Topical Bible: Worse

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

Topical Encyclopedia

The term "worse" in the Bible often signifies a decline in moral, spiritual, or physical condition. It is used to describe situations where individuals or groups have moved away from God's intended path, resulting in negative consequences. The concept of becoming worse is frequently associated with disobedience, lack of faith, or failure to heed divine warnings.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the notion of becoming worse is often linked to the Israelites' repeated cycles of sin and repentance. For instance, in the book of Judges, the Israelites frequently turned away from God, leading to periods of oppression and hardship. Each cycle of disobedience is described as worse than the previous one, highlighting a progressive decline in their spiritual state. This pattern is evident in Judges 2:19 : "But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers, following other gods to serve and worship them."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, Jesus warns about the spiritual state of individuals who fail to maintain their commitment to God. In Matthew 12:45 , Jesus speaks of an unclean spirit returning to a person, bringing with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, resulting in a condition that is worse than before: "Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there; and the final plight of that man is worse than the first. So will it be with this wicked generation."

The Apostle Peter also addresses the concept of becoming worse in 2 Peter 2:20-21 , where he warns about the dangers of apostasy: "If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them."

Moral and Spiritual Implications

The Bible consistently presents the idea that turning away from God leads to a worsening of one's condition. This is not only a physical or material decline but, more importantly, a spiritual deterioration. The worsening condition serves as a warning to remain steadfast in faith and obedience to God's commandments. The Scriptures emphasize the importance of vigilance and perseverance in the Christian walk to avoid falling into a state that is worse than before.

Physical and Health Context

The term "worse" is also used in the context of physical health and healing. In the Gospels, there are accounts of individuals whose conditions worsened before they encountered Jesus and received healing. For example, in Mark 5:26 , the woman with the issue of blood had suffered much under many physicians and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better, she grew worse. This highlights the limitations of human efforts and the transformative power of divine intervention.

Conclusion

The biblical use of "worse" serves as a cautionary reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and the importance of maintaining a faithful and obedient relationship with Him. It underscores the need for spiritual vigilance and the hope of redemption through Christ.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (compar.) Bad, ill, evil, or corrupt, in a greater degree; more bad or evil; less good; specifically, in poorer health; more sick; -- used both in a physical and moral sense.

2. (n.) Loss; disadvantage; defeat.

3. (n.) That which is worse; something less good; as, think not the worse of him for his enterprise.

4. (a.) In a worse degree; in a manner more evil or bad.

5. (v. t.) To make worse; to put disadvantage; to discomfit; to worst. See Worst, v.

Greek

5501. cheiron -- worse
... cheiron. 5502 . worse. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: cheiron Phonetic
Spelling: (khi'-rone) Short Definition: worse Definition: worse, more severe ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5501.htm - 6k

2276. hetton -- less, worse.
... 2275, 2276. hetton. 2277 . less, worse. Part of Speech ... weaker. Word Origin
variant reading for hesson, qv. less, worse. Neuter of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2276.htm - 6k

1640. elasson -- smaller, less
... of the same as elachistos Definition smaller, less NASB Word Usage less (1), lesser
(1), poorer (1), younger (1). less, under, worse, younger. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1640.htm - 6k

1612. ekstrepho -- to turn inside out, fig. to pervert
... to pervert. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekstrepho Phonetic Spelling:
(ek-stref'-o) Short Definition: I change for the worse, corrupt, pervert ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1612.htm - 7k

5302. hustereo -- to come late, be behind, come short
... short (1), destitute (1), fall short (1), impoverished (1), inferior (2), lack
(2), lacked (1), lacking (1), need (1), ran (1), suffering need (1), worse (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5302.htm - 8k

2274. hettaomai -- to be inferior
... be inferior, overcome. From the same as hetton; to make worse, ie Vanquish (literally
or figuratively); by implication, to rate lower -- be inferior, overcome. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2274.htm - 6k

2269b. hesson -- inferior, less
... Word Origin cptv. from eka (slightly, a little) Definition inferior, less NASB Word
Usage less (1), worse (1). 2269a, 2269b. hesson. 2270 . Strong's Numbers
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2269b.htm - 5k

Strong's Hebrew

7489a. raa -- to be evil, bad
... 3), hurt (3), practiced evil (1), prefer* (2), sad (2), still do wickedly (1), suffer
(1), suffer harm (1), treat me so badly (1), treat you worse (1), treated ...
/hebrew/7489a.htm - 6k

