'Answer' in the Bible

“I am not able to,” Joseph answered Pharaoh. “It is God who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But they could not answer him because they were terrified in his presence.

He said to them, “Spend the night here, and I will give you the answer the Lord tells me.” So the officials of Moab stayed with Balaam.

Then people will answer, ‘It is because they abandoned the covenant of Yahweh, the God of their fathers, which He had made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.

Her wisest princesses answer her;she even answers herself:

When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you’ve chosen for yourselves, but the Lord won’t answer you on that day.”

So Saul inquired of God, “Should I go after the Philistines? Will You hand them over to Israel?” But God did not answer him that day.

Then he turned from those beside him to others in front of him and asked about the offer. The people gave him the same answer as before.

Then David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner: “Aren’t you going to answer, Abner?”“Who are you who calls to the king?” Abner asked.

He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him in dreams or by the Urim or by the prophets.

“Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Samuel asked Saul.“I’m in serious trouble,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me and God has turned away from me. He doesn’t answer me anymore, either through the prophets or in dreams. So I’ve called on you to tell me what I should do.”

Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner because he was afraid of him.

They look, but there is no one to save them—they look to the Lord, but He does not answer them.

So Gad went to David, told him the choices, and asked him, “Do you want three years of famine to come on your land, to flee from your foes three months while they pursue you, or to have a plague in your land three days? Now, think it over and decide what answer I should take back to the One who sent me.”

Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If Yahweh is God, follow Him. But if Baal, follow him.” But the people didn’t answer him a word.

So they took the bull that he gave them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound; no one answered. Then they danced, hobbling around the altar they had made.

Answer me, Lord! Answer me so that this people will know that You, Yahweh, are God and that You have turned their hearts back.”

So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your mantle under your belt, take my staff with you, and go. If you meet anyone, don’t stop to greet him, and if a man greets you, don’t answer him. Then place my staff on the boy’s face.”

But the people kept silent; they didn’t say anything, for the king’s command was, “Don’t answer him.”

three years of famine, or three months of devastation by your foes with the sword of your enemy overtaking you, or three days of the sword of the Lord—a plague on the land, the angel of the Lord bringing destruction to the whole territory of Israel.’ Now decide what answer I should take back to the One who sent me.”

Call out if you please. Will anyone answer you?Which of the holy ones will you turn to?

If one wanted to take Him to court,he could not answer God once in a thousand times.

How then can I answer Himor choose my arguments against Him?

Even if I were in the right, I could not answer.I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him,that we can take each other to court.

Then call, and I will answer,or I will speak, and You can respond to me.

You would call, and I would answer You.You would long for the work of Your hands.

Does a wise man answer with empty counselor fill himself with the hot east wind?

I call for my servant, but he does not answer,even if I beg him with my own mouth.

This is why my unsettling thoughts compel me to answer,because I am upset!

I would learn how He would answer me;and understand what He would say to me.

I cry out to You for help, but You do not answer me;when I stand up, You merely look at me.

what could I do when God stands up to judge?How should I answer Him when He calls me to account?

If only I had someone to hear my case!Here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me.Let my Opponent compose His indictment.

But when he saw that the three men could not answer Job, he became angry.

Job’s friends are dismayed and can no longer answer;words have left them.

Should I continue to wait now that they are silent,now that they stand there and no longer answer?

I too will answer;yes, I will tell what I know.

But if you have something to say, answer me;speak, for I would like to justify you.

I will answer youand your friends with you.

There they cry out, but He does not answer,because of the pride of evil men.

Get ready to answer Me like a man;when I question you, you will inform Me.

Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?Let him who argues with God give an answer.

I am so insignificant. How can I answer You?I place my hand over my mouth.

Get ready to answer Me like a man;When I question you, you will inform Me.

For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Davidic psalm.Answer me when I call,God, who vindicates me.You freed me from affliction;be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

Consider me and answer, Lord my God.Restore brightness to my eyes;otherwise, I will sleep in death.

I call on You, God,because You will answer me;listen closely to me; hear what I say.

They cry for help, but there is no one to save them—they cry to the Lord, but He does not answer them.

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.May Yahweh answer you in a day of trouble;may the name of Jacob’s God protect you.

Now I know that the Lord gives victory to His anointed;He will answer him from His holy heavenwith mighty victories from His right hand.

Lord, give victory to the king!May He answer us on the day that we call.

My God, I cry by day, but You do not answer,by night, yet I have no rest.

Lord, hear my voice when I call;be gracious to me and answer me.

I put my hope in You, Lord;You will answer, Lord my God.

