Answerable
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Definition and Context:
The term "answerable" in a biblical context often refers to the concept of being accountable or responsible for one's actions, words, or decisions. It implies a moral or spiritual obligation to respond to God, authority, or others regarding one's conduct. This concept is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, where individuals and nations are frequently called to account for their actions before God.

Biblical References:

1. Accountability to God:
The Bible emphasizes that all individuals are ultimately answerable to God for their actions. Romans 14:12 states, "So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God." This verse underscores the personal responsibility each person has before God, highlighting the inevitability of divine judgment and the need for righteous living.

2. Stewardship and Responsibility:
The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 illustrates the principle of being answerable for what has been entrusted to us. The servants are held accountable for how they manage their master's resources. Matthew 25:19 notes, "After a long time, the master of those servants returned to settle accounts with them." This parable teaches that God expects faithful stewardship and will hold individuals answerable for their use of the gifts and opportunities He provides.

3. Moral and Ethical Conduct:
The Bible calls believers to live lives that are answerable to the moral and ethical standards set forth in Scripture. James 3:1 warns, "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." This passage highlights the heightened accountability of those in positions of influence and leadership, emphasizing the importance of integrity and truthfulness.

4. Interpersonal Relationships:
Being answerable also extends to how individuals relate to one another. Ephesians 5:21 instructs, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." This mutual submission reflects a sense of accountability to each other within the body of Christ, fostering a community where members are responsible for their actions and attitudes toward one another.

5. Judgment and Consequences:
The Bible consistently teaches that there are consequences for actions, and individuals are answerable for their choices. Galatians 6:7 states, "Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return." This principle of sowing and reaping underscores the reality of divine justice and the certainty that individuals will face the outcomes of their actions.

Theological Implications:
The concept of being answerable is integral to understanding the nature of sin, redemption, and sanctification. It reflects the biblical teaching that humans are created in the image of God, endowed with free will, and thus bear responsibility for their choices. The call to be answerable is not only a call to accountability but also an invitation to live in accordance with God's will, relying on His grace and guidance.

Practical Application:
Believers are encouraged to live with an awareness of their answerability to God and others. This involves regular self-examination, confession, and repentance, as well as a commitment to ethical living and faithful service. By recognizing their accountability, Christians are motivated to pursue holiness and to reflect Christ's character in all aspects of life.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (a.) Obliged to answer; liable to be called to account; liable to pay, indemnify, or make good; accountable; amenable; responsible; as, an agent is answerable to his principal; to be answerable for a debt, or for damages.

2. (a.) Capable of being answered or refuted; admitting a satisfactory answer.

3. (a.) Correspondent; conformable; hence, comparable.

4. (a.) Proportionate; commensurate; suitable; as, an achievement answerable to the preparation for it.

5. (a.) Equal; equivalent; adequate.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ANSWERABLE

an'-ser-a-bl: This word is found in the Old Testament only. Moses and Ezekiel alone use it (Exodus 38:18 Ezekiel 40:18; Ezekiel 45:7; Ezekiel 48:13, 18). It is used in the Old English sense of "corresponding to," "in harmony with." Bunyan uses it in the same sense (Holy War, Clar. Press ed., 92).

Greek
5267. hupodikos -- brought to trial, answerable to
... brought to trial, answerable to. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: hupodikos
Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-od'-ee-kos) Short Definition: answerable to ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5267.htm - 6k
Library

Sin Overcoming and Overcome
... When it does speak it says, 'You have done wrong, and you are answerable.' Answerable
to whom? To it? ... You can only be answerable to a person, and that is God. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/sin overcoming and overcome.htm

I am Thine, oh save me.
... cannot be any one else. I am answerable for all that I ever did, or shall
do; and no one can be answerable for me. All the bad deeds ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon xv i.htm

Salvation Published from the Mountains
... But there are, undoubtedly, particular passages, where a small change in the expression,
might render the sense clearer, and be equally answerable to the ...
/.../newton/messiah vol 1/sermon vi salvation published from.htm

The Connexion of Christianity with the Jewish History.
... But to make Christianity answerable, with its life, for the circumstantial truth
of each separate passage of the Old Testament, the genuineness of every book ...
/.../paley/evidences of christianity/chapter iii the connexion of.htm

Still Another Triplet
... We cannot determine whether our relations with men will be peaceful or no; we are
only answerable for our part, and for that we are answerable. ...
/.../romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/still another triplet 3.htm

Of the State Wherein Man was Created, and How the Image of God is ...
... And answerable to these two, are branches of the text: "God made man upright;" that
he was once; "and they have sought out many inventions;" not being ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture xxiii of the state.htm

Immanuel
... character and perfections. The means are answerable to the grandeur of the
design, and are summarily expressed in my text. I shall ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon v immanuel.htm

"Seek First the Kingdom of God," &C.
... But here is a kingdom that is great, and great in goodness, every way answerable
to our necessities. This is the kingdom we should seek above all things. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xix seek first the.htm

These Things, Since they are Asserted Upon the Warrant of the ...
... bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth"), and
conquered all of these by His death, a death was sought answerable to the ...
/.../11 these things since they.htm

Titus i. 4-Jan
... If therefore any one be irreligious, he will become more so when raised to office;
and he who appoints such a ruler will be answerable for all the offenses ...
/.../homily i titus i 4-jan.htm