2196. zaaph -- to be vexed, be enraged
... fret, sad, worse liking, be wroth. A primitive root; properly, to boil up, ie
(figuratively) to be peevish or angry -- fret, sad, worse liking, be wroth. ...
/hebrew/2196.htm - 6k

5062. nagaph -- to strike, smite
... root; to push, gore, defeat, stub (the toe), inflict (a disease) -- beat, dash,
hurt, plague, slay, smite (down), strike, stumble, X surely, put to the worse. ...
/hebrew/5062.htm - 6k

7489. ra'a' -- to be evil, bad
... by mistake for ra'ah), do harm, (do) hurt, (behave self, deal) ill, X indeed, do
mischief, punish, still, vex, (do) wicked (doer, -ly), be (deal, do) worse. ...
/hebrew/7489.htm - 6k

5916. akar -- to stir up, disturb, trouble
... root Definition to stir up, disturb, trouble NASB Word Usage bring trouble (1),
brought trouble (1), does...harm (1), grew worse (1), trouble (3), troubled (3 ...
/hebrew/5916.htm - 6k

3254. yasaph -- to add
... more (18), more shall be done (1), more also (1), more* (5), once more* (3), once*
(1), prolong (1), prolongs (1), repeated* (1), surpass (1), worse* (1), yet ...
/hebrew/3254.htm - 6k

7451. ra' -- bad, evil
... mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, + not please, sad(-ly), sore,
sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness ...
/hebrew/7451.htm - 6k

3541. koh -- thus, here
... 1), other side (1), over there (1), over there* (1), same (1), so (17), such (1),
this (2), this is what (2), this side (1), this way (2), thus (518), worse* (1 ...
/hebrew/3541.htm - 6k

Library

That the Miseries Still Grew Worse; and How the Romans Made an ...
... CHAPTER 1. That The Miseries Still Grew Worse; And How The Romans Made An
Assault Upon The Tower Of Antonia. 1. Thus did the miseries ...
/.../chapter 1 that the miseries.htm

Whether the Incontinent in Anger is Worse than the Incontinent in ...
... OF INCONTINENCE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether the incontinent in anger is worse
than the incontinent in desire? Objection 1: It would ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the incontinent in anger.htm

Whether vice is Worse than a vicious Act?
... EVIL HABITS, ie VICES AND SINS (QQ -89) Whether vice is worse than a vicious
act? ... Therefore a vicious habit is worse than a vicious act. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether vice is worse than.htm

But which is the Worse, not to be Baptized at All...
... But which is the worse, not to be baptized at all? ... But which is the worse, not to
be baptized at all, or to be twice baptized, it is difficult to decide. ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 14 19 but.htm

Your Recent Discord is Worse than the Former which Took Place in ...
... Chapter XLVII."Your recent discord is worse than the former which took place in
the times of Paul. Take up the epistle of the blessed Apostle Paul. ...
/.../chapter xlvii your recent discord is.htm

Your Recent Discord is Worse than the Former which Took Place in ...
... The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians. Chapter XLVII."Your Recent Discord
is Worse Than the Former Which Took Place in the Times of Paul. ...
/.../keith/the epistles of clement/chapter xlvii your recent discord is.htm

First the Worse, Then the Better.
... Homily II. Chapter XVII."First the Worse, Then the Better. "In like manner,
the combination with respect to Elias, which behoved ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xvii first the worse then.htm

Peter Accuses Simon of Being Worse than the Devil.
... Homily XIX. Chapter VI."Peter Accuses Simon of Being Worse Than the Devil.
And Simon said: "When you have discussed all the subjects ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter vi peter accuses simon of.htm

vincentius of Thibari Said: "We Know that Heretics are Worse than ...
... Book VI. Chapter 44. " 85. Vincentius of Thibari said: "We know that
heretics are worse than heathens.? "85. Vincentius of ...
/.../chapter 44 85 vincentius.htm

Whether Every Circumstance that Makes an Action Better or Worse ...
... OF THE GOOD AND EVIL OF HUMAN ACTS, IN GENERAL (ELEVEN ARTICLES) Whether every
circumstance that makes an action better or worse, places a moral action in a ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether every circumstance that makes.htm

Thesaurus

Worse (62 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) That which is worse; something less good; as, think not the worse of him
for his enterprise. 4. (a.) In a worse degree; in a manner more evil or bad. ...
/w/worse.htm - 26k

Wax (32 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To pass from one state to another; to become; to grow; as, to wax strong;
to wax warmer or colder; to wax feeble; to wax old; to wax worse and worse. ...
/w/wax.htm - 18k

