Topical Bible: Reject

Jump to: Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The concept of "reject" in the Bible encompasses a range of meanings, including the refusal to accept, believe, or follow. It is often associated with the rejection of God, His commandments, His prophets, and ultimately, His Son, Jesus Christ. This entry explores the biblical understanding of rejection, its implications, and its occurrences throughout Scripture.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, rejection is frequently depicted in the context of Israel's relationship with God. The Israelites often rejected God's commandments and turned to idolatry, leading to divine judgment. For instance, in 1 Samuel 8:7, God tells Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king." This passage highlights the spiritual rebellion of the Israelites, who desired a human king over divine rule.

The prophets also faced rejection as they delivered God's messages. Jeremiah, known as the "weeping prophet," experienced significant opposition. In Jeremiah 6:19, God declares, "Hear, O earth! I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their own schemes, because they have not listened to My words and have rejected My law."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, rejection takes on a more personal dimension with the coming of Jesus Christ. The Gospels record numerous instances where Jesus was rejected by the religious leaders and even by His own people. John 1:11 states, "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him." This rejection is a fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 53:3, which describes the Messiah as "despised and rejected by men."

The rejection of Jesus is further illustrated in the parable of the tenants (Matthew 21:33-46), where the tenants reject and kill the landowner's son, symbolizing the rejection of Christ by the Jewish leaders. Jesus Himself speaks of this rejection in Luke 9:22, saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised to life."

Theological Implications

Rejection in the biblical sense often leads to consequences, both temporal and eternal. The rejection of God's commands and His messengers in the Old Testament resulted in exile and suffering for Israel. In the New Testament, the rejection of Christ is linked to spiritual blindness and eternal separation from God. Jesus warns in John 12:48, "There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day."

However, the Bible also offers hope and redemption for those who have rejected God. The account of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) illustrates God's willingness to forgive and restore those who return to Him. The apostle Paul, once a persecutor of Christians, became a leading figure in the early Church after encountering Christ (Acts 9:1-19).

Practical Application

Believers are called to examine their own hearts for areas of rejection towards God's will and to remain steadfast in faith despite facing rejection from the world. Jesus encourages His followers in John 15:18-19, "If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world."

In summary, the theme of rejection in the Bible serves as a sobering reminder of the human tendency to turn away from God, yet it also underscores His enduring grace and the promise of reconciliation for those who seek Him.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (v. t.) To cast from one; to throw away; to discard.

2. (v. t.) To refuse to receive or to acknowledge; to decline haughtily or harshly; to repudiate.

3. (v. t.) To refuse to grant; as, to reject a prayer or request.

Greek

593. apodokimazo -- to reject
... to reject. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apodokimazo Phonetic Spelling:
(ap-od-ok-ee-mad'-zo) Short Definition: I reject after testing, I disqualify ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/593.htm - 7k

3868. paraiteomai -- to beg from, to beg off
... off. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: paraiteomai Phonetic Spelling:
(par-ahee-teh'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I make excuse, refuse, reject Definition: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3868.htm - 7k

114. atheteo -- to do away with what has been laid down, set aside
... 114 (literally, , "un-place") -- properly, ; reject what is already laid down; to
(disregard as spurious); nullify, make void; to break faith (); remove out of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/114.htm - 8k

1609. ekptuo -- to spit out, to spurn
... out, to spurn. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekptuo Phonetic Spelling:
(ek-ptoo'-o) Short Definition: I spit upon, disdain, reject, loathe Definition: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1609.htm - 7k

683. apotheo -- to thrust away
... thrust away. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apotheo Phonetic Spelling:
(ap-o-theh'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I push or thrust away, reject Definition: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/683.htm - 6k

654. apostrepho -- to turn away, turn back
... turn back. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apostrepho Phonetic Spelling:
(ap-os-tref'-o) Short Definition: I turn away, restore, reject Definition: I turn ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/654.htm - 8k

3456. mukterizo -- to turn up the nose or sneer at
... disdain. 3456 (from , "nose") -- properly, to turn up the nose, turning away
to ; (figuratively) mock, scornfully disdain ( reject). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3456.htm - 6k

1692. emeo -- to vomit
... 1692 -- properly, vomit (); (figuratively) repulsed, showing utter rejection (desiring
total separation); "to reject with extreme disgust" (, 6, 321). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1692.htm - 6k

1592. ekmukterizo -- to hold up the nose in derision of
... 1592 (from 1537 , "out of" and 3456 , "to blow the nose," see there) -- properly,
turn the nose out (up), ie , ; (figuratively) reject ("blow someone off ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1592.htm - 7k

