Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5760 Human attitudes and behaviour  »  5926 rebuke

A verbal expression of blame. Scripture gives examples of both divine and human rebuke. Sometimes God issues rebukes directly but more commonly he did so through the OT prophets. In the NT Jesus Christ and the apostles issue rebukes and teach the church how to address those who sin.

God has an absolute right to rebuke those who depart from his ways

He sometimes exercises this right directly

Leviticus 26:23-24 See also Deuteronomy 28:20; Nehemiah 9:30; Job 5:17; Psalm 39:11; Psalm 50:21; Psalm 94:12; Psalm 105:14; Psalm 119:21; Jeremiah 2:19,30; Hebrews 8:8

His rebuke is powerful

Job 26:11; Psalm 80:16; Psalm 104:7; Isaiah 50:2

In the OT much rebuke came indirectly

Balaam's ass rebukes Balaam:

Numbers 22:28; 2 Peter 2:16 1 Samuel 2:25 Eli rebukes his sons; 1 Samuel 15:12-26 Samuel rebukes Saul; 1 Samuel 24:5-7 David rebukes his men; 2 Samuel 12:1-12 Nathan rebukes David; 1 Kings 18:18 Elijah rebukes Ahab; Ezra 10:9-11 Ezra rebukes the men of Judah and Benjamin; Isaiah 1:10-17 Isaiah rebukes Judah and Jerusalem; Hosea 4:1-3 Hosea rebukes the Israelites.

Examples of Jesus Christ issuing rebukes

To evil spirits

Matthew 17:18 pp Mark 9:25 pp Luke 9:42 See also Luke 4:41

To his disciples

Mark 8:33 pp Matthew 16:23; Mark 16:14

Other examples of rebuke being administered in the NT

Inappropriate rebukes by Jesus Christ's disciples:

Matthew 16:22 pp Mark 8:32; Matthew 19:13 pp Mark 10:13 pp Luke 18:15 Luke 3:19 John the Baptist rebukes Herod; Luke 23:40-41 The repentant thief on the cross rebukes the other crucified criminal.

Proverbs on the subject of rebuke

The importance of responding correctly to a rebuke

Proverbs 1:23-26 See also Proverbs 6:23; Proverbs 10:17; Proverbs 12:1; Proverbs 15:10,31-32; Proverbs 17:10; Proverbs 19:25; Ecclesiastes 7:5

Different responses to a rebuke

Proverbs 9:7-8

Instructions to believers on giving and receiving rebuke

On giving a rebuke

Leviticus 19:17 See also Matthew 18:15; Luke 17:3; Galatians 6:1; Colossians 1:28; Colossians 3:16; 1 Timothy 5:1 advice on rebuking those who are older; 1 Timothy 5:20 disciplining elders; 2 Timothy 3:16 the usefulness of Scripture for rebuking; 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9,13; Titus 2:15; James 5:19-20

On receiving a rebuke

Hebrews 12:5 See also 1 Corinthians 16:14

Believers thus follow the example of the Lord himself

Hebrews 12:6 See also Proverbs 3:12; Revelation 3:19

See also

1613  Scripture, purpose
5113  Peter, disciple
5193  tongue
5777  admonition
5900  laughter
6115  blame
6163  faults
7772  prophets
8230  discipline
8718  disobedience