Thesaurus
Answerable (7 Occurrences)
... to answer; liable to be called to account; liable to pay, indemnify, or make good;
accountable; amenable; responsible; as, an agent is answerable to his ...
/a/answerable.htm - 10k

Liable (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Bound or obliged in law or equity; responsible;
answerable; as, the surety is liable for the debt of his principal. ...
/l/liable.htm - 8k

Magistrate (9 Occurrences)
... Matthew 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'Thou shalt not commit
murder', and whoever commits murder will be answerable to the magistrate. ...
/m/magistrate.htm - 15k

Alongside (10 Occurrences)
... of the holy offering and in front of the possession of the city, on the west side
westward, and on the east side eastward; and in length answerable to one of ...
/a/alongside.htm - 10k

Remainder (33 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 48:18 The remainder in the length, answerable to the holy offering, shall
be ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward; and it shall be ...
/r/remainder.htm - 18k

Westward (35 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Ezekiel 48:18 The remainder in the length, answerable to the holy offering,
shall be ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward; and it shall be ...
/w/westward.htm - 19k

25000 (11 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 48:13 Answerable to the border of the priests, the Levites shall have
twenty-five thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth: all the length shall ...
/num/25000.htm - 10k

10000 (8 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 48:18 The remainder in the length, answerable to the holy offering, shall
be ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward; and it shall be ...
/num/10000.htm - 8k

Bordering (3 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 48:18 The remainder in the length, answerable to the holy offering, shall
be ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward; and it shall be ...
/b/bordering.htm - 7k

Becomes (138 Occurrences)
... Matthew 5:22 But I say to you that every one who becomes angry with his brother
shall be answerable to the magistrate; that whoever says to his brother 'Raca ...
/b/becomes.htm - 34k

Resources
Is it biblical for a church to seek 501(c)(3) incorporation? | GotQuestions.org

Why do so many people have to experience terrible suffering before death? | GotQuestions.org

What is a Congregational Church / Congregationalism? | GotQuestions.org

Answerable: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Answerable (7 Occurrences)

Matthew 5:21
"You have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'Thou shalt not commit murder', and whoever commits murder will be answerable to the magistrate.
(WEY)

Matthew 5:22
But I say to you that every one who becomes angry with his brother shall be answerable to the magistrate; that whoever says to his brother 'Raca,' shall be answerable to the Sanhedrin; and that whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be liable to the Gehenna of Fire.
(WEY NIV)

Exodus 38:18
And the hanging for the gate of the court was needlework, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: and twenty cubits was the length, and the height in the breadth was five cubits, answerable to the hangings of the court.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Ezekiel 40:18
The pavement was by the side of the gates, answerable to the length of the gates, even the lower pavement.
(WEB ASV)

Ezekiel 45:7
Whatever is for the prince shall be on the one side and on the other side of the holy offering and of the possession of the city, in front of the holy offering and in front of the possession of the city, on the west side westward, and on the east side eastward; and in length answerable to one of the portions, from the west border to the east border.
(WEB JPS ASV)

Ezekiel 48:18
The remainder in the length, answerable to the holy offering, shall be ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward; and it shall be answerable to the holy offering; and its increase shall be for food to those who labor in the city.
(WEB JPS ASV)

Ezekiel 48:21
The residue shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy offering and of the possession of the city; in front of the twenty-five thousand of the offering toward the east border, and westward in front of the twenty-five thousand toward the west border, answerable to the portions, it shall be for the prince: and the holy offering and the sanctuary of the house shall be in its midst.
(WEB JPS ASV)

Subtopics

Answerable

Related Terms

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Claim (30 Occurrences)

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Question (153 Occurrences)

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Knewest (11 Occurrences)

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Command (442 Occurrences)

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Behind (188 Occurrences)

Alarmed (28 Occurrences)

Seek (368 Occurrences)

Afterward (113 Occurrences)

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Advice (52 Occurrences)

Stay (221 Occurrences)

Verily (146 Occurrences)

Questioned (57 Occurrences)

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Zeruiah (25 Occurrences)

Succeed (47 Occurrences)

Sight (522 Occurrences)

Aught (52 Occurrences)

Yours (226 Occurrences)

Certainly (415 Occurrences)

Betray (29 Occurrences)

Pleases (51 Occurrences)

Answers (42 Occurrences)

Can't (180 Occurrences)

Someone (153 Occurrences)

Blind (91 Occurrences)

Aren't (102 Occurrences)

Questions (76 Occurrences)

Asks (41 Occurrences)

Sign (181 Occurrences)

Born (228 Occurrences)

Shouldest (79 Occurrences)

Ahimelech (17 Occurrences)

Sir (90 Occurrences)

Approached (61 Occurrences)

Yet (1244 Occurrences)

Accord (43 Occurrences)

Brothers (574 Occurrences)

Ventured (5 Occurrences)

Zophar (4 Occurrences)

Believe (239 Occurrences)

Yourselves (530 Occurrences)

Proceedeth (21 Occurrences)

Perplexed (16 Occurrences)

Peaceably (13 Occurrences)

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Pennyworth (2 Occurrences)

Penu'el (7 Occurrences)

Provinces (40 Occurrences)

Purified (44 Occurrences)

Peradventure (35 Occurrences)

Proceeds (20 Occurrences)

Prevent (32 Occurrences)

Penuel (7 Occurrences)

Perverse (55 Occurrences)

Believest (8 Occurrences)

Benai'ah (43 Occurrences)

Answer the Call
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