'Answer' in the Bible

Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" His brothers could not answer him because they were dumbfounded before him.

The wisest of her ladies answer; indeed she even thinks to herself,

In that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord won't answer you in that day."

The servant went on to answer Saul, "Look, I happen to have in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God and he will tell us where we should go."

So Saul asked God, "Should I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?" But he did not answer him that day.

Then he turned from those who were nearby to someone else and asked the same question, but they gave him the same answer as before.

David called to the army and to Abner son of Ner, "Won't you answer, Abner?" Abner replied, "Who are you, that you have called to the king?"

So Saul inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him -- not by dreams nor by Urim nor by the prophets.

Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Saul replied, "I am terribly troubled! The Philistines are fighting against me and God has turned away from me. He does not answer me -- not by the prophets nor by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what I should do."

Ish-bosheth was unable to answer Abner with even a single word because he was afraid of him.

Now Absalom used to get up early and stand beside the road that led to the city gate. Whenever anyone came by who had a complaint to bring to the king for arbitration, Absalom would call out to him, "What city are you from?" The person would answer, "I, your servant, am from one of the tribes of Israel."

They cry out, but there is no one to help them; they cry out to the Lord, but he does not answer them.

But respond favorably to your servant's prayer and his request for help, O Lord my God. Answer the desperate prayer your servant is presenting to you today.

Night and day may you watch over this temple, the place where you promised you would live. May you answer your servant's prayer for this place.

Then listen from your heavenly dwelling place and answer all the prayers of the foreigners. Then all the nations of the earth will acknowledge your reputation, obey you like your people Israel do, and recognize that this temple I built belongs to you.

Others will then answer, 'Because they abandoned the Lord their God, who led their ancestors out of Egypt. They embraced other gods whom they worshiped and served. That is why the Lord has brought all this disaster down on them.'"

King Rehoboam consulted with the older advisers who had served his father Solomon when he had been alive. He asked them, "How do you advise me to answer these people?"

So they took a bull, as he had suggested, and prepared it. They invoked the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "Baal, answer us." But there was no sound and no answer. They jumped around on the altar they had made.

Throughout the afternoon they were in an ecstatic frenzy, but there was no sound, no answer, and no response.

Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are the true God and that you are winning back their allegiance."

But respond favorably to your servant's prayer and his request for help, O Lord my God. Answer the desperate prayer your servant is presenting to you.

Night and day may you watch over this temple, the place where you promised you would live. May you answer your servant's prayer for this place.

Then listen from your heavenly dwelling place and answer all the prayers of the foreigners. Then all the nations of the earth will acknowledge your reputation, obey you like your people Israel do, and recognize that this temple I built belongs to you.

Others will then answer, 'Because they abandoned the Lord God of their ancestors, who led them out of Egypt. They embraced other gods whom they worshiped and served. That is why he brought all this disaster down on them.'"

King Rehoboam consulted with the older advisers who had served his father Solomon when he had been alive. He asked them, "How do you advise me to answer these people?"

he said to take back this answer to Esther:

"Call now! Is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?

If someone wishes to contend with him, he cannot answer him one time in a thousand.

"How much less, then, can I answer him and choose my words to argue with him!

Although I am innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my judge for mercy.

For he is not a human being like I am, that I might answer him, that we might come together in judgment.

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

You will call and I -- I will answer you; you will long for the creature you have made.

"Does a wise man answer with blustery knowledge, or fill his belly with the east wind?

Will there be an end to your windy words? Or what provokes you that you answer?

"If I cry out, 'Violence!' I receive no answer; I cry for help, but there is no justice.

When I hear a reproof that dishonors me, then my understanding prompts me to answer.

I would know with what words he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

I cry out to you, but you do not answer me; I stand up, and you only look at me.

"If only I had someone to hear me! Here is my signature -- let the Almighty answer me! If only I had an indictment that my accuser had written.

So these three men refused to answer Job further, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

With Job's three friends he was also angry, because they could not find an answer, and so declared Job guilty.

"They are dismayed and cannot answer any more; they have nothing left to say.

And I have waited. But because they do not speak, because they stand there and answer no more,

I too will answer my part, I too will explain what I know.

I will speak, so that I may find relief; I will open my lips, so that I may answer.

Now in this, you are not right -- I answer you, for God is greater than a human being.

Why do you contend against him, that he does not answer all a person's words?

Then they cry out -- but he does not answer -- because of the arrogance of the wicked.

"Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let the person who accuses God give him an answer!"

I have spoken once, but I cannot answer; twice, but I will say no more."

You said, 'Pay attention, and I will speak; I will question you, and you will answer me.'

