Reference: Answer
American
Besides the common use of this word in the sense of to reply, it is very often used in the bible, following the Hebrew and Greek idioms, in the sense of to speak; meaning simply that one begins or resumes his discourse, Zec 3:4; 6:4; Mt 11:25; 12:38; Lu 7:40. It also means, to sing in choruses or responses, 1Sa 18:7; and to give account of one's self in judgment, Ge 30:33; Job 9:3.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.
And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
Hastings
An answer is (1) an apology or defence, as 2Ti 4:16 'at my first answer no man stood by me'; so perhaps 1Pe 3:21 'the answer of a good conscience'; (2) oracle, Divine response, as Ro 11:4 'what saith the answer of God?'
See Verses Found in Dictionary
But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Watsons
ANSWER. Besides the common usage of this word, in the sense of a reply, it has other significations. Moses, having composed a thanksgiving, after the passage of the Red Sea, Miriam, it is said, answered, "Sing ye to the Lord," &c,
See Verses Found in Dictionary
So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.
And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.
Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them.
And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?
Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: