Warning
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In the biblical context, the concept of "warning" is a significant theme that appears throughout both the Old and New Testaments. Warnings in the Bible serve as divine alerts or admonitions intended to guide, correct, and protect individuals and communities from spiritual and moral peril. These warnings are often delivered through prophets, apostles, and even directly from God, emphasizing the importance of obedience, repentance, and faithfulness.

Old Testament Warnings

The Old Testament is replete with instances where God issues warnings to His people, often through His prophets. These warnings are typically related to the consequences of disobedience and idolatry. For example, in the book of Ezekiel, God warns the Israelites of impending judgment due to their persistent rebellion and idolatry: "But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people, and the sword comes and takes away a life, then that one is taken away in his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood" (Ezekiel 33:6). This passage underscores the responsibility of those who are aware of impending danger to warn others.

Similarly, in the book of Jeremiah, God repeatedly warns the people of Judah about the consequences of their unfaithfulness. Jeremiah 25:4-5 states, "And the LORD has sent all His servants the prophets to you again and again, but you have not listened or inclined your ear to hear. The prophets told you, ‘Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and deeds, and you can dwell in the land the LORD has given to you and your fathers forever and ever.’"

New Testament Warnings

In the New Testament, warnings continue to play a crucial role, particularly in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Jesus Himself issues numerous warnings about the dangers of hypocrisy, false teachings, and the coming judgment. In Matthew 7:15 , Jesus warns, "Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." This warning highlights the need for discernment and vigilance among believers.

The apostle Paul also frequently warns the early church about various spiritual dangers. In Acts 20:31 , Paul admonishes the Ephesian elders, saying, "Therefore be alert and remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears." Paul's heartfelt warnings reflect his deep concern for the spiritual well-being of the church.

Purpose and Response to Warnings

The purpose of biblical warnings is not merely to predict doom but to call individuals and communities to repentance and restoration. God's warnings are often accompanied by promises of mercy and forgiveness for those who heed them. In 2 Chronicles 7:14 , God promises, "And My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land."

The appropriate response to divine warnings is one of humility, repentance, and obedience. The Bible consistently portrays those who heed God's warnings as wise and blessed, while those who ignore them face dire consequences. Proverbs 19:20 advises, "Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days."

Conclusion

While the Bible does not explicitly conclude on the theme of warning, it is evident that warnings are integral to God's communication with humanity. They serve as expressions of His love and desire for His people to walk in righteousness and avoid the pitfalls of sin. Throughout Scripture, the call to heed divine warnings remains a timeless exhortation for all believers.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Warn.

2. (a.) Giving previous notice; cautioning; admonishing; as, a warning voice.

3. (n.) Previous notice.

4. (n.) Caution against danger, or against faults or evil practices which incur danger; admonition; monition.

Greek
3559. nouthesia -- admonition
... admonition. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: nouthesia Phonetic Spelling:
(noo-thes-ee'-ah) Short Definition: a warning, admonition Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3559.htm - 7k

5179. tupos -- typically
... 75.8). 5179 () is also used of a , "Let an inquiry be made into his means; only
there is a according to which I have often judged" (, 645).]. example, warning ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5179.htm - 7k

5262. hupodeigma -- a figure, copy, example
... copy, pattern. From hupodeiknumi; an exhibit for imitation or warning (figuratively,
specimen, adumbration) -- en-(ex-)ample, pattern. see GREEK hupodeiknumi. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5262.htm - 6k

3874. paraklesis -- a calling to one's aid, ie encouragement ...
... The core-meaning of 3874 ("personal urging") is shaped by the individual context,
so it can refer to: exhortation, warning, encouragement (comfort), etc. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3874.htm - 8k

5537. chrematizo -- to transact business, to make answer
... for transacting business") -- properly, to admonish on the basis of a valid standard
(what has true worth); used of God admonishing (warning) people -- based on ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5537.htm - 8k

