Bible Dictionaries
Insult

Holman Bible Dictionary

To treat with insolence, indignity, or contempt. The term does not appear in the KJV but becomes increasingly frequent in more recent translations, such as the NIV, where it replaces such terms as abuse, mock, revile, reproach, or ridicule. According to Hebrew wisdom, the wise person ignores insults (Proverbs 12:16 ). Proverbs 14:31 warns that oppression of the poor is an insult to God. God's prophets were sometimes the objects of insults ( Jeremiah 20:7-8; 2 Kings 2:23 ). As God's ultimate representative, Jesus anticipated insults as part of His passion (Luke 18:32 ). The Synoptic Gospels relate these insults (Matthew 26:68; Matthew 27:29 ,Matthew 27:29,27:40-44; Mark 14:65; Mark 15:16-20 ,Mark 15:16-20,15:29-32; Luke 22:63-65; Luke 23:11 ,Luke 23:11,23:35-39 ). By suffering insult, Christ became the model for Christians who experience insult (Romans 15:3 , quoting Psalm 69:9; 1 Peter 3:9 ). Jesus blessed those who suffered insult for His sake (Matthew 5:11 ). Paul was content with insults which are a natural consequence of mission involvement (2 Corinthians 12:10 ). Jesus warned that one insulting a brother was in danger of standing before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish supreme court (Matthew 5:22 ).