Taketh (398 Occurrences)
... Matthew 9:16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which
is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse...
/t/taketh.htm - 35k

Entering (124 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:45 Then he goes and takes with himself seven other spirits worse than
himself, and entering in, they dwell there; and the last condition of that man ...
/e/entering.htm - 37k

Otherwise (78 Occurrences)
... Otherwise, the patch put on would tear away some of the old, and a worse hole would
be made. (WEY). Matthew 9:17 Nor do people pour new wine into old wineskins. ...
/o/otherwise.htm - 30k

Dwell (474 Occurrences)
... The last state of that man becomes worse than the first. ... The last state of that man
becomes worse than the first." (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV). ...
/d/dwell.htm - 42k

Hadade'zer (18 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 10:19 And when all the kings that were servants to Hadadezer saw that they
were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and ...
/h/hadade'zer.htm - 11k

Liking (2 Occurrences)
... above) in Job 39:4 the King James Version the English Revised Version, "Their young
ones are in good liking" Daniel 1:10, "see your faces worse liking." The ...
/l/liking.htm - 14k

Using (88 Occurrences)
... went after the desires of the flesh, or had the desire for other people's property,
or was in the way of using violent language, or being the worse for drink ...
/u/using.htm - 31k

Deceit (160 Occurrences)
... lest his disciples, having come by night, may steal him away, and may say to the
people, He rose from the dead, and the last deceit shall be worse than the ...
/d/deceit.htm - 35k

Resources

What is the worst sin? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about change? | GotQuestions.org

Is it biblically acceptable for a man to be a stay-at-home dad? | GotQuestions.org

Worse: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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

Concordance

Worse (62 Occurrences)

Matthew 9:16
No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch would tear away from the garment, and a worse hole is made.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 12:45
Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more evil than he is, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first. Even so will it be also to this evil generation."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 27:64
Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal him away, and tell the people,'He is risen from the dead;' and the last deception will be worse than the first."
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 2:21
No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, or else the patch shrinks and the new tears away from the old, and a worse hole is made.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 5:26
and had suffered many things by many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 11:26
Then he goes, and takes seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 13:2
Jesus answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things?
(WEB WEY BBE RSV NIV)

Luke 13:4
Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them; do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem?
(WEB BBE NAS RSV)

John 2:10
and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is worse. You have kept the good wine until now!"
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

John 5:14
Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "Behold, you are made well. Sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Romans 3:9
What then? are we worse off than they? In no way: because we have before made it clear that Jews as well as Greeks are all under the power of sin;
(BBE)

Romans 5:20
And the law came in addition, to make wrongdoing worse; but where there was much sin, there was much more grace:
(BBE)

1 Corinthians 5:11
But the sense of my letter was that if a brother had the name of being one who went after the desires of the flesh, or had the desire for other people's property, or was in the way of using violent language, or being the worse for drink, or took by force what was not his, you might not keep company with such a one, or take food with him.
(BBE)

1 Corinthians 6:10
Or is a thief, or the worse for drink, or makes use of strong language, or takes by force what is not his, will have any part in the kingdom of God.
(BBE)

1 Corinthians 8:8
But food will not commend us to God. For neither, if we don't eat, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Corinthians 11:17
But in giving you this command, I don't praise you, that you come together not for the better but for the worse.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

1 Corinthians 11:21
For when you take your food, everyone takes his meal before the other; and one has not enough food, and another is the worse for drink.
(BBE)

2 Corinthians 12:13
In what respect, therefore, have you been worse dealt with than other Churches, except that I myself never hung as a dead weight upon you? Forgive the injustice I thus did you!
(WEY)

1 Thessalonians 5:7
For those who are sleeping do so in the night; and those who are the worse for drink are so in the night;
(BBE)

1 Timothy 5:8
But if anyone doesn't provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Timothy 2:16
But from irreligious and frivolous talk hold aloof, for those who indulge in it will proceed from bad to worse in impiety,
(WEY)

2 Timothy 3:13
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 10:29
How much worse punishment, do you think, will he be judged worthy of, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
(WEB BBE DBY RSV)

2 Peter 2:20
For if, after they have escaped the defilement of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in it and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 19:9
They said, "Stand back!" Then they said, "This one fellow came in to live as a foreigner, and he appoints himself a judge. Now will we deal worse with you, than with them!" They pressed hard on the man Lot, and drew near to break the door.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:19
Then after them came seven other cows, very thin and poor-looking, worse than any I ever saw in the land of Egypt;
(BBE)

