Protest
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In the context of the Bible, the concept of protest can be understood as an expression of objection or disapproval, often in response to perceived injustice or unrighteousness. Throughout Scripture, various individuals and groups have engaged in acts of protest, either against human authorities or in response to divine commands.

Old Testament Instances

One of the earliest examples of protest in the Bible is found in the account of Moses. When God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses initially protested, expressing his doubts and concerns about his ability to fulfill such a monumental task. In Exodus 3:11 , Moses says, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" This protest highlights a common human reaction to divine calling, characterized by humility and self-doubt.

The prophets of the Old Testament frequently engaged in acts of protest against the social and religious injustices of their time. For instance, the prophet Amos vehemently protested against the exploitation and oppression of the poor by the wealthy elite of Israel. In Amos 5:24 , he declares, "But let justice roll on like a river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." This call for justice serves as a powerful protest against the moral decay and corruption prevalent in society.

New Testament Examples

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ Himself can be seen as a figure of protest against the religious hypocrisy and legalism of the Pharisees and Sadducees. His cleansing of the temple, as recorded in Matthew 21:12-13 , is a vivid act of protest: "Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 'It is written,' He said to them, 'My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.'" This act underscores Jesus' commitment to restoring true worship and justice.

The apostles also engaged in protest, particularly when faced with opposition to their preaching of the Gospel. In Acts 4:19-20 , Peter and John respond to the Sanhedrin's command to stop teaching in the name of Jesus: "But Peter and John replied, 'Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God. For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.'" Their protest is rooted in obedience to God over human authority.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, protest in the Bible is often associated with a call to righteousness and justice. It reflects a deep commitment to God's standards and a willingness to stand against wrongdoing, even at personal cost. Biblical protest is not merely an act of defiance but is often motivated by a desire to align with God's will and purposes.

Practical Application

For believers today, the biblical examples of protest serve as a reminder of the importance of standing up for truth and justice. Whether confronting societal injustices or addressing issues within the church, Christians are called to be voices of righteousness, guided by Scripture and empowered by the Holy Spirit. As Ephesians 5:11 exhorts, "Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." This call to action encourages believers to engage in protest that is constructive, redemptive, and rooted in love.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (v. i.) To affirm in a public or formal manner; to bear witness; to declare solemnly; to avow.

2. (v. i.) To make a solemn declaration (often a written one) expressive of opposition; -- with against; as, he protest against your votes.

3. (v. t.) To make a solemn declaration or affirmation of; to proclaim; to display; as, to protest one's loyalty.

4. (v. t.) To call as a witness in affirming or denying, or to prove an affirmation; to appeal to.

5. (n.) A solemn declaration of opinion, commonly a formal objection against some act; especially, a formal and solemn declaration, in writing, of dissent from the proceedings of a legislative body; as, the protest of lords in Parliament.

6. (n.) A solemn declaration in writing, in due form, made by a notary public, usually under his notarial seal, on behalf of the holder of a bill or note, protesting against all parties liable for any loss or damage by the nonacceptance or nonpayment of the bill, or by the nonpayment of the note, as the case may be.

7. (n.) A declaration made by the master of a vessel before a notary, consul, or other authorized officer, upon his arrival in port after a disaster, stating the particulars of it, and showing that any damage or loss sustained was not owing to the fault of the vessel, her officers or crew, but to the perils of the sea, etc., ads the case may be, and protesting against them.

8. (n.) A declaration made by a party, before or while paying a tax, duty, or the like, demanded of him, which he deems illegal, denying the justice of the demand, and asserting his rights and claims, in order to show that the payment was not voluntary.