545. apeithes -- disobedient
... 545 ("unpersuaded") begins with the decision to reject what , with His
offer to about His preferred-will (cf. 2307 ). See 543 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/545.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

2186a. zanach -- to reject, spurn
... 2186, 2186a. zanach. 2186b . to reject, spurn. Transliteration: zanach Short
Definition: rejected. Word Origin a prim. root Definition ...
/hebrew/2186a.htm - 5k

2186. zanach -- to reject, spurn
... zanach. 2186a . to reject, spurn. Transliteration: zanach Phonetic Spelling:
(zaw-nakh') Short Definition: reject. cast away off, remove far away off ...
/hebrew/2186.htm - 5k

3988a. maas -- to reject
... 3988, 3988a. maas. 3988b . to reject. Transliteration: maas Short Definition:
rejected. Word Origin a prim. root Definition to reject ...
/hebrew/3988a.htm - 5k

3988. ma'ac -- to reject
ma'ac. 3987, 3988. ma'ac. 3988a . to reject. Transliteration: ma'ac Phonetic
Spelling: (maw-as') Short Definition: abhor. abhor, cast ...
/hebrew/3988.htm - 5k

1602. gaal -- to abhor, loathe
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to abhor, loathe NASB Word Usage abhor (2),
abhorred (1), abhors (1), defiled (1), fail (1), loathed (3), reject (1). ...
/hebrew/1602.htm - 6k

1920. hadaph -- to thrust, drive, push
... root Definition to thrust, drive, push NASB Word Usage depose (1), driven (2), driving
(1), push (1), push her away (1), pushed (2), reject (1), thrust (2 ...
/hebrew/1920.htm - 6k

5541. calah -- to make light of, toss aside
... calah. 5541a . to make light of, toss aside. Transliteration: calah Phonetic Spelling:
(saw-law') Short Definition: reject. tread down under foot, value ...
/hebrew/5541.htm - 5k

5010. naar -- probably to abhor, spurn
... abandoned (1), spurned (1). abhor, make void. A primitive root; to reject -- abhor,
make void. 5009, 5010. naar. 5011 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5010.htm - 5k

5203. natash -- to leave, forsake, permit
... to pound, ie Smite; by implication (as if beating out, and thus expanding) to disperse;
also, to thrust off, down, out or upon (inclusively, reject, let alone ...
/hebrew/5203.htm - 6k

5234. nakar -- to regard, recognize
... acknowledge, be acquainted with, care for, respect, revere, or (with suspicion implied),
to disregard, ignore, be strange toward, reject, resign, dissimulate ...
/hebrew/5234.htm - 6k

Library

I Reject this Predestination for the Following Reasons:
... 3. I REJECT THIS PREDESTINATION FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS. I. Because it is not
the foundation of Christianity, of Salvation, or of its certainty. ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/3 i reject this predestination.htm

The First Opinion, which I Reject, but which is Espoused by those ...
... 1. The first opinion, which I reject, but which is espoused by those [Supralapsarians]
who assume the very highest ground of this Predestination. ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/1 the first opinion which.htm

Of those who Reject the Doctrines of Philosophers, as Well as ...
... The Oration of the emperor constantine, which he addressed "to the assembly of the
saints." Chapter X."Of those who reject the Doctrines of Philosophers, as ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter x of those who reject.htm

The Jews Reject the Interpretation of the Lxx. , from Which ...
... Chapter LXXI."The Jews reject the interpretation of the LXX., from which,
moreover, they have taken away some passages. "But I ...
/.../chapter lxxi the jews reject the.htm

The Jews Reject Jesus.
... THREE HOSTILE QUESTIONS ASKED OF JESUS. THE JEWS REJECT JESUS. But though
he had done so many signs before them, yet they believed ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/the jews reject jesus.htm

Letter iii. Having in the Former Two Letters Defined the Doctrine ...
... LETTERS ON THE INSPIRATION OF THE SCRIPTURES. LETTER III. Having in the former
two Letters defined the doctrine which I reject? My dear friend, ...
/.../coleridge/confessions of an inquiring spirit etc/letter iii having in the.htm

(Of Marriages among Blood-Relations, and of those who are Born of ...
... The Second Epistle. IV. (Of marriages among blood-relations, and of those who
are born of them; and of accusations which the laws reject.). ...
/.../unknown/the decretals/iv of marriages among blood-relations.htm