Pay attention to me and answer me.I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint,

Save with Your right hand, and answer me,so that those You love may be rescued.

You answer us in righteousness,with awe-inspiring works,God of our salvation,the hope of all the ends of the earthand of the distant seas.

But as for me, Lord,my prayer to You is for a time of favor.In Your abundant, faithful love, God,answer me with Your sure salvation.

Answer me, Lord,for Your faithful love is good;in keeping with Your great compassion,turn to me.

Don’t hide Your face from Your servant,for I am in distress.Answer me quickly!

A Davidic prayer.Listen, Lord, and answer me,for I am poor and needy.

I call on You in the day of my distress,for You will answer me.

When he calls out to Me, I will answer him;I will be with him in trouble.I will rescue him and give him honor.

Do not hide Your face from me in my day of trouble.Listen closely to me;answer me quickly when I call.

Save with Your right hand and answer meso that those You love may be rescued.

Then I can answer the one who taunts me,for I trust in Your word.

ק QofI call with all my heart; answer me, Lord.I will obey Your statutes.

A Davidic psalm.Lord, hear my prayer.In Your faithfulness listen to my plea,and in Your righteousness answer me.

Answer me quickly, Lord;my spirit fails.Don’t hide Your face from me,or I will be like thosegoing down to the Pit.

Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;they will search for me, but won’t find me.

A gentle answer turns away anger,but a harsh word stirs up wrath.

A man takes joy in giving an answer;and a timely word—how good that is!

The reflections of the heart belong to man,but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

The one who gives an answer before he listens—this is foolishness and disgrace for him.

He who gives an honest answergives a kiss on the lips.

Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishnessor you’ll be like him yourself.

Answer a fool according to his foolishnessor he’ll become wise in his own eyes.

In his own eyes, a slacker is wiserthan seven men who can answer sensibly.

Be wise, my son, and bring my heart joy,so that I can answer anyone who taunts me.

A feast is prepared for laughter,and wine makes life happy,and money is the answer for everything.

I opened to my love,but my love had turned and gone away.I was crushed that he had left.I sought him, but did not find him.I called him, but he did not answer.

What answer will be given to the messengers from that nation?The Lord has founded Zion,and His afflicted people find refuge in her.

For you people will live on Zion in Jerusalem and will never cry again. He will show favor to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears, He will answer you.

But they kept silent; they didn’t say anything, for the king’s command was, “Don’t answer him.”

The poor and the needy seek water, but there is none;their tongues are parched with thirst.I, Yahweh, will answer them;I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

They lift it to their shoulder and bear it along;they set it in its place, and there it stands;it does not budge from its place.They cry out to it but it doesn’t answer;it saves no one from his trouble.

This is what the Lord says:I will answer you in a time of favor,and I will help you in the day of salvation.I will keep you, and I will appoint youto be a covenant for the people,to restore the land,to make them possess the desolate inheritances,

Why was no one there when I came?Why was there no one to answer when I called?Is My hand too short to redeem?Or do I have no power to deliver?Look, I dry up the sea by My rebuke;I turn the rivers into a wilderness;their fish rot because of lack of waterand die of thirst.

At that time, when you call, the Lord will answer;when you cry out, He will say, ‘Here I am.’If you get rid of the yoke among you,the finger-pointing and malicious speaking,

I will destine you for the sword,and all of you will kneel down to be slaughtered,because I called and you did not answer,I spoke and you did not hear;you did what was evil in My sightand chose what I did not delight in.

Even before they call, I will answer;while they are still speaking, I will hear.

Now, because you have done all these things”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and because I have spoken to you time and time again but you wouldn’t listen, and I have called to you, but you wouldn’t answer,

“When you speak all these things to them, they will not listen to you. When you call to them, they will not answer you.

Then you will answer them: Because your fathers abandoned Me”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and followed other gods, served them, and worshiped them. Indeed, they abandoned Me and did not keep My instruction.

They will answer, ‘Because they abandoned the covenant of Yahweh their God and worshiped and served other gods.’”

Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know.

Therefore, this is what the Lord, the God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I will certainly bring to Judah and to all the residents of Jerusalem all the disaster I have pronounced against them because I have spoken to them, but they have not obeyed, and I have called to them, but they would not answer.”

“Therefore, speak to them and tell them: This is what the Lord God says: When anyone from the house of Israel sets up idols in his heart, puts a sinful stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet, I, Yahweh, will answer him appropriately. I will answer him according to his many idols,

For when anyone from the house of Israel or from the foreigners who reside in Israel separates himself from Me, setting up idols in his heart and putting a sinful stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me, I, Yahweh, will answer him Myself.