Exodus 10:6
And your houses will be full of them, and the houses of your servants and of all the Egyptians; it will be worse than anything your fathers have seen or their fathers, from the day when they were living on the earth till this day. And so he went out from Pharaoh.
(BBE)

Exodus 11:6
There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has not been, nor shall be any more.
(See NIV)

Leviticus 13:5
And the priest is to see him on the seventh day; and if, in his opinion, the place on his skin has not become worse and is not increased in size, then the priest will keep him shut up for seven days more:
(BBE)

Leviticus 13:35
But if the disease in his skin becomes worse after he has been made clean,
(BBE)

Judges 2:19
But whenever the judge died, they turned back and behaved worse than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them; they did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways.
(DBY RSV)

Ruth 1:17
where you die, will I die, and there will I be buried. Yahweh do so to me, and more also, if anything but death part you and me."
(See NAS)

1 Samuel 1:14
And Eli said to her, How long are you going to be the worse for drink? Put away the effects of your wine from you.
(BBE)

1 Samuel 14:47
Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and wherever he turned himself, he put them to the worse.
(WEB JPS ASV RSV)

2 Samuel 6:22
And I will do even worse than this, and make myself even lower in your eyes: but the servant-girls of whom you were talking will give me honour.
(BBE)

2 Samuel 10:15
And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they gathered themselves together.
(See JPS ASV)

2 Samuel 10:19
And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.
(See JPS ASV)

2 Samuel 11:13
And when David sent for him, he took meat and drink with him, and David made him the worse for drink: and when evening came, he went to rest on his bed with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.
(BBE)

2 Samuel 13:16
She said to him, "Not so, because this great wrong in sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me!" But he would not listen to her.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE)

2 Samuel 19:7
Now therefore arise, go out, and speak to comfort your servants; for I swear by Yahweh, if you don't go out, not a man will stay with you this night. That would be worse to you than all the evil that has happened to you from your youth until now."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 8:33
When thy people Israel are put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house;
(DBY)

1 Kings 16:25
But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him.
(KJV BBE DBY WBS)

1 Kings 16:30
And Ahab, the son of Omri, did evil in the eyes of the Lord, even worse than all who went before him.
(BBE)

1 Kings 17:17
It happened after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 14:12
And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents.
(KJV JPS ASV)

1 Chronicles 19:16
And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the river: and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
(KJV JPS ASV)

1 Chronicles 19:19
And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.
(KJV JPS ASV)

2 Chronicles 6:24
And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house;
(KJV DBY WBS)

2 Chronicles 25:22
And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent.
(KJV JPS ASV)

2 Chronicles 33:9
So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.
(KJV WBS)

Job 35:6
If you have done wrong, is he any the worse for it? and if your sins are great in number, what is it to him?
(BBE)

Psalms 39:2
I made no sound, I said no word, even of good; and I was moved with sorrow.
(See NAS RSV)

Proverbs 17:7
Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler.
(See NIV)

Proverbs 19:10
Material comfort is not good for the foolish; much less for a servant to be put over rulers.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 7:26
yet they didn't listen to me, nor inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff: they did worse than their fathers.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS RSV)

Jeremiah 16:12
And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:
(KJV JPS BBE DBY WBS RSV)

Ezekiel 14:21
For thus said the Lord Jehovah: Although My four sore judgments -- sword, and famine, and wild beast, and pestilence -- I have sent unto Jerusalem, to cut off from it man and beast,
(See NIV)

Ezekiel 23:11
And her sister Oholibah saw this, but her desire was even more unmeasured, and her loose behaviour was worse than that of her sister.
(BBE RSV)

Ezekiel 23:14
And her loose behaviour became worse; for she saw men pictured on a wall, pictures of the Chaldaeans painted in bright red,
(BBE)

Daniel 1:10
The prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse looking than the youths who are of your own age? so would you endanger my head with the king.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY NIV)

Micah 7:4
The best of them is like a brier. The most upright is worse than a thorn hedge. The day of your watchmen, even your visitation, has come; now is the time of their confusion.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY NIV)

Zechariah 1:15
And I am very angry with the nations who are living untroubled: for when I was only a little angry, they made the evil worse.
(BBE)

Subtopics

Worse

Related Terms

Worship (332 Occurrences)

Sun-worship

Idol-worship (2 Occurrences)

Image-worship (1 Occurrence)

Bacchus

Chemosh (8 Occurrences)

Sunworship

Adoration