Faustus Fails to Understand Why He Should be Required Either to ...
... Faustus fails to understand why he should be required either to accept or reject
the New Testament as a whole, while the Catholics accept or reject the various ...
/.../faustus fails to understand why.htm

The Opinion of Justin with Regard to the Reign of a Thousand Years ...
... Chapter LXXX."The opinion of Justin with regard to the reign of a thousand
years Several Catholics reject it. And Trypho to this ...
/.../chapter lxxx the opinion of justin.htm

Of the Fact that those Persons who Reject the God of Israel, in ...
... the harmony of the gospels.Book I. Chapter XXIV."Of the Fact that Those Persons
Who Reject the God of Israel, in Consequence Fail to Worship All the Gods; And ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxiv of the fact that.htm

Thesaurus

Reject (56 Occurrences)
... repudiate. 3. (vt) To refuse to grant; as, to reject a prayer or request.
Multi-Version Concordance Reject (56 Occurrences). Mark ...
/r/reject.htm - 21k

Abhor (23 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To protest against; to reject solemnly. ... ABHOR. ab-hor': "To cast away,"
"reject," "despise," "defy," "contemn," "loathe," etc. ...
/a/abhor.htm - 14k

Spurn (13 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To reject with disdain; to scorn to receive or accept; to treat with contempt. ...
(See NAS). Psalms 77:7 "Will the Lord reject us forever? ...
/s/spurn.htm - 10k

Rejecting (9 Occurrences)
... & vb. n.) of Reject. ... Rejecting (9 Occurrences). Mark 7:9 He said to them, "Full well
do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. ...
/r/rejecting.htm - 8k

Ignore (13 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To throw out or reject as false or ungrounded; -- said of a bill rejected
by a grand jury for want of evidence. See Ignoramus. ...
/i/ignore.htm - 10k

Renounce (12 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To declare against; to reject or decline formally; to refuse to own or
acknowledge as belonging to one; to disclaim; as, to renounce a title to land or ...
/r/renounce.htm - 10k

Refuse (103 Occurrences)
... attacks. 3. (vt) To decline to accept; to reject; to deny the request or
petition of; as, to refuse a suitor. 4. (vt) To disown. ...
/r/refuse.htm - 36k

Disallow (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To refuse to allow; to deny the force or validity
of; to disown and reject; as, the judge disallowed the executor's charge. Int. ...
/d/disallow.htm - 8k

Discard (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (vt) To throw out of one's hand, as superfluous cards; to reject; to lay aside
(a card or cards). ... 3. (vt) To put or thrust away; to reject. ...
/d/discard.htm - 7k

Rejected (96 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Reject. Multi-Version Concordance ... Romans
11:1 I ask then, did God reject his people? May it never be! ...
/r/rejected.htm - 36k

Resources

Why do people reject Jesus as their Savior? | GotQuestions.org

Why do most Jews reject Jesus as the Messiah? | GotQuestions.org

Do the Qur'an and Muhammad affirm or reject the Bible? Should a Muslim read the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Reject: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Reject (56 Occurrences)

Mark 6:26
And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.
(KJV ASV WBS)

Mark 7:9
He said to them, "Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS RSV)

Luke 6:22
Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and when they shall exclude and mock you, and throw out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake.
(See NIV)

John 3:11
In most solemn truth I tell you that we speak what we know, and give testimony of that of which we were eye-witnesses, and yet you all reject our testimony.
(WEY)

John 6:37
All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me; and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise reject.
(WBS)

Acts 13:46
Then Paul and Barnabas became bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you: but seeing ye reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
(WBS NIV)

Romans 2:8
but to those who are self-seeking, and don't obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation,
(See NIV)

Romans 11:1
I ask then, did God reject his people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Romans 11:2
God didn't reject his people, which he foreknew. Or don't you know what the Scripture says about Elijah? How he pleads with God against Israel:
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Galatians 4:14
That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn't despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

1 Thessalonians 4:8
Therefore he who rejects this doesn't reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you.
(Root in WEB ASV NAS NIV)

1 Timothy 4:7
and the profane and old women's fables reject thou, and exercise thyself unto piety,
(YLT)

Titus 1:14
not paying attention to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.
(See RSV NIV)

Titus 3:10
A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
(KJV WBS YLT NAS)

Hebrews 12:25
See that you don't refuse him who speaks. For if they didn't escape when they refused him who warned on the Earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven,
(See RSV)

1 Peter 4:17
For the time has come for judgement to begin, and to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who reject God's Good News?
(WEY)

