'Answer' in the Bible

So my honesty will be evident for me later, when you come [for an accounting] concerning my wages. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and dark among the young lambs, if found with me, shall be considered stolen.”

Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me [to interpret the dream]; God [not I] will give Pharaoh a favorable answer [through me].”

If any of the meat of the sacrifice of his peace offerings is ever eaten on the third day, then it will not be accepted, and the one who brought it will not be credited with it. It shall be an abhorred (offensive) thing; the one who eats it shall bear his own guilt.

then [this is My answer:] I will order My [special] blessing for you in the sixth year, so that it will produce [sufficient] crops for three years.

I will break your pride in your power, and I will make your sky like iron [giving no rain and blocking all prayers] and your ground like bronze [hard to plow and yielding no produce].

If that city accepts your terms of peace and opens its gates to you, then all the people who are found in it shall become your forced labor and shall serve you.

then his brother’s widow shall approach him in the presence of the elders, and pull his sandal off his foot and spit in his face; and she shall answer and say, ‘So it is done to that man who does not build up his brother’s household.’

‘Cursed is the man who makes a carved or cast image (idol), a repulsive thing to the Lord, the work of the hands of the artisan, and sets it up in secret.’ All the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’

So Samson’s wife wept before him and said, “You only hate me, you do not love me; you have asked my countrymen a riddle, and have not told [the answer] to me.” And he said to her, “Listen, I have not told my father or my mother [either], so [why] should I tell you?”

He said to her, “Get up, and let us go.” But there was no answer [for she had died]. Then he put her [body] on the donkey; and the man left and went home.

And about the time of her death [following the sudden birth] the women attending her said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son.” But she did not answer or pay any attention.

Saul asked [counsel] of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You hand them over to Israel?” But He did not answer him that day.

Then David turned away from Eliab to someone else and asked the same question; and the people gave him the same answer as the first time.

David called to the army and to Abner the son of Ner, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Abner replied, “Who are you who calls [and disturbs] the king?”

So Saul inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim [used like lots by the priest to determine the will of God] or by prophets.

And Ish-bosheth could not say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.

“They looked, but there was no savior for them—Even to the Lord [they looked], but He did not answer them.

So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, “Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your enemies as they pursue you? Or shall there be three days of pestilence (plague) in your land? Now consider this and decide what answer I shall return to Him who sent me.”

And they [who know] will say, ‘Because they abandoned the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and they have chosen other gods and have worshiped and served them; that is the reason the Lord has brought on them all this adversity.’”

King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served and advised his father Solomon while he was still alive and said, “How do you advise me to answer this people?”

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.”

He said to them, “What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke (burden) which your father put on us’?”

Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people [of Israel] did not answer him [so much as] a word.

So they took the bull that was given to them and prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, hear and answer us.” But there was no voice and no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they had made.

As midday passed, they played the part of prophets and raved dramatically until the time for offering the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention.

Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Listen carefully, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable to the king. Please let your words be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.”

Then he said to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins (prepare now!) and take my staff in your hand, and go [to the woman’s house]; if you meet any man [along the way], do not greet him and if a man greets you, do not [stop to] answer him; and lay my staff on the face of the boy [as soon as you reach the house].”

But the people kept silent and did not answer him, for the king had commanded, “Do not answer him.”

either three years of famine, or three months to be swept away before your enemies, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the Lord and plague in the land, and the angel of the Lord bringing destruction throughout all the territory of Israel.’ Now therefore, consider what answer I shall return to Him who sent me.”

He asked them, “What advice do you give to us regarding the answer to these people, who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?”

Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the [Persian] commander, to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their colleagues who live in Samaria and in the rest of the provinces west of the River: “Peace (Greetings). And now,

But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, so they [Tattenai and the others] did not stop them until a report could come before Darius, and then an answer was returned by letter concerning it.

Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews.

Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai,

“Call now —is there anyone who will answer you?And to which of the holy ones (angels) will you turn?

“If one should want to contend or dispute with Him,He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.

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

For though I were righteous, I could not answer.I must appeal for mercy to my Opponent and Judge.

“For God is not a [mere] man, as I am, that I may answer Him,That we may go to court and judgment together.

“Then [Lord,] call, and I will answer;Or let me speak, and then reply to me.

“[Then] You will call, and I will answer You;You will long for [me] the work of Your hands.

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

“If I speak [to you miserable comforters], my pain is not relieved;And if I refrain [from speaking], what [pain or anguish] leaves me?

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

“Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me answer,Because of the uneasiness that is within me.

“I would learn the words which He would answer,And understand what He would say to me.