Greek
4303. promarturomai -- to say beforehand
... Verb Transliteration: promarturomai Phonetic Spelling: (prom-ar-too'-rom-ahee) Short
Definition: I predict Definition: I predict, testify or protest beforehand ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4303.htm - 7k

3143. marturomai -- to summon as witness, to affirm
... I call to witness, testify, solemnly charge Definition: (properly: I call (summon)
to witness, and then absolutely) I testify, protest, asseverate; I conjure ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3143.htm - 6k

3513. ne -- by (a particle of affirmation employed in oaths)
... Probably an intensive form of nai; a particle of attestation (accompanied by the
object invoked or appealed to in confirmation); as sure as -- I protest by. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3513.htm - 6k

1263. diamarturomai -- to affirm solemnly
... charge, testify unto, witness. From dia and martureo; to attest or protest earnestly,
or (by implication) hortatively -- charge, testify (unto), witness. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1263.htm - 8k

Strong's Hebrew
5749. uwd -- to return, go about, repeat, do again
... admonish, charge, earnestly, lift up, protest, call take to record, relieve,
rob, A primitive root; to duplicate or repeat; by implication ...
/hebrew/5749.htm - 5k

5375. nasa -- to lift, carry, take
... carried (1), obtained (1), offer (3), pardon (2), pardons (1), partial* (2), partiality*
(8), pick (1), picked (1), picks (3), promoted (1), protest (1), put (1 ...
/hebrew/5375.htm - 8k

Library

Protest of the Princes.
... 11. PROTEST OF THE PRINCES. ... Their Protest gave to the reformed church the name of
Protestant; its principles are "the very essence of Protestantism."(283). ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /11 protest of the princes.htm

Protest of the Princes
... Chapter 11 Protest of the Princes. One of the noblest testimonies ever
uttered for the Reformation was the Protest offered by the ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 11 protest of the.htm

Protest and Agony. (I, iv. 10, 19, vi. 11, xi. 18-xii. 6, xv. 10 ...
... 1. Protest and Agony. (I, IV. ... His first word is one of shrinking, I cannot speak,
I am too young.(682) The voice of pain and protest is in most of his Oracles. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/1 protest and agony i.htm

Of the Need for Some Protest against the Psychics and their Self ...
... Chapter XII"Of the Need for Some Protest Against the Psychics and Their
Self-Indulgence. For, by this time, in this respect as ...
/.../on fasting in opposition to the psychics/chapter xiiof the need for.htm

On Re-Reading My Protest, which I Honestly Think Much Needed...
... Chapter 48 On re-reading my protest, which I honestly think much needed?
On re-reading my protest, which I honestly think much ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 48 on re-reading my.htm

Daniel's First Protest against Idolatry.
... CHAPTER TWO. DANIEL'S FIRST PROTEST AGAINST IDOLATRY. One day when Daniel
was about ten years old, and living with his father in ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/hodson/old daniel/chapter two daniels first protest.htm

The Designation of the one God in the Prophetic Scriptures ...
... Chapter XVIII."The Designation of the One God in the Prophetic Scriptures Intended
as a Protest Against Heathen Idolatry, It Does Not Preclude the ...
/.../tertullian/against praxeas/chapter xviii the designation of the.htm

Achamoth in Love with the Angels a Protest against the Lascivious ...
... Chapter XVII."Achamoth in Love with the Angels A Protest Against the Lascivious
Features of Valentinianism. Achamoth Becomes the Mother of Three Natures. ...
/.../tertullian/against the valentinians/chapter xvii achamoth in love with.htm

The Council of Tyre and First Exile of Athanasius, 335-337.
... p.138). Equally unsuccessful was the protest of the Egyptian bishops against
the credit of the Meletian witnesses (p.140). But on ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 5 the council of.htm

Joseph of Arimathea
... In this protest no doubt Nicodemus would have sided with him, but he was probably
absent, for Joseph seems to have stood alone in his refusal to condemn the ...
/.../milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/joseph of arimathea.htm

Thesaurus
Protest (37 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To make a solemn declaration (often a written one) expressive of
opposition; -- with against; as, he protest against your votes. ...
/p/protest.htm - 18k

Nazirite (10 Occurrences)
... the native population, began to mix freely with them, the local worship, full of
tempting Dionysiac elements, brought forth this religious protest in favor of ...
/n/nazirite.htm - 21k