Strong's Hebrew
2094b. zahar -- to warn
... root Definition to warn NASB Word Usage give them warning (1), receive instruction
(1), take warning (2), taken warning (1), teach (1), took warning (1), warn ...
/hebrew/2094b.htm - 5k

5749b. ud -- to bear witness
... verb from edah Definition to bear witness NASB Word Usage admonish (2), admonished
(6), call (5), called (1), gave witness (1), give warning (1), solemnly warn ...
/hebrew/5749b.htm - 5k

4148. musar -- discipline, chastening, correction
... NASB Word Usage chastening (3), chastise (1), correction (3), discipline (18),
disciplines (1), instruction (20), punishment (2), reproof (1), warning (1). ...
/hebrew/4148.htm - 6k

3256. yasar -- to discipline, chasten, admonish
... 4), disciplined me severely (1), disciplines (1), disciplining (1), gave instruction
(1), instructed (2), instructs (2), punish (2), take warning (1), taught (1 ...
/hebrew/3256.htm - 6k

2094. zahar -- to be light or shining
... admonish, shine, teach, give warning A primitive root; to gleam; figuratively, to
enlighten (by caution) -- admonish, shine, teach, (give) warn(-ing). ...
/hebrew/2094.htm - 5k

5251. nes -- a standard, ensign, signal, sign
... from nasas Definition a standard, ensign, signal, sign NASB Word Usage banner (2),
distinguishing mark (1), sail (1), signal (4), standard (12), warning (1). ...
/hebrew/5251.htm - 6k

5749. uwd -- to return, go about, repeat, do again
... admonish, charge, earnestly, lift up, protest, call (take) to record, relieve, rob,
solemnly, stand upright, testify, give warning, (bear, call to, give, take ...
/hebrew/5749.htm - 5k

Library

A Warning to Believers
... A Warning to Believers. A Sermon (No.3466). Published on Thursday, July 8th, 1915.
Delivered by. CH SPURGEON,. At the [6]Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 61 1915/a warning to believers.htm

The Warning Neglected
... The Warning Neglected. A Sermon (No.165). ... "He heard the sound of the trumpet, and
took not warning; his blood shall be upon him.""Ezekiel 33:5. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the warning neglected.htm

A Parting Warning
... A PARTING WARNING. 'Jesus therefore ... Christ. They are solemn with warning, radiant
with promise, almost beseeching in their earnestness. He ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/a parting warning.htm

An Unheeded Warning
... AN UNHEEDED WARNING. TEXT: "My Spirit shall not always strive with men.""Genesis
6:31. ... 2. Because to continue warning is to hinder the sinner. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapman/and judas iscariot/an unheeded warning.htm

The Final Warning.
... 38. THE FINAL WARNING. ... The words which the Lord gave them they uttered, fearless
of consequences, and the people were compelled to hear the warning. ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /38 the final warning.htm

A Warning Rejected.
... 21. A WARNING REJECTED. [Illustration: Chapter header.] In preaching ... it. But
the churches generally did not accept the warning. Their ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /21 a warning rejected.htm

A Last Merciful Warning
... THE BOOK OF EXODUS A LAST MERCIFUL WARNING. 'And the Lord said unto Moses,
Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/a last merciful warning.htm

Warning.
... CHAPTER VIII. WARNING. "Take heed that no man deceive you.""Matthew 24:4.
"Christ ... Col. i: 27, 28. To give a warning is a sign of love. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/sowing and reaping/chapter viii warning.htm

The Final Warning
... Chapter 38 The Final Warning. ... The words which the Lord gave them they uttered, fearless
of consequences, and the people were compelled to hear the warning. ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 38 the final warning.htm

A Warning against Hypocrisy
... Lesson 7 A Warning Against Hypocrisy. ... It was designed as a warning to the church,
to lead them to avoid pretense and hypocrisy, and to beware of robbing God. ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 7 a warning against.htm

Thesaurus
Warning (30 Occurrences)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Warn. 2. (a.) Giving previous notice; cautioning; admonishing;
as, a warning voice. ... Multi-Version Concordance Warning (30 Occurrences). ...
/w/warning.htm - 15k

