Definition and General Understanding:
The term "pry" generally refers to the act of inquiring impertinently or intrusively into the private affairs of others. In a biblical context, prying is often associated with a lack of respect for personal boundaries and an inappropriate curiosity that can lead to gossip, slander, or judgment. The Bible warns against such behavior, emphasizing the importance of minding one's own business and respecting the privacy of others.

Biblical References and Principles:

1. Respect for Privacy:
The Bible underscores the importance of respecting others' privacy and not engaging in prying behavior. In 1 Thessalonians 4:11 , believers are encouraged to "make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your hands, just as we instructed you." This verse highlights the value of focusing on one's own responsibilities rather than meddling in the affairs of others.

2. Warnings Against Gossip:
Prying often leads to gossip, which is strongly condemned in Scripture. Proverbs 20:19 states, "He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips." This proverb warns against associating with those who cannot keep confidences and who indulge in spreading rumors.

3. Judgment and Hypocrisy:
Prying can also lead to judgmental attitudes and hypocrisy. Jesus addressed this issue in Matthew 7:1-5 , where He taught, "Do not judge, or you will be judged. For with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you." He further illustrated the hypocrisy of focusing on the speck in another's eye while ignoring the plank in one's own eye. This teaching encourages self-examination rather than scrutinizing others.

4. The Role of Love:
Love is a central theme in the Bible, and it is incompatible with prying. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 describes love as patient, kind, and not self-seeking. Love "keeps no record of wrongs" and "always protects." These attributes of love suggest a respect for others' privacy and a focus on building up rather than tearing down.

5. The Example of Jesus:
Jesus exemplified respect for individuals' privacy and dignity. He often engaged with people in a way that honored their personal accounts and needs without prying. For instance, in His encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-26), Jesus revealed His knowledge of her life not to shame her but to offer her living water and transformation.

Practical Application:
Believers are called to exercise discernment and restraint in their interactions with others. The biblical admonition to "mind your own business" serves as a reminder to focus on one's own spiritual growth and responsibilities. Christians are encouraged to cultivate a spirit of love and respect, avoiding the temptation to pry into matters that do not concern them. By doing so, they reflect the character of Christ and foster a community marked by trust and integrity.1. (v. t.) To raise or move with a pry or lever; to meddle.

2. (n.) A lever; also, leverage.

3. (v. i.) To peep narrowly; to gaze; to inspect closely; to attempt to discover something by a scrutinizing curiosity; -- often implying reproach.

4. (n.) Curious inspection; impertinent peeping.

1687. embateuo -- to set foot upon
... Verb Transliteration: embateuo Phonetic Spelling: (em-bat-yoo'-o) Short Definition:
I enter, set foot on Definition: I enter, set foot on, intrude, pry into. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1687.htm - 6k2658. chaphar -- to dig, search for
... dig, paw, search out, seek. A primitive root; properly, to pry into; by implication,
to delve, to explore -- dig, paw, search out, seek. 2657, 2658. ...
/hebrew/2658.htm - 6k

The Construction of a Theodicy, not an Attempt to Solve Mysteries ...
... to refute the atheist, and vindicate the glory of the divine perfections, so it
would be a grievous mistake to suppose, that we are about to pry into the holy ...
/.../a theodicy or vindication of the divine glory/section v the construction of.htm

They Again Object, are Those, Then, to be Deprived of Every Pious ...
... I have no wish curiously to pry into what they do or meditate; but the probability
is, that instead of being subject to the impulse of various and particular ...
/.../of prayer--a perpetual exercise of faith/chapter 24 they again object.htm

Christ's Humiliation in his Incarnation
... take flesh? We must not ask a reason of God's will; it is dangerous to
pry into God's ark; we are not to dispute but adore. The ...
/.../watson/a body of divinity/6 christs humiliation in his.htm

The Holy Ghost --The Great Teacher
... discovered to us second causes; and hence, many have too much forgotten the first
Great Cause, the Author of all: they have been able so far to pry into secrets ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the holy ghostthe great teacher.htm

Glorious Predestination
... PREDESTINATION. Into predestination itself I will not now pry. ... divine? We must not
pry into it, but we know that he was verily of the nature of God. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/glorious predestination.htm

Of the Eternal Election, by which God Has Predestinated Some to ...
... [494] For it is not right that man should with impunity pry into things which the
Lord has been pleased to conceal within himself, and scan that sublime ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 21 of the eternal.htm

Confession of Sin Illustrated by the Cases of Dr. Pritchard and ...
... Without wishing to say a single word with regard to the state of soul of either
of these persons"for into that it is no business of mine to pry"it seems to ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 11 1865/confession of sin illustrated by.htm

The Corruption of Man, his Conversion to God, and the Manner ...
... their demerits, are bound to acknowledge it with humble and grateful hearts, and
with the apostle to adore, but in no wise curiously to pry into, the severity ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/synod of dort/the corruption of man his.htm

Dedication.
... their necks, and bow down their heads to look and peep into, (as the word used,
1 Peter 1:12, importeth) is a subject for angelical heads to pry into, for the ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/dedication.htm

The Failure of Plato and Other Ancient Philosophers to Construct a ...
... of the natural world was unavoidably concealed from mortals, and that it was a sort
of presumptuous impiety, displeasing to the gods, for men to pry into it. ...
/.../a theodicy or vindication of the divine glory/section i the failure of.htm

Pry (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To raise or move with a pry or lever;
to meddle. ... Multi-Version Concordance Pry (1 Occurrence). ...
/p/pry.htm - 7k

Prize (13 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) A contest for a reward; competition. 7. (n.) A lever; a pry; also, the hold
of a lever. 8. (vt) To move with a lever; to force up or open; to pry. ...
/p/prize.htm - 13k

Nose (23 Occurrences)
... 7. (vi) To smell; to sniff; to scent. 8. (vi) To pry officiously into what does
not concern one. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. FLAT NOSE. ...
/n/nose.htm - 19k

Owl (11 Occurrences)
... habits. 2. (n.) A variety of the domestic pigeon. 3. (vi) To pry about;
to prowl. 4. (vi) To carry wool or sheep out of England. ...
/o/owl.htm - 18k

Traps (8 Occurrences)
... (WEB). Jeremiah 5:26 For among My people are found wicked men; they pry, as fowlers
lie in wait; they set a trap, they catch men. (See NIV). ...
/t/traps.htm - 8k

Mouse (2 Occurrences)
... 7. (vi) To watch for and catch mice. 8. (vi) To watch for or pursue anything
in a sly manner; to pry about, on the lookout for something. ...
/m/mouse.htm - 10k

Pruning-knives (4 Occurrences)
Pruning-knives. Pruning-hooks, Pruning-knives. Pry . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(DBY). Pruning-hooks, Pruning-knives. Pry . Reference Bible.
/p/pruning-knives.htm - 7k

Peep (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (vi) To look cautiously or slyly; to peer, as through a crevice; to pry. 4.
(n.) The cry of a young chicken; a chirp. 5. (n.) First outlook or appearance. ...
/p/peep.htm - 8k

Paw (4 Occurrences)
... The word is usually translated "to delve into," "to pry into," "to explore."
HLE Luering. Multi-Version Concordance Paw (4 Occurrences). ...
/p/paw.htm - 8k

Peak (1 Occurrence)
... a peak. 7. (vi) To acquire sharpness of figure or features; hence, to look
thin or sickly. 8. (vi) To pry; to peep slyly. 9. (vt ...
/p/peak.htm - 7k

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