The concept of "withhold" in the Bible often pertains to the act of restraining, keeping back, or refraining from giving or doing something. This term is used in various contexts throughout Scripture, illustrating both human actions and divine interventions.

Old Testament Usage

1. Divine Restraint: In Genesis 20:6, God speaks to Abimelech in a dream, saying, "Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her." Here, God withholds Abimelech from committing sin, demonstrating His sovereign ability to restrain human actions.

2. Human Action: In Proverbs 3:27, the instruction is given, "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is within your power to act." This verse emphasizes the moral responsibility of individuals to act benevolently and not to withhold kindness or assistance when they have the capacity to provide it.

3. Divine Blessing: Psalm 84:11 states, "For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly." This passage assures believers that God does not withhold blessings from those who live righteously, highlighting His generosity and faithfulness.

New Testament Usage

1. Spiritual Gifts: In Acts 10:47, Peter declares, "Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." This rhetorical question underscores the inclusivity of the Gospel and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which should not be withheld from any believer.

2. Generosity and Giving: In 1 John 3:17, the apostle John writes, "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" This verse challenges believers not to withhold compassion and material support from those in need, as an expression of God's love.

Theological Implications

The act of withholding, whether by God or humans, carries significant theological implications. When God withholds, it is often for protection, discipline, or to fulfill His divine purposes. For humans, the decision to withhold can reflect moral and ethical considerations, revealing the state of one's heart and relationship with God.

Moral and Ethical Considerations

The Bible consistently encourages believers to be generous and not to withhold good from others. This principle is rooted in the understanding that all blessings come from God, and believers are stewards of His resources. Withholding, in a negative sense, can indicate a lack of trust in God's provision or a failure to love one's neighbor as oneself.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of withholding encompasses a range of actions and intentions, from divine restraint to human generosity. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the ethical responsibilities of believers to act justly and lovingly in their interactions with others.1. (v. t.) To hold back; to restrain; to keep from action.

2. (v. t.) To retain; to keep back; not to grant; as, to withhold assent to a proposition.

3. (v. t.) To keep; to maintain; to retain.

5083. tereo -- to watch over, to guard
... a prophecy; figuratively, to fulfil a command); by implication, to detain (in custody;
figuratively, to maintain); by extension, to withhold (for personal ends ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5083.htm - 10k

5288. hupostello -- to draw in, let down, draw back
... From hupo and stello; to withhold under (out of sight), ie (reflexively) to cower
or shrink, (figuratively) to conceal (reserve) -- draw (keep) back, shun ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5288.htm - 7k

2967. koluo -- to hinder
... 1), hinder (5), hindered (1), hindering (1), kept (1), prevent (3), prevented (2),
prevents (1), refuse (1), restrained (1), stand in...way (1), withhold (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2967.htm - 7k

2722. katecho -- to hold fast, hold back
... in various applications (literally or figuratively) -- have, hold (fast), keep
(in memory), let, X make toward, possess, retain, seize on, stay, take, withhold ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2722.htm - 7k

4513. mana -- to withhold, hold back
... mana. 4514 . to withhold, hold back. Transliteration: mana Phonetic Spelling:
(maw-nah') Short Definition: withheld. ... deny, keep back, refrain, restrain, withhold ...
/hebrew/4513.htm - 6k

3607. kala -- to shut up, restrain, withhold
... 3606, 3607. kala. 3608 . to shut up, restrain, withhold. Transliteration: kala
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-law') Short Definition: shut. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/3607.htm - 6k

2820. chasak -- to withhold, refrain
... 2819b, 2820. chasak. 2821 . to withhold, refrain. Transliteration: chasak Phonetic
Spelling: (khaw-sak') Short Definition: withheld. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/2820.htm - 6k

680. atsal -- to lay aside, reserve, withdraw, withhold
... 679, 680. atsal. 681 . to lay aside, reserve, withdraw, withhold. Transliteration:
atsal Phonetic Spelling: (aw-tsal') Short Definition: refuse. ...
/hebrew/680.htm - 6k

1219. batsar -- to cut off, make inaccessible, enclose
... ie Inaccessible by height or fortification) -- cut off, (de-)fenced, fortify, (grape)
gather(-er), mighty things, restrain, strong, wall (up), withhold. ...
/hebrew/1219.htm - 6k

2637. chaser -- to lack, need, be lacking, decrease
... 2), depriving (1), empty (1), have...lack (1), lack (2), lacked (2), lacking (4),
lacks (2), made him a lower (1), need (1), scarce (1), want (3), withhold (1 ...
/hebrew/2637.htm - 6k

6113. atsar -- to restrain, retain
... X be able, close up, detain, fast, keep (self close, still), prevail, recover, refrain,
X reign, restrain, retain, shut (up), slack, stay, stop, withhold (self ...
/hebrew/6113.htm - 6k