Plague (142 Occurrences)
...Warning was given of its coming. (6.) The sixth plague, of "boils and blains,"
like the third, was sent without warning (Exodus 9:8-12). ...
/p/plague.htm - 49k

Example (54 Occurrences)
... 1 Peter 2:21; John 13:15); of pastors to their flocks (Philippians 3:17; 2
Thessalonians 3:9; 1 Timothy 4:12; 1 Peter 5:3); of the Jews as a warning (Hebrews ...
/e/example.htm - 26k

Warn (35 Occurrences)
... close a follower. (WEY). Titus 3:10 Avoid a factious man after a first and
second warning; (Root in WEB NAS NIV). Revelation 22:18 ...
/w/warn.htm - 17k

Alarm (26 Occurrences)
... A particular quivering sound of the silver trumpets to give warning to the Hebrews
on their journey through the wilderness (Numbers 10:5, 6), a call to arms ...
/a/alarm.htm - 16k

Warnings (6 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 10:6 And in this they became a warning to us, to teach us not to be
eager, as they were eager, in pursuit of what is evil. (See RSV). ...
/w/warnings.htm - 8k

Knock (7 Occurrences)
... "Though Orientals are very jealous of their privacy, they never knock when about
to enter your room, but walk in without warning or ceremony. ...
/k/knock.htm - 11k

Notice (44 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Intelligence, by whatever means communicated; knowledge given or received;
means of knowledge; express notification; announcement; warning. ...
/n/notice.htm - 19k

Beset (16 Occurrences)
... that they cannot escape ruin (Hosea 7:2). The reference in Hebrews 12:1 is first
of all against the sin of apostasy against which repeated warning is given in ...
/b/beset.htm - 12k

Accountable (10 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 3:18 When I tell the wicked, You shall surely die; and you give him no warning,
nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the ...
/a/accountable.htm - 10k

Resources
What is the purpose of the warning passages in Scripture? | GotQuestions.org

Does the warning in Revelation 22:18-19 apply to the entire Bible or just the Book of Revelation? | GotQuestions.org

Why is Jesus called the stumbling stone in Matthew 21:43-44? | GotQuestions.org

Warning: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Warning (30 Occurrences)

Mark 1:43
He strictly warned him, and immediately sent him out,
(See NIV)

Acts 20:31
Therefore, watch, remembering that three years, night and day, I did not cease with tears warning each one;
(YLT NIV)

1 Corinthians 10:6
And in this they became a warning to us, to teach us not to be eager, as they were eager, in pursuit of what is evil.
(WEY RSV)

1 Corinthians 10:11
Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.
(See RSV NIV)

2 Corinthians 13:2
Those who cling to their old sins, and indeed all of you, I have forewarned and still forewarn (as I did on my second visit when present, so I do now, though absent)
(See NIV)

Colossians 1:28
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
(KJV WBS YLT RSV)

1 Timothy 5:20
Those who persist in sin reprove in the presence of all, so that it may also be a warning to the rest.
(WEY NIV)

Titus 3:10
Avoid a factious man after a first and second warning;
(WEB NAS)

Hebrews 3:15
seeing that the warning still comes to us, "To-day, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as your forefathers did in the time of the provocation."
(WEY)

Exodus 21:29
But if the ox was wont to gore in time past, and it hath been testified to its owner, and he hath not kept it in, but it hath killed a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death.
(See JPS)

Numbers 26:10
and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died; what time the fire devoured two hundred fifty men, and they became a sign.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 32:46
He said to them, "Set your heart to all the words which I testify to you this day, which you shall command your children to observe to do, even all the words of this law.
(See NAS)

2 Kings 10:24
They went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had appointed him eighty men outside, and said, "If any of the men whom I bring into your hands escape, he who lets him go, his life shall be for the life of him."
(See NIV)

Psalms 2:10
Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
(See NAS)