Jude 1:8
Yet in like manner these also in their dreaming defile the flesh, despise authority, and slander celestial beings.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 26:11
I will set my tent among you: and my soul won't abhor you.
(See NAS)

Leviticus 26:15
and if you shall reject my statutes, and if your soul abhors my ordinances, so that you will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant;
(WEB JPS ASV NAS NIV)

Leviticus 26:44
Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them; for I am Yahweh their God;
(WEB JPS ASV YLT NAS NIV)

1 Samuel 12:22
For Yahweh will not forsake his people for his great name's sake, because it has pleased Yahweh to make you a people to himself.
(See NIV)

1 Samuel 15:23
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because you have rejected the word of Yahweh, he has also rejected you from being king."
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 15:26
Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of Yahweh, and Yahweh has rejected you from being king over Israel."
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 9:7
then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have made holy for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all peoples.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 13:23
And the LORD was gracious to them, and had compassion on them, and had respect to them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither did he as yet reject them from his presence.
(WBS)

2 Kings 17:15
They rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified to them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the nations that were around them, concerning whom Yahweh had commanded them that they should not do like them.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 23:27
And Jehovah said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will reject this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.
(DBY WBS YLT NIV)

1 Chronicles 28:9
You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
(See NAS NIV)

2 Chronicles 6:42
Yahweh God, don't turn away the face of your anointed: remember your loving kindnesses to David your servant.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 7:20
then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have made holy for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples.
(See NIV)

Job 8:20
Lo, God doth not reject the perfect, Nor taketh hold on the hand of evil doers.
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Job 10:3
Is it good to you that you should oppress, that you should despise the work of your hands, and smile on the counsel of the wicked?
(See NAS)

Job 29:24
I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They didn't reject the light of my face.
(WEB)

Job 34:33
Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.
(See NAS RSV)

Psalms 27:9
Don't hide your face from me. Don't put your servant away in anger. You have been my help. Don't abandon me, neither forsake me, God of my salvation.
(See NIV)

Psalms 36:4
He plots iniquity on his bed. He sets himself in a way that is not good. He doesn't abhor evil.
(See NIV)

Psalms 44:23
Wake up! Why do you sleep, Lord? Arise! Don't reject us forever.
(WEB NAS NIV)

Psalms 71:9
Don't reject me in my old age. Don't forsake me when my strength fails.
(WEB)

Psalms 77:7
"Will the Lord reject us forever? Will he be favorable no more?
(WEB NAS NIV)

Psalms 88:14
Yahweh, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me?
(WEB NAS NIV)

Psalms 89:38
But you have rejected and spurned. You have been angry with your anointed.
(Root in WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 94:14
For Yahweh won't reject his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
(WEB NIV)

Psalms 119:118
You reject all those who stray from your statutes, for their deceit is in vain.
(WEB NAS NIV)

Psalms 132:10
Because of your servant David, do not give up your king.
(See NIV)

Proverbs 1:8
My son, give ear to the training of your father, and do not give up the teaching of your mother:
(See RSV)

Proverbs 3:11
My son, do not make your heart hard against the Lord's teaching; do not be made angry by his training:
(See NAS)

Proverbs 10:3
The Lord will not let the upright be in need of food, but he puts far from him the desire of the evil-doers.
(See NAS)

Isaiah 7:15
Butter and honey will be his food, when he is old enough to make a decision between evil and good.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 7:16
For before the child is old enough to make a decision between evil and good, the land whose two kings you are now fearing will have become waste.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 30:12
Therefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel: Because ye reject this word, and confide in oppression and wilfulness, and depend thereon,
(DBY NAS NIV)

Jeremiah 31:37
Thus says Yahweh: If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then will I also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, says Yahweh.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 33:24
Hast thou not considered what this people have spoken, saying: The two families on which Jehovah fixed, He doth reject them, And my people they despise -- So that they are no more a people before them!
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Lamentations 3:31
For the Lord will not cast off forever.
(See NAS)

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to me. Because you have forgotten your God's law, I will also forget your children.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hosea 9:17
My God hath rejected them, because they hearkened not unto him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations.
(Root in DBY YLT NIV)

Amos 5:21
I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.
(See NAS)

Subtopics

Reject

Related Terms

Reprobate (8 Occurrences)

Builders (24 Occurrences)

Castaway (1 Occurrence)

Capstone (7 Occurrences)

Reject (56 Occurrences)

Corner-stone (10 Occurrences)

Cornerstone (13 Occurrences)