Forewarn (9 Occurrences)
... Genesis 43:3 And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto
us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. ...
/f/forewarn.htm - 9k

Responsible (242 Occurrences)
... Acts 18:6 But upon their opposing him with abusive language, he shook his clothes
by way of protest, and said to them, "Your ruin will be upon your own heads. ...
/r/responsible.htm - 37k

Ruin (135 Occurrences)
... Acts 18:6 But upon their opposing him with abusive language, he shook his clothes
by way of protest, and said to them, "Your ruin will be upon your own heads. ...
/r/ruin.htm - 37k

Protested (11 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Protest. Multi-Version Concordance
Protested (11 Occurrences). Matthew 3:14 John protested. ...
/p/protested.htm - 9k

Countryman (19 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 5:7 And after turning it over in my mind, I made a protest to the chiefs
and the rulers, and said to them, Every one of you is taking interest from ...
/c/countryman.htm - 13k

Interest (35 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 5:7 And after turning it over in my mind, I made a protest to the chiefs
and the rulers, and said to them, Every one of you is taking interest from ...
/i/interest.htm - 21k

Protects (7 Occurrences)

/p/protects.htm - 8k

Earnestly (78 Occurrences)
... (WBS). Genesis 43:3 And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest
unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. ...
/e/earnestly.htm - 28k

Resources
How is belief in God any different from Flying Spaghetti Monsterism? | GotQuestions.org

What is Westboro Baptist Church? | GotQuestions.org

What is a Protestant? | GotQuestions.org

Protest: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Protest (37 Occurrences)

Matthew 20:11
And when they got it, they made a protest against the master of the house,
(BBE)

Mark 10:48
And some of them, turning in protest, gave him an order to be quiet: but he went on crying out all the more, Son of David, have mercy on me.
(BBE)

Luke 3:19
But Herod the king, because John had made a protest on account of Herodias, his brother's wife, and other evil things which Herod had done,
(BBE)

Luke 9:5
Wherever they refuse to receive you, as you leave that town shake off the very dust from your feet as a protest against them."
(WEY)

Luke 10:11
"'The very dust of your town that hangs about us we wipe off as a protest. Only be sure of this, that the Kingdom of God is close at hand.'
(WEY NAS)

Acts 13:51
But they shook off the dust from their feet as a protest against them and came to Iconium;
(WEY NAS NIV)

Acts 18:6
But upon their opposing him with abusive language, he shook his clothes by way of protest, and said to them, "Your ruin will be upon your own heads. I am not responsible: in future I will go among the Gentiles."
(WEY NIV)

Acts 19:38
If, then, Demetrius and the workmen who are with him have a protest to make against any man, the law is open to them, and there are judges; let them put up a cause at law against one another.
(BBE)

Acts 20:26
Therefore I protest to you to-day that I am not responsible for the ruin of any one of you.
(WEY)

Acts 28:19
But when the Jews made protest against it, I had to put my cause into Caesar's hands; not because I have anything to say against my nation.
(BBE)

1 Corinthians 15:31
I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
(KJV WEY ASV WBS RSV)

Galatians 2:11
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I made a protest against him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.
(BBE)

Galatians 5:3
I once more protest to every man who receives circumcision that he is under obligation to obey the whole Law of Moses.
(WEY)

Titus 2:8
Saying true and right words, against which no protest may be made, so that he who is not on our side may be put to shame, unable to say any evil of us.
(BBE)

Titus 3:10
A man whose opinions are not those of the church, after a first and second protest, is to be kept out of your society;
(BBE)

Genesis 21:25
But Abraham made a protest to Abimelech because of a water-hole which Abimelech's servants had taken by force.
(BBE)

Genesis 43:3
And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
(KJV ASV WBS YLT)

Exodus 19:21
And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Go down, protest to the people, lest they break through unto Jehovah to see, and many of them have fallen;
(YLT)

Leviticus 19:17
Let there be no hate in your heart for your brother; but you may make a protest to your neighbour, so that he may be stopped from doing evil.
(BBE)