For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a psalm of David. When I call out, answer me, O God who vindicates me! Though I am hemmed in, you will lead me into a wide, open place. Have mercy on me and respond to my prayer!

Lord, in the morning you will hear me; in the morning I will present my case to you and then wait expectantly for an answer.

Look at me! Answer me, O Lord my God! Revive me, or else I will die!

I call to you for you will answer me, O God. Listen to me! Hear what I say!

They cry out, but there is no one to help them; they cry out to the Lord, but he does not answer them.

For the music director; a psalm of David. May the Lord answer you when you are in trouble; may the God of Jacob make you secure!

The Lord will deliver the king; he will answer us when we call to him for help!

My God, I cry out during the day, but you do not answer, and during the night my prayers do not let up.

Hear me, O Lord, when I cry out! Have mercy on me and answer me!

Then you will take delight in the Lord, and he will answer your prayers.

Pay attention to me and answer me! I am so upset and distressed, I am beside myself,

Deliver by your power and answer me, so that the ones you love may be safe.

You answer our prayers by performing awesome acts of deliverance, O God, our savior. All the ends of the earth trust in you, as well as those living across the wide seas.

O Lord, may you hear my prayer and be favorably disposed to me! O God, because of your great loyal love, answer me with your faithful deliverance!

Answer me, O Lord, for your loyal love is good! Because of your great compassion, turn toward me!

Do not ignore your servant, for I am in trouble! Answer me right away!

A prayer of David. Listen O Lord! Answer me! For I am oppressed and needy.

In my time of trouble I cry out to you, for you will answer me.

When he calls out to me, I will answer him. I will be with him when he is in trouble; I will rescue him and bring him honor.

Do not ignore me in my time of trouble! Listen to me! When I call out to you, quickly answer me!

Deliver by your power and answer me, so that the ones you love may be safe.

(Qof) I cried out with all my heart, "Answer me, O Lord! I will observe your statutes."

A psalm of David. O Lord, hear my prayer! Pay attention to my plea for help! Because of your faithfulness and justice, answer me!

Answer me quickly, Lord! My strength is fading. Do not reject me, or I will join those descending into the grave.

Then they will call to me, but I will not answer; they will diligently seek me, but they will not find me.

A person has joy in giving an appropriate answer, and a word at the right time -- how good it is!

The heart of the righteous considers how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

The intentions of the heart belong to a man, but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.

The one who gives an answer before he listens -- that is his folly and his shame.

Like a kiss on the lips is the one who gives an honest answer.

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you yourself also be like him.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own estimation.

Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, so that I may answer anyone who taunts me.

A servant cannot be corrected by words, for although he understands, there is no answer.

Feasts are made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.

I opened for my beloved, but my lover had already turned and gone away. I fell into despair when he departed. I looked for him but did not find him; I called him but he did not answer me.

Shout out, daughter of Gallim! Pay attention, Laishah! Answer her, Anathoth!

The answer will come back, "It is because they broke their covenant with the Lord their God and worshiped and served other gods."

So I, Jeremiah, tell you, "Each of you people should say to his friend or his relative, 'How did the Lord answer? Or what did the Lord say?'

Each of you should merely ask the prophet, 'What answer did the Lord give you? Or what did the Lord say?'

King Zedekiah of Judah will not escape from the Babylonians. He will certainly be handed over to the king of Babylon. He must answer personally to the king of Babylon and confront him face to face.

Call on me in prayer and I will answer you. I will show you great and mysterious things which you still do not know about.'

You yourself will not escape his clutches, but will certainly be captured and handed over to him. You must confront the king of Babylon face to face and answer to him personally. Then you must go to Babylon.

So I, the Lord, the God who rules over all, the God of Israel, say: "I will soon bring on Judah and all the citizens of Jerusalem all the disaster that I threatened to bring on them. I will do this because I spoke to them but they did not listen. I called out to them but they did not answer."'"

Some time later Zedekiah sent and had Jeremiah brought to him at the third entrance of the Lord's temple. The king said to Jeremiah, "I would like to ask you a question. Do not hide anything from me when you answer."

Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "If I answer you, you will certainly kill me. If I give you advice, you will not listen to me."

They will answer, 'Moab is disgraced, for it has fallen! Wail and cry out in mourning! Announce along the Arnon River that Moab has been destroyed.'

Therefore speak to them and say to them, 'This is what the sovereign Lord says: When any one from the house of Israel erects his idols in his heart and sets the obstacle leading to his iniquity before his face, and then consults a prophet, I the Lord am determined to answer him personally according to the enormity of his idolatry.