Violence
Violence is defined as "behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something." In law, it is defined as "the unlawful exercise of physical force or intimidation by the exhibition of such force."
Violence is really where force is used or even the threat of force to take choice away from someone else or cause someone to lose the value or use of a property right without just cause.
It may also be considered violence by neglect when you make no reasonable effort to protect others from what would have been considered violence had you initiated the action which damaged an individual's right to choose.
There are numerous words translated some form of the word violent in the Bible.
New Testament
- Matthew 8:32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently[1] down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.
The word violent here only means "to set in rapid motion"
- Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent[2] take it by force.
Here the word biastes is used as a noun from the word biazo meaning "to use force". That force may or may not be just.
- Mark 5:13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down[3] a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
Here we find the word kata most often translated "according to".
- Luke 3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence[4] to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
This word appears only once in the Bible and is diaseio from 1223 meaning through and 4579 seio meaning to shake, agitate and is a metaphor meaning to "to agitate the mind".
- Luke 8:33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down[5] a steep place into the lake, and were choked.
Here again, we find the word kata most often translated "according to" but relating to a cliff can mean down from.
- Acts 5:26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence[6]: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
- Acts 21:35 And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence[6] of the people.
- Acts 24:7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,
- Acts 27:41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence[6] of the waves.
The word biazo meaning "to use force" is only found in these verses of the Acts of the Apostles. That force may or may not be just.
- Hebrews 11:34 Quenched the violence[7] of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
- Revelation 18:21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence[8] shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
Footnotes
- ↑ 3729 ~ὁρμάω~ hormao \@hor-mah’-o\@ from 3730 meaning assault; TDNT-5:467,730; {See TDNT 565} v AV-run violently 3, run 1, rush 1; 5
- 1) to set in rapid motion, stir up, incite, urge on
- 2) to start forward impetuously, to rush
- ↑ 973 ~βιαστής~ biastes \@bee-as-tace’\@ from 971 biazo to use force; TDNT-1:613,105; {See TDNT 137} n m AV-violent 1; 1
- 1) strong, forceful
- 2) using force, violent
- ↑ 2596 ~κατά~ kata \@kat-ah’\@ a primary particle; ; prep AV-according to 107, after 61, against 58, in 36, by 27, daily + 2250 15, as 11, misc 165; 480
- 1) down from, through out
- 2) according to, toward, along
- ↑ 1286 ~διασείω~ diaseio \@dee-as-i’-o\@ from 1223 and 4579 shake or quake or move; ; v AV-do violence to 1; 1
- 1) to shake thoroughly
- 2) to make to tremble
- 3) to terrify
- 4) to agitate
- 5) to extort from one by intimidation money or other property
- ↑ 2596 ~κατά~ kata \@kat-ah’\@ a primary particle; ; prep AV-according to 107, after 61, against 58, in 36, by 27, daily + 2250 15, as 11, misc 165; 480
- 1) down from, through out
- 2) according to, toward, along
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 970 ~βία~ bia \@bee’-ah\@ probably akin to 979 (through the idea of vital activity); ; n f AV-violence 4; 4
- 1) strength, whether of body or mind
- 2) strength in violent action, force
- For Synonyms see entry 5820
- ↑ 1411 ~δύναμις~ dunamis \@doo’-nam-is\@ from 1410 meaning to be able; TDNT-2:284,186; {See TDNT 201} n f AV-power 77, mighty work 11, strength 7, miracle 7, might 4, virtue 3, mighty 2, misc 9; 120
- 1) strength power, ability
- 1a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
- 1b) power for performing miracles
- 1c) moral power and excellence of soul
- 1d) the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
- 1e) power and resources arising from numbers
- 1f) power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts
- For Synonyms see entry 5820
- 1) strength power, ability
- ↑ 3731 ~ὅρμημα~ hormema \@hor’-may-mah\@ from 3730 meaning assault; TDNT-5:467,730; {See TDNT 565} n n AV-violence 1; 1
- 1) a rush, impulse
- 2) that which is impelled or hurried away by impulse