In biblical terminology, the term "brute" is often used to describe individuals or creatures that exhibit characteristics of irrationality, lack of reason, or animalistic behavior. The word is typically associated with a lack of spiritual discernment and moral understanding, contrasting with the wisdom and rationality expected of those who follow God's teachings.

Old Testament Context

The concept of brutishness is present in the Old Testament, where it is often used to describe those who are devoid of wisdom and understanding. In Psalm 92:6 , it is written, "A senseless man does not know, and a fool does not understand." Here, the term "senseless" is akin to being brutish, highlighting a deficiency in spiritual insight and moral comprehension.

Similarly, in Jeremiah 10:8 , the prophet declares, "But they are altogether senseless and foolish, instructed by worthless idols made of wood!" This passage criticizes the idolatrous practices of the nations, equating their lack of true knowledge and understanding of God with brutishness.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the term "brute" is used to describe individuals who act on base instincts rather than spiritual wisdom. In 2 Peter 2:12 , the apostle Peter warns against false teachers, stating, "But these men are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, and like such creatures, they too will perish." Here, the comparison to "irrational animals" underscores the absence of spiritual discernment and the danger of following one's base instincts.

Jude 1:10 also addresses this theme, saying, "These men, however, slander what they do not understand, and like irrational animals, they will be destroyed by the things they do instinctively." This passage further emphasizes the peril of living without spiritual insight, equating such behavior with that of brute beasts.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the use of "brute" in the Bible serves as a warning against living a life devoid of spiritual wisdom and understanding. It underscores the importance of seeking God's truth and living according to His commandments, rather than succumbing to base instincts and irrational behavior. The Bible consistently contrasts the brutish with the wise, urging believers to pursue knowledge and discernment through a relationship with God.

Moral and Ethical Considerations

The moral implications of being described as "brute" in the Bible are significant. It suggests a life led by instinct rather than reason, often resulting in destructive behavior. The Bible calls believers to rise above such tendencies, to cultivate a life of wisdom, understanding, and moral integrity. This involves a conscious effort to align one's actions with the teachings of Scripture and to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all aspects of life.

In summary, the term "brute" in the Bible is a powerful descriptor of those who lack spiritual insight and moral understanding. It serves as a cautionary term, urging believers to pursue a life of wisdom and discernment in accordance with God's will.1. (a.) Not having sensation; senseless; inanimate; unconscious; without intelligence or volition; as, the brute earth; the brute powers of nature.

2. (a.) Not possessing reason, irrational; unthinking; as, a brute beast; the brute creation.

3. (a.) Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of, a brute beast. Hence: Brutal; cruel; fierce; ferocious; savage; pitiless; as, brute violence.

4. (a.) Having the physical powers predominating over the mental; coarse; unpolished; unintelligent.

5. (a.) Rough; uncivilized; unfeeling.

6. (n.) An animal destitute of human reason; any animal not human; esp. a quadruped; a beast.

7. (n.) A brutal person; a savage in heart or manners; as unfeeling or coarse person.

8. (v. t.) To report; to bruit.

BRUTE; BRUTISH

broot, brootish (ba`ar, "stupid"; alogos, "without speech," hence, irrational, unreasonable (Acts 25:27 2 Peter 2:12 Jude 1:10 the King James Version)): The man who denies God acts in an irrational way. Such persons are described as brutish (Psalm 49:10; Psalm 92:6; Psalm 94:8 Jeremiah 10:14, 21; Jeremiah 51:17). These are stupid, unteachable. This is a graphic description of the atheist. The proverb, "No fool like the learned fool," is especially true of the ignorance of the unbelievers of the Scriptures. Their obj ections to the Bible, as a rule, are utterly ridiculous. The word is occasionally used in the sense of thoughtless ignorance. Brutish counsel is counsel that is foolish, unreasonable (Isaiah 19:11). The term is used by Agur (Proverbs 30:2) to express the low estimate he has of himself and his conscious lack of knowledge.

