Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5760 Human attitudes and behaviour  »  5829 defiance

Open refusal to obey any authority. Defiance is seen in the Bible as evil when authority is legitimate but good when authority is ungodly.

Defiance of God is condemned

Jeremiah 50:29 See also 1 Kings 13:21-22,26; Psalm 139:19-22; Isaiah 3:8; Isaiah 65:7; Jeremiah 48:26,42

To defy God's people is to defy God

1 Samuel 17:10,23,25-26,36,45

Defiance of legitimate authority

Romans 13:2 See also Numbers 15:30; 1 Peter 2:13

Defiance of ungodly authority

Daniel 3:28 See also Daniel 6:13; Acts 4:19; Acts 5:29; Acts 17:7; Revelation 20:4

See also

5215  authority
5257  civil authorities
5326  government
5457  power, human
6193  impenitence
6221  rebellion
8718  disobedience