'Words' in the Bible

And now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are truth, and You have promised this good thing to Your servant.

The king said, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all of this?” And the woman answered, “As your soul lives, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything that my lord the king has said. Indeed, it was your servant Joab who commanded me; he put all these words in the mouth of your maidservant.

Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten [tribes’] shares in the king, and we have more claim on David than you. Why then did you treat us with contempt and ignore us [by rushing ahead]? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?” But the words of the men of Judah were harsher than those of the men of Israel.

So when he approached her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Listen to the words of your maidservant.” He answered, “I am listening.”

David spoke the words of this song to the Lord when the Lord rescued him from the hands of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.

Now these are the last words of David.David the son of Jesse declares,The man who was raised on high declares,The anointed of the God of Jacob,And the sweet psalmist of Israel,

Behold, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”

When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the Lord this day, who has given David a wise son [to be king] over this great people.”

Let these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, so that He will maintain the cause and right of His servant and of His people Israel as each day requires,

They spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and grant their request, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”

When the king heard the words which the man of God cried out against the altar in Bethel, Jeroboam put out his hand from the altar, saying, “Seize him!” And his hand which he had put out against him withered, so that he was unable to pull it back to himself.

Now there was an old prophet living in Bethel; and his sons came and told him everything that the man of God had done that day in Bethel; they also told their father the words which he had spoken to the king.

Now when Ahab heard these words [of Elijah], he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly (mourning).

One of his servants said, “None [of us is helping him], my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”

When the king heard the woman’s words, he tore his clothes—now he was still walking along on the wall—and the people looked [at him], and he had on sackcloth underneath [his royal robe] next to his skin.

You say (but they are only empty words) ‘I have counsel and strength for the war.’ Now on whom do you rely, that you have rebelled against me?

It may be that the Lord your God will hear all the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to taunt and defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which the Lord your God has heard. So offer a prayer for the remnant [of His people] that is left [in Judah].’”

Isaiah said to them, “Say this to your master: ‘Thus says the Lord, “Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have reviled (blasphemed) Me.

O Lord, bend down Your ear and hear; Lord, open Your eyes and see; hear the [taunting] words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to taunt and defy the living God.

Now when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.

“Go, inquire of the Lord for my sake and for the sake of the people and for all Judah concerning the words of this book which has been found, for great is the wrath of the Lord which has been kindled against us, because our fathers have not listened to and obeyed the words of this book, so as to act in accordance with everything that is written concerning us.”

thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am bringing a catastrophe on this place (Judah) and on its inhabitants, [according to] all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read.

But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the Lord, you shall say this to him: ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel, “Regarding the words which you have heard,

The king went up to the house of the Lord, and with him all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the prophets, and all the people, both small and great; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house (temple) of the Lord.

The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep His commandments, His testimonies, and His statutes with all his heart and soul, to confirm the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.

Moreover, Josiah removed the mediums and the soothsayers and the teraphim (household gods) and the idols and all the repulsive things that were seen in Judah and in Jerusalem, so that he might fulfill the words of the law written in the book which Hilkiah the priest found in the house (temple) of the Lord.

According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

For by the last words of David, the Levites from twenty years old and above were counted.

All these [men] were the sons of Heman the king’s seer to exalt him in accordance with the words of God; for God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.

Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the chronicles (records) of Samuel the seer, in the chronicles of Nathan the prophet, and in the chronicles of Gad the seer,

but I did not believe the reports until I came and saw it with my own eyes. Behold, the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told to me; you have surpassed the report that I heard.

They answered him, saying, “If you are kind to these people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”

And when Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Azariah the son of Oded the prophet, he took courage and removed the repulsive idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities which he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. Then he restored the altar [of burnt offering] of the Lord which was in front of the porch [of the temple] of the Lord.

The messenger who went to call Micaiah said to him, “Listen, the words of the prophets are of one accord, foretelling a favorable outcome for the king. So just let your word be like one of them and speak favorably.”

They gathered their brothers (fellow Levites) together, consecrated themselves, and went in to cleanse the house of the Lord, as the king had commanded by the words of the Lord.

Also King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to exclaim praises to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they exclaimed praises with joy, and bowed down and worshiped.

With him there is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the Lord God of Israel, behold, they are among the records of the kings of Israel.

When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes.

“Go, inquire of the Lord for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah in regard to the words of the book which has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord which has been poured out on us because our fathers have not kept and obeyed the word of the Lord, to act in accordance with everything that is written in this book.”

But you shall say the following to King Josiah of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord: ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel, concerning the words which you have heard,

“Because your heart was gentle and penitent and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and its inhabitants, and humbled yourself before Me, and tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” declares the Lord.

And the king went up to the house of the Lord with all the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites, and all the people, from the greatest to the least; and he read aloud so they could hear all the words of the Book of the Covenant which was found in the house of the Lord.

Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord—to walk after (obey) the Lord, and to keep His commandments, His testimonies, and His statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant written in this book.