Jacob W. Kapp

249. alogos -- without reason
... brute, unreasonable. From a (as a negative particle) and logos; irrational -- brute,
unreasonable. see GREEK a. see GREEK logos. (aloga) -- 2 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/249.htm - 7k

2342. therion -- a wild beast
... therion Phonetic Spelling: (thay-ree'-on) Short Definition: a wild beast, animal
Definition: properly: a wild beast, hence: any animal; met: a brute. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2342.htm - 7k

Whether the Souls of Brute Animals are Subsistent?
... TREATISE ON MAN (QQ -102)OF MAN WHO IS COMPOSED OF A SPIRITUAL AND A CORPOREAL
SUBSTANCE: AND IN THE Whether the souls of brute animals are subsistent? ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the souls of brute.htm

Of Man, and the Brute Animals, and Religion.
... Chap. VII."Of Man, and the Brute Animals, and Religion. Though philosophers
have often turned aside from reason through their ...
/.../a treatise on the anger of god addressed to donatus/chap vii of man and the.htm

Courage
... There is brute courage, which comes from hardness of heart, from stupidity, obstinacy,
or anger, which does not see danger, or does not feel pain. ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xviii courage.htm

Whether Christ Worked Miracles Fittingly on Irrational Creatures?
... creatures. For brute animals are more noble than plants. ... 19). Therefore
Christ should have worked miracles also on brute animals. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ worked miracles fittingly 2.htm

Examination of the Meaning of Subjection:' in that He Says that ...
... The Creator, honouring man in his having been made in His own image, hath placed'
the brute creation in subjection under his feet;' as great David relating ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 16 examination of the.htm

That Our Irrational Passions have their Rise from Kindred with ...
... the first beginnings of our constitutional liability to passion to that human nature
which was fashioned in the Divine likeness; but as brute life first ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/xviii that our irrational passions.htm

Antipathies
... It is nature, brute nature, which makes some dogs fly at every strange
dog they meet. It is nature, brute nature, which makes a ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xv antipathies.htm

Wide and Narrow Sense of the Word "Spirit. "
... term sentiment. Owing to this it is, no doubt, that we are placed above
brute animals, since these are unendowed with reason. These ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 37 xxiii wide and narrow.htm

God's Exhaustive Knowledge of Man.
... The brute creation possesses many attributes that are common to human nature, but
it has no faculty that bears even the remotest resemblance to that of self ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/gods exhaustive knowledge of man.htm

Mathew xi. 10
... Take those tastes in us which most resemble the instincts of a brute; and you will
find that in these, as with instinct, common consent becomes a sure rule. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnold/the christian life/lecture xvi mathew xi 10.htm

Brute (4 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Not having sensation; senseless; inanimate; unconscious; without intelligence
or volition; as, the brute earth; the brute powers of nature. ...
/b/brute.htm - 9k

Brutish (12 Occurrences)
... (a.) Pertaining to, or resembling, a brute or brutes; of a cruel, gross, and stupid
nature; coarse; unfeeling; unintelligent. Int. ...BRUTE; BRUTISH. ...
/b/brutish.htm - 11k

Beasts (241 Occurrences)
... 2 Peter 2:12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed,
speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in ...
/b/beasts.htm - 40k

Brutal (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Of or pertaining to a brute; as, brutal nature. 2. (a.) Like a brute; savage;
cruel; inhuman; brutish; unfeeling; merciless; gross; as, brutal manners. ...
/b/brutal.htm - 7k

Psychology
... He is animal as possessing anima, but he is a reasoning animal, which distinguishes
him from the brute" (Bavinck, German Dogm., II, 628). ...
/p/psychology.htm - 38k

Evolution
... The very emergence of this sense in the mind of a prehuman ancestor of
man would change the brute into the man. We may speak of ...
/e/evolution.htm - 39k

Anthropology
... In Genesis 1:27 tselem ("image") alone is used to express all that separates
man from the brute and links him to his Creator. Hence ...
/a/anthropology.htm - 38k

Nature (80 Occurrences)
... In Jude 1:10, we have phusikos, "naturally" "naturally, as brute beasts," the Revised
Version (British and American) "naturally, like the creatures without ...
/n/nature.htm - 35k

Line (131 Occurrences)
... fortify; as, to line works with soldiers. 6. (vt) To impregnate; -- applied
to brute animals. 7. (n.) A linen thread or string; a ...
/l/line.htm - 43k

Instinct (3 Occurrences)
... WEY NAS). 2 Peter 2:12 But these men, like brute beasts, created (with their
natural instincts) (Root in WEY NAS RSV NIV). Jude 1:10 ...
/i/instinct.htm - 8k

How should a Christian respond to bullying? | GotQuestions.org

Federalism vs. seminalism'which view is correct? | GotQuestions.org

Brute: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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