1 Samuel 8:9
Now therefore listen to their voice: however you shall protest solemnly to them, and shall show them the manner of the king who shall reign over them."
(WEB KJV ASV BBE WBS YLT)

1 Kings 2:42
And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word that I have heard is good.
(Root in KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS)

Nehemiah 5:7
And after turning it over in my mind, I made a protest to the chiefs and the rulers, and said to them, Every one of you is taking interest from his countryman. And I got together a great meeting of protest.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 13:27
Are we then without protest to let you do all this great evil, sinning against our God by taking strange women for your wives?
(BBE)

Psalms 50:21
These things have you done, and I said nothing; it seemed to you that I was such a one as yourself; but I will make a protest against you, and put them in order before your eyes.
(BBE)

Proverbs 1:30
They had no desire for my teaching, and my words of protest were as nothing to them.
(BBE)

Proverbs 17:10
A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.
(BBE)

Proverbs 25:15
A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes wrongs without protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is broken.
(BBE)

Proverbs 27:5
Better is open protest than love kept secret.
(BBE)

Proverbs 28:23
He who says words of protest to a man will later have more approval than one who says smooth words with his tongue.
(BBE)

Ecclesiastes 5:6
Don't allow your mouth to lead you into sin. Don't protest before the messenger that this was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands?
(WEB NIV)

Ecclesiastes 7:5
It is better to take note of the protest of the wise, than for a man to give ear to the song of the foolish.
(BBE)

Isaiah 3:7
Then he will say with an oath, I will not be a helper, for in my house there is no bread or clothing: I will not let you make me a ruler of the people.
(See NAS)

Jeremiah 29:27
So why have you made no protest against Jeremiah of Anathoth, who is acting as a prophet to you?
(BBE)

Lamentations 3:39
What protest may a living man make, even a man about the punishment of his sin?
(BBE)

Amos 5:10
They have hate for him who makes protest against evil in the public place, and he whose words are upright is disgusting to them.
(BBE)

Habakkuk 2:1
I will take my position and be on watch, placing myself on my tower, looking out to see what he will say to me, and what answer he will give to my protest.
(BBE)

Zechariah 3:6
The angel of Yahweh protested to Joshua, saying,
(Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Subtopics

Protest

Related Terms

Protesting (12 Occurrences)

Protest (37 Occurrences)

Forewarned (15 Occurrences)

Declared (261 Occurrences)

Disown (18 Occurrences)

Manner (351 Occurrences)

Nicodemus (5 Occurrences)

Oded (3 Occurrences)

Jotham (26 Occurrences)

Walkest (11 Occurrences)

Iscariot (11 Occurrences)

Forewarning (1 Occurrence)

Thomas (12 Occurrences)

Rachel (42 Occurrences)

Enchantment (4 Occurrences)

Enjoined (20 Occurrences)

Menelaus

Persistently (16 Occurrences)

Benediction

Betimes (17 Occurrences)

Admonished (16 Occurrences)

Adoniram (4 Occurrences)

Achbor (7 Occurrences)

Apharsachites (2 Occurrences)

Apharsathchites (1 Occurrence)

Shemaiah (40 Occurrences)

Sanctified (105 Occurrences)

Immaculate

Sanctification (13 Occurrences)

Border (233 Occurrences)

Conception (6 Occurrences)

Kingdom (409 Occurrences)

Judas (42 Occurrences)

Hazael (23 Occurrences)

Speaketh (367 Occurrences)

Unable (102 Occurrences)

Goest (79 Occurrences)

Often (74 Occurrences)

Earnestly (78 Occurrences)

Solemnly (62 Occurrences)

Swear (99 Occurrences)

Stephen (13 Occurrences)

Nonimmersionist

Non-immersionist

View (86 Occurrences)

Whither (151 Occurrences)

Relationships (1 Occurrence)

Family (438 Occurrences)

Israel (27466 Occurrences)

Baptism (76 Occurrences)

Peter (181 Occurrences)

Protects
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