Definition and Meaning:
To revile is to criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner. In biblical terms, reviling involves speaking against someone with contempt, scorn, or disdain. It is often associated with verbal abuse and slander, reflecting a heart attitude that is contrary to the love and respect commanded by God.

Biblical References:
The Bible addresses the issue of reviling in several passages, emphasizing the importance of controlling one's speech and maintaining a spirit of gentleness and respect.

1. Old Testament Context:
In the Old Testament, reviling is often associated with rebellion against God and His appointed leaders. For example, in Numbers 16:30, the earth swallows those who "despised the LORD," illustrating the severe consequences of reviling God’s authority.

2. New Testament Teachings:
The New Testament provides clear instructions regarding reviling, particularly in the context of Christian conduct and community life.

· Jesus' Teaching:
Jesus Himself was subject to reviling, yet He did not retaliate. In 1 Peter 2:23 , it is written, "When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly." This example sets a standard for believers to follow, demonstrating patience and trust in God’s justice.

· Apostolic Instructions:
The Apostle Paul warns against reviling in his letters. In 1 Corinthians 6:10 , revilers are listed among those who "will not inherit the kingdom of God." This underscores the seriousness of such behavior and its incompatibility with a life transformed by the Gospel.

Additionally, in Ephesians 4:31 , Paul exhorts believers to "get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice." This instruction includes reviling as part of the old self that must be put away in favor of kindness and forgiveness.

3. Practical Application:
Christians are called to a higher standard of speech and conduct. In Matthew 5:44 , Jesus instructs, "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." This teaching challenges believers to respond to reviling not with retaliation, but with love and prayer.

The Apostle Peter also encourages believers to bless rather than revile. In 1 Peter 3:9 , he writes, "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."

Conclusion:
The biblical perspective on reviling is clear: it is a behavior that is inconsistent with the character of Christ and the life of a believer. Christians are called to respond to reviling with patience, love, and a commitment to God’s righteousness, reflecting the transformative power of the Gospel in their lives.1. (v.) To heap abuse and contemptuous language upon; to reproach.

2. (n.) Reproach; reviling.

REVILE

re-vil'.

See CRIMES; PUNISHMENTS.

3058. loidoreo -- to abuse, revile
... to abuse, revile. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: loidoreo Phonetic Spelling:
(loy-dor-eh'-o) Short Definition: I revile, abuse Definition: I revile a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3058.htm - 7k

486. antiloidoreo -- to revile in turn
... to revile in turn. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: antiloidoreo Phonetic Spelling:
(an-tee-loy-dor-eh'-o) Short Definition: I abuse in return, give abuse ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/486.htm - 7k

1908. epereazo -- to revile
... to revile. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epereazo Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-ay-reh-ad'-zo) Short Definition: I insult, treat wrongfully, molest Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1908.htm - 7k

3679. oneidizo -- to reproach
... to reproach. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: oneidizo Phonetic Spelling:
(on-i-did'-zo) Short Definition: I reproach, revile, upbraid Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3679.htm - 7k

987. blasphemeo -- to slander, hence to speak lightly or profanely ...
... 4), blasphemed (6), blasphemers (1), blasphemes (3), blaspheming (4), dishonored
(1), hurling abuse (3), malign (2), maligned (1), revile (3), reviling (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/987.htm - 9k

2551. kakologeo -- to speak ill of
... Verb Transliteration: kakologeo Phonetic Spelling: (kak-ol-og-eh'-o) Short Definition:
I speak evil of, curse Definition: I speak evil of, curse, revile, abuse ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2551.htm - 7k

2635. katalaleo -- to speak evil of
... 2635 (from 2596 , ", according to," intensifying 2980 , "to prattle on") -- properly,
speak to in a hostile, deriding way; to mock (revile), from someone's ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2635.htm - 7k

1442. gadaph -- to revile, blaspheme
... 1441, 1442. gadaph. 1443 . to revile, blaspheme. Transliteration: gadaph Phonetic
Spelling: (gaw-daf') Short Definition: blasphemed. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/1442.htm - 6k

2778a. charaph -- to reproach
... root Definition to reproach NASB Word Usage defied (2), defy (2), despised (1),
insult (1), reproach (7), reproached (8), reproaches (5), revile (2), reviled (1 ...
/hebrew/2778a.htm - 5k

7167. qara -- to tear
... A primitive root; to rend, literally or figuratively (revile, paint the eyes, as
if enlarging them) -- cut out, rend, X surely, tear. 7166, 7167. ...
/hebrew/7167.htm - 6k