1639. gara -- to diminish, restrain, withdraw
... A primitive root; to scrape off; by implication, to shave, remove, lessen, withhold --
abate, clip, (di-)minish, do (take) away, keep back, restrain, make small ...
/hebrew/1639.htm - 6k

2254. chabal -- to bind, pledge
... especially of parturition) -- X at all, band, bring forth, (deal) corrupt(-ly),
destroy, offend, lay &? To (take a) pledge, spoil, travail, X very, withhold. ...
/hebrew/2254.htm - 5k

3240. yanach -- bestow, cast down, lay down, up, leave off, let ...
... implication, to allow to stay -- bestow, cast down, lay (down, up), leave (off),
let alone (remain), pacify, place, put, set (down), suffer, withdraw, withhold ...
/hebrew/3240.htm - 6k

All Sufficiency
... "The LORD GOD is a Sun and Shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: "No good
thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly." "Psalm 84:11. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/taylor/a ribband of blue/all sufficiency.htm

Whether a Man is Bound to Immediate Restitution, or May He Put it ...
... I answer that, Even as it is a sin against justice to take another's property, so
also is it to withhold it, since, to withhold the property of another against ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a man is bound 2.htm

Privilege and Experience
... I will withhold no good thing from thee. ... But I know that God loves His people too
much to withhold His fellowship from them for any such reason. ...
/.../murray/the deeper christian life/ii privilege and experience.htm

Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
... If God could "withhold" Abimelech from sinning against Him then why was He unable
to do the same with Adam? Should someone ask, Then why did not God do so? ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter eight sovereignty and human.htm

Preface
... Preface. Wenceslas Link to all believers in Christ: The wise Solomon says
in Proverbs 11:"The people who withhold grain curse him. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/an open letter on translating/preface.htm

2 Thessalonians ii. 9-Jun
... Because if he meant to say the Spirit, he would not have spoken obscurely, but plainly,
that even now the grace of the Spirit, that is the gifts, withhold him. ...
/.../homily iv 2 thessalonians ii.htm

Our Guilt.
... Working with head, heart, or hand, we open an account with God; and while we can
deceive other partners and withhold part of the accounts from them, He is ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xiv our guilt.htm

Obedience Entire.
... importance. If we may wilfully withhold a part of our hearts from God,
and yet be accepted, how great a part may we withhold? If ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture x obedience entire.htm

Whether it is Lawful for the Accused to Defend Himself with ...
... defend himself with calumnies. I answer that, It is one thing to withhold
the truth, and another to utter a falsehood. The former is ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful for 7.htm

Constant, Instant, Expectant
... If we do not value the blessing sufficiently to be eager in seeking it, is it not
right that he should withhold it until we are in a better mind? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 25 1879/constant instant expectant.htm

Withhold (32 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To retain; to keep back; not to grant; as, to withhold assent to a proposition.
3. (vt) To keep; to maintain; to retain. ...Withhold (32 Occurrences). ...
/w/withhold.htm - 16k

Withholden (12 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (pp) of Withhold. Multi-Version Concordance Withholden
(12 Occurrences). Genesis 11:6 And Jehovah said, Behold ...
/w/withholden.htm - 10k

Doubt (49 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To question or hold questionable; to withhold assent to; to hesitate to
believe, or to be inclined not to believe; to withhold confidence from; to ...
/d/doubt.htm - 24k

Deny (48 Occurrences)
... decline; to renounce. 3. (vt) To refuse to grant; to withhold; to refuse
to gratify or yield to; as, to deny a request. 4. (vt) To ...
/d/deny.htm - 23k

Withheld (32 Occurrences)
... 1. (imp.) of Withhold. 2. (pp) of Withhold. ... Haggai 1:10 Therefore for your sake
the heavens withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. ...
/w/withheld.htm - 16k

Thirst (40 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 9:20 You gave also your good Spirit to instruct them, and didn't withhold
your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst. ...
/t/thirst.htm - 20k

Venture (10 Occurrences)
... Job 4:2 "If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can
withhold himself from speaking? (Root in WEB JPS NAS RSV NIV). ...
/v/venture.htm - 10k

Ventures (1 Occurrence)
... Ventures (1 Occurrence). Job 4:2 "If someone ventures to talk with you, will you
be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking? (WEB NAS RSV NIV). ...
/v/ventures.htm - 6k

Uprightly (32 Occurrences)
... Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and
glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. ...
/u/uprightly.htm - 15k

Unshod (1 Occurrence)
... Jeremiah 2:25 Withhold your foot from being unshod, and your throat from thirst:
but you said, It is in vain; no, for I have loved strangers, and after them ...
/u/unshod.htm - 6k

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