Ecclesiastes 4:13
Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who hath not known to be warned any more.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 8:11
For the Lord, controlling me with a strong hand, gave me orders not to go in the way of this people, saying,
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 6:10
To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.
(KJV JPS WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 11:7
For I earnestly forewarned your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, forewarning betimes and often, saying: Hearken to My voice.
(Root in JPS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 3:17
Son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 3:18
When I tell the wicked, You shall surely die; and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at your hand.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Ezekiel 3:20
Again, when a righteous man does turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die: because you have not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at your hand.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Ezekiel 3:21
Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man, that the righteous not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning; and you have delivered your soul.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 5:15
So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment, to the nations that are around you, when I shall execute judgments on you in anger and in wrath, and in wrathful rebukes; (I, Yahweh, have spoken it;)
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 23:48
Thus will I cause lewdness to cease out of the land, that all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness.
(See RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 33:4
then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet, and doesn't take warning, if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be on his own head.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 33:5
He heard the sound of the trumpet, and didn't take warning; his blood shall be on him; whereas if he had taken warning, he would have delivered his soul.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 33:7
So you, son of man, I have set you a watchman to the house of Israel; therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
(WEB ASV NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 8:25
Through his policy he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and in their security shall he destroy many: he shall also stand up against the prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
(See RSV)

Daniel 11:21
In his place shall stand up a contemptible person, to whom they had not given the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in time of security, and shall obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
(See RSV)

Daniel 11:24
Against fertile places, and will make waste a part of the country; and he will do what his fathers have not done, or his fathers' fathers; he will make distribution among them of goods taken in war and by force, and of property: he will even make designs against the strong places for a time.
(See RSV)

Subtopics

Warning

Related Terms

Apostate (5 Occurrences)

Apostasy (6 Occurrences)

Slander (34 Occurrences)

Deuteronomy (1 Occurrence)

Hezekiah (124 Occurrences)

Warning (30 Occurrences)

Nebuchadnezzar (90 Occurrences)

Joyful (83 Occurrences)

Leviticus (1 Occurrence)

Warns (4 Occurrences)

Irksome (2 Occurrences)

Iscariot (11 Occurrences)

False.

Precaution (2 Occurrences)

Perseverance (27 Occurrences)

Phinehas (24 Occurrences)

Pashur (12 Occurrences)

Covetousness (22 Occurrences)

Concerned (45 Occurrences)

Christs (2 Occurrences)

Conclusion (10 Occurrences)

Ahaz (42 Occurrences)

Sunworship

Sun-worship

Debtor (7 Occurrences)

Debt (48 Occurrences)

Gods (310 Occurrences)

Subapostolic

Sub-apostolic

Drunkenness (10 Occurrences)

Wine (282 Occurrences)

Jehoiakim (37 Occurrences)

Evil (1503 Occurrences)

Hophni (5 Occurrences)

Judges (117 Occurrences)

Judas (42 Occurrences)

Dreamer (4 Occurrences)

Punishment (417 Occurrences)

Dream (82 Occurrences)

Philippians (2 Occurrences)

Everlasting (192 Occurrences)

Isaiah (64 Occurrences)

Josiah (51 Occurrences)

Pentateuch

Election (6 Occurrences)

Prophets (270 Occurrences)

Archaeology

Criticism (1 Occurrence)

Thessalonians (6 Occurrences)

Prophecy (37 Occurrences)

Harlot (87 Occurrences)

Herod (45 Occurrences)

Samuel (129 Occurrences)

Spirit (706 Occurrences)

Anem (1 Occurrence)

Captivity (141 Occurrences)

Literature (2 Occurrences)

Discomfiture (6 Occurrences)

Holy (1097 Occurrences)

Paul (207 Occurrences)

Consist (7 Occurrences)

Wisdom (320 Occurrences)

Solomon (277 Occurrences)

Jesus (10891 Occurrences)

Christ (573 Occurrences)

First (4693 Occurrences)

Warneth
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