1856. daqar -- to pierce, pierce through
... pierce, strike through, wound. A primitive root; to stab; by analogy, to starve;
figuratively, to revile -- pierce, strike (thrust) through, wound. ...
/hebrew/1856.htm - 6k

Polycarp Refuses to Revile Christ.
... Chapter IX."Polycarp refuses to revile Christ. Now, as Polycarp was entering
into the stadium, there came to him a voice from ...
/.../the martyrdom of the holy polycarp/chapter ix polycarp refuses to revile.htm

What, Then, Constrains You, what Excites You to Revile...
... Book I. 64 What, then, constrains you, what excites you to revile? What,
then, constrains you, what excites you to revile, to ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/64 what then constrains you.htm

Chapter v.
... 13. "Blessed are ye," says He, "when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and
shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter v.htm

He Then Goes on to Rail against us after the Manner of Old Wives. ...
... He then goes on to rail against us after the manner of old wives. "You," says he,
"mock and revile the statues of our gods; but if you had reviled Bacchus or ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xli he then goes.htm

Whether Reviling Arises from Anger?
... But the sin of reviling is diminished if one gives vent to it through anger: for
it is a more grievous sin to revile out of hatred than out of anger. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether reviling arises from anger.htm

Ephesians iv. 25-27
... Discipline him how to keep silence, teach him to revile no man, and thou hast taught
him his best lesson, thou wilt have conferred upon him the highest ...
/.../homily xiv ephesians iv 25-27.htm

Brokenness
... We see Him willing to have no rights of His own, no home of His own, no possessions
of His own, willing to let men revile Him and not revile again, willing to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hession/the calvary road/chapter i brokenness.htm

Thirdly, the Peculiar Manner and Circumstances with which the ...
... reason, and tend exceedingly to the supplying the deficiences there of; then let
none, under pretence of maintaining natural religion, revile and blaspheme the ...
/.../xii proposition xii thirdly the.htm

He Next Represents Christians as Saying what He Never Heard from ...
... "Behold," they are made to say, "I go up to a statue of Jupiter or Apollo, or some
other god: I revile it, and beat it, yet it takes no vengeance on me." He is ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xxxviii he next represents.htm

Whether Reviling Consists in Words?
... Wherefore a gloss on Rom.1:30, "contumelious, proud," says: "The contumelious
are those who by word or deed revile and shame others.". ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether reviling consists in words.htm

Revile (28 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Reproach; reviling. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. REVILE. re-vil'. See
CRIMES; PUNISHMENTS. Multi-Version Concordance Revile (28 Occurrences). ...
/r/revile.htm - 14k

Possessor (12 Occurrences)
... Ecclesiastes 10:20 Even in thy mind a king revile not, And in the inner parts of
thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich: For a fowl of the heavens causeth the ...
/p/possessor.htm - 10k

Blaspheme (16 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v.) To speak of, or address, with impious irreverence;
to revile impiously (anything sacred); as, to blaspheme the Holy Spirit. ...
/b/blaspheme.htm - 11k

Reviled (25 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Revile. Multi-Version Concordance
Reviled (25 Occurrences). Matthew 27:39 And they that ...
/r/reviled.htm - 13k

Reviling (47 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Revile. 2. (n.) Reproach; abuse;
vilification. 3. (a.) Uttering reproaches; containing reproaches. ...
/r/reviling.htm - 21k

Declareth (71 Occurrences)
... Ecclesiastes 10:20 Even in thy mind a king revile not, And in the inner parts of
thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich: For a fowl of the heavens causeth the ...
/d/declareth.htm - 27k

Fowl (73 Occurrences)
... Ecclesiastes 10:20 Even in thy mind a king revile not, And in the inner parts of
thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich: For a fowl of the heavens causeth the ...
/f/fowl.htm - 36k

Fighteth (23 Occurrences)
... Joshua 24:9 And Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, riseth and fighteth against Israel,
and sendeth and calleth for Balaam son of Beor, to revile you, (YLT). ...
/f/fighteth.htm - 13k

Taunt (38 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Very high or tall; as, a ship with taunt masts. 2. (vt) To reproach with
severe or insulting words; to revile; to upbraid; to jeer at; to flout. ...
/t/taunt.htm - 18k

Reviewed (1 Occurrence)

/r/reviewed.htm - 6k

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