Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5760 Human attitudes and behaviour  »  5851 excuse

The attempt to deny responsibility for an action or for a lack of action. There is no excuse for sin.

Examples of excuses given for wrong actions

Genesis 3:12-13 by Adam and Eve for eating the forbidden fruit; Exodus 32:22-24 by Aaron for making the golden calf; 1 Samuel 13:11-12 by Saul for acting as priest

By Saul for not fully obeying the LORD:

1 Samuel 15:20-21,24-25

Examples of excuses given for inaction

By Moses:

Exodus 3:11; Exodus 4:10 Judges 6:15 by Gideon

By the lazy:

Proverbs 22:13; Proverbs 26:13 Jeremiah 1:6 by Jeremiah

By the fearful:

Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-27 Matthew 25:41-45 by the ignorant

Excuses given by those unwilling to follow Jesus Christ

Luke 14:16-24 See also Matthew 22:2-3; Luke 9:59-62

There is no excuse for sin

Romans 1:20 See also John 9:41; John 15:22; Romans 2:1; Romans 3:19-23; Romans 5:12; 1 John 1:8,10

See also

4924  delay
5051  responsibility
5877  hesitation
6020  sin
6154  fall, the
6183  ignorance, of God
8712  denial of Christ
8768  idolatry