreasonable a way, as to annex no penalty to the offence. ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xxvi in the attribute of.htm

I Would Add, Moreover, that they Themselves...
... For in the times, too, of the prophets, the kings who, in dealing with the people
of God, did not prohibit nor annul the ordinances which were issued contrary ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 2 6 i.htm

Epistle Lvi. To John, Bishop.
... faults, which are denied. Yet we know this to have been done once and again,
and we prohibit its being done any more. But let thy ...
/.../gregory/the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle lvi to john bishop.htm

Article xxviii: of Ecclesiastical Power.
... But there are clear testimonies which prohibit the making of such traditions,
as though they merited grace or were necessary to salvation. ...
/.../the augsburg confession of faith/article xxviii of ecclesiastical power.htm

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

Wife (437 Occurrences)
... The law of Moses regulated but did not prohibit polygamy. A man might have
a plurality of wives, but a wife could have only one husband. ...
/w/wife.htm - 42k

Interdict (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v.) To forbid; to prohibit; as, to interdict
contact with foreign nations. 2. (n.) To lay under an ...
/i/interdict.htm - 9k

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

Enjoin (15 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To urge; to direct with authority; to order; to charge. 2. (vt) To prohibit
or restrain by a judicial order or decree; to put an injunction on. ...
/e/enjoin.htm - 11k

Discharge (30 Occurrences)
... to; to utter; as, to discharge a horrible oath. 12. (vt) To prohibit; to
forbid. 13. (vi) To throw off or deliver a load, charge ...
/d/discharge.htm - 18k

Defend (38 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To ward or fend off; to drive back or
away; to repel. 2. (vt) To prohibit; to forbid. 3. (vt) To ...
/d/defend.htm - 17k

Progressed (1 Occurrence)

/p/progressed.htm - 6k

Prohibited (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Prohibit. Multi-Version Concordance
Prohibited (2 Occurrences). Numbers 30:5 But if her ...
/p/prohibited.htm - 7k

Pardon (31 Occurrences)
... Numbers 30:8 But if her husband prohibit her on the day that he heareth it, and
annul her vow which is upon her, and what hath passed her lips, wherewith she ...
/p/pardon.htm - 18k

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