“I cry to You for help, [Lord,] but You do not answer me;I stand up, but You [only] gaze [indifferently] at me.

What then could I do when God arises [to judge me]?When He calls me to account, what will I answer Him?

“Oh, that I had one to listen to me!Look, here is my signature (mark);Let the Almighty answer me!Let my adversary write out His indictment [and put His vague accusations in tangible form].

So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes [and could not be persuaded otherwise by them].

Elihu’s anger burned against Job’s three friends because they had found no answer [and were unable to determine Job’s error], and yet they had condemned Job and declared him to be in the wrong [and responsible for his own afflictions].

And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouths of these three men, he burned with anger.

“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.]

“They (Job’s friends) are dismayed and embarrassed, they no longer answer;The words have moved away and failed them,” [says Elihu].

“And shall I wait, because they say nothing,But stand still and say no more?

“I too will give my share of answers;I too will express my opinion and share my knowledge.

“I must speak so that I may get relief;I will open my lips and answer.

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

“If you have anything to say, answer me;Speak, for I desire to justify you.

“I will answer you,And your companions with you.

“The people cry out, but He does not answerBecause of the pride of evil men.

“Surely God will not listen to an empty cry [which lacks trust],Nor will the Almighty regard it.

“Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?Let him who disputes with God answer it.”

“Behold, I am of little importance and contemptible; what can I reply to You?I lay my hand on my mouth.

“Now gird up your loins (prepare yourself) like a man,And I will ask you, and you instruct Me.

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!You have freed me when I was hemmed in and relieved me when I was in distress;Be gracious to me and hear [and respond to] my prayer.

Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;Give light (life) to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,

May the Lord answer you (David) in the day of trouble!May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high [and defend you in battle]!

Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed;He will answer him from His holy heavenWith the saving strength of His right hand.

O Lord, save [the king];May the King answer us in the day we call.

O my God, I call out by day, but You do not answer;And by night, but I find no rest nor quiet.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;Be gracious and compassionate to me and answer me.

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

Listen to me and answer me;I am restless and distraught in my complaint and distracted

That Your beloved ones may be rescued,Save with Your right hand and answer us.

By awesome and wondrous things You answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation,You who are the trust and hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea;

But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, at an acceptable and opportune time;O God, in the greatness of Your favor and in the abundance of Your lovingkindness,Answer me with truth [that is, the faithfulness of Your salvation].

Answer me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is sweet and good and comforting;According to the greatness of Your compassion, turn to me.

Do not hide Your face from Your servant,For I am in distress; answer me quickly.

Incline Your ear, O Lord, and answer me,For I am distressed and needy [I long for Your help].

In the day of my trouble I will call upon You,For You will answer me.

“He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;I will be with him in trouble;I will rescue him and honor him.

Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my distress!Incline Your ear to me;In the day when I call, answer me quickly.

That Your beloved [ones] may be rescued,Save with Your right hand, and answer me!

So I will have an answer for the one who taunts me,For I trust [completely] in Your word [and its reliability].

Hear my prayer, O Lord,Listen to my supplications!Answer me in Your faithfulness, and in Your righteousness.

Answer me quickly, O Lord, my spirit fails;Do not hide Your face from me,Or I will become like those who go down into the pit (grave).

“Because I called and you refused [to answer],I stretched out my hand and no one has paid attention [to my offer];

“Then they will call upon me (Wisdom), but I will not answer;They will seek me eagerly but they will not find me,

That you may exercise discrimination and discretion (good judgment),And your lips may reserve knowledge and answer wisely [to temptation].

A soft and gentle and thoughtful answer turns away wrath,But harsh and painful and careless words stir up anger.

A man has joy in giving an appropriate answer,And how good and delightful is a word spoken at the right moment—how good it is!

The heart of the righteous thinks carefully about how to answer [in a wise and appropriate and timely way],But the [babbling] mouth of the wicked pours out malevolent things.

The plans and reflections of the heart belong to man,But the [wise] answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

To let you know the certainty of the words of truth,That you may give a correct answer to him who sent you?

He kisses the lips [and wins the hearts of people]Who gives a right and straightforward answer.

Do not answer [nor pretend to agree with the frivolous comments of] a [closed-minded] fool according to his folly,Otherwise you, even you, will be like him.

Answer [and correct the erroneous concepts of] a fool according to his folly,Otherwise he will be wise in his own eyes [if he thinks you agree with him].

The lazy person is wiser in his own eyesThan seven [sensible] men who can give a discreet answer.

My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,That I may reply to him who reproaches (reprimands, criticizes) me.