Yet Josiah would not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to fight against him. He did not listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to fight against him on the plain of Megiddo.

But they kept mocking the messengers of God and despising His words and scoffing at His prophets until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, until there was no remedy or healing.

Now this is a copy of the decree that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe [who was] learned in the words of the commandments of the Lord and of His statutes to Israel:

Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles gathered to me as I sat appalled until the evening offering.

The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah:Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year [of the Persian king], as I was in the capitol of Susa,

Then I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they thoroughly supported the good work.

Then I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words [of accusation].

Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the Law.

Then all the people went on their way to eat, to drink, to send portions [of food to others] and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been communicated to them.

On the second day, all of the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, were gathered before Ezra the scribe to gain insight into the words of the Law (divine instruction).

Hathach came back and told Esther what Mordecai had said.

When the king returned from the palace garden to the place where they were drinking wine, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, “Will he even attempt to assault the queen with me in the palace?” As the king spoke those words, the servants covered Haman’s face [in preparation for execution].

He sent letters to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, in words of peace and truth,

“Your words have helped the one who was stumbling to stand,And you have strengthened feeble knees.

“For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea;Therefore my words have been incoherent,

“Then I would still have consolation,And I would jump for joy amid unsparing pain,That I have not denied or hidden the words of the Holy One.

“How painful are words of honesty.But what does your argument prove?

“Do you intend to reprove my words [with a convincing argument],When the words of one in despair belong to the wind [and go ignored]?

“How long will you say these things?And will the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?

“Will they (the fathers) not teach you and tell you,And utter words from their hearts [the deepest part of their nature]?

“How can I answer Him [and plead my case],Choosing my words [to reason] with Him?

“Shall a multitude of words not be answered?And should a talkative man [making such a long-winded defense] be acquitted?

“Does the ear not put words to the test,Just as the palate tastes its food [distinguishing between the desirable and the undesirable]?

That you should turn your spirit against GodAnd let such words [as you have spoken] go out of your mouth?

“Is there no end to [your futile] words of wind?Or what plagues you [so much] that you [so boldly] answer [me like this]?

“I also could speak like you,If you were in my place;I could compose and join words together against youAnd shake my head at you.

“[But instead] I could strengthen and encourage you with [the words of] my mouth,And the consolation and solace of my lips would soothe your suffering and lessen your anguish.

“How long will you hunt for words and continue these speeches?Do some clear thinking and show understanding and then we can talk.

“How long will you torment and exasperate meAnd crush me with words?

“I call to my servant, but he does not answer;I have to implore him with words.

“Oh, that the words I now speak were written!Oh, that they were recorded in a scroll!

“How then can you vainly comfort me with empty words,Since your answers remain untrue?”

“Please receive the law and instruction from His mouthAnd establish His words in your heart and keep them.

“I have not departed from the commandment of His lips;I have kept the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

“To whom have you uttered [these] words?And whose spirit [inspired what] came forth from you?

Let thorns grow instead of wheat,And stinkweed and cockleburs instead of barley.”So the words of Job [with his friends] are finished.

“You see, I waited for your words,I listened to your [wise] reasons,While you pondered and searched out what to say.

“I even paid close attention to [what] you [said],Indeed, not one of you convinced Job [nor could you refute him],Not one of you supplied [satisfactory] answers to his words.

“Now Job has not directed his words against me [therefore I have no reason to be offended],Nor will I answer him with arguments like yours. [I speak for truth, not for revenge.]

“For I am full of words;The spirit within me constrains me.

“However, Job, please listen to my words,And pay attention to everything I say.

“My words will express the uprightness of my heart,And my lips will speak what they know with utter sincerity.

“Answer me, if you can;Set yourselves before me, take your stand.

“Surely you have spoken in my hearing,And I have heard the sound of your words, saying:

“Hear my words, you wise men,And listen to me, you who have [so much] knowledge.

“For the ear puts words to the testAs the palate tastes food.

“If you now have understanding, hear this;Listen to the sound of my words.

‘Job speaks without knowledge,And his words are without wisdom and insight.

‘For he adds rebellion [in his unsubmissive, defiant attitude toward God] to his [unacknowledged] sin;He claps his hands among us [in open mockery and contempt of God],And he multiplies his words [of accusation] against God.’”

Job uselessly opens his mouthAnd multiplies words without knowledge [drawing the worthless conclusion that the righteous have no more advantage than the wicked].”

“For truly my words are not false;He who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

“Tell us [Job] what words [of man] shall we say to such a Being;We cannot state our case because of darkness [that is, our ignorance in the presence of the unsearchable God].

“Who is this that darkens counsel [questioning my authority and wisdom]By words without knowledge?

“Will he make many supplications to you [begging to be spared]?Or will he speak soft words to you [to coax you to treat him kindly]?

“[You said to me] ‘Who is this that darkens and obscures counsel [by words] without knowledge?’Therefore [I now see] I have [rashly] uttered that which I did not understand,Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

“Therefore I retract [my words and hate myself]And I repent in dust and ashes.”