The aim of prevarication is to avoid being truthful or direct. To avoid telling the truth is, in fact, a lie. Actually, prior to 2011, I had not heard of this word, so this is a quick snack to give us a few details about this sin.
Prevarication Is Actually Lying To Avoid Telling The Truth
STM Bible Snack
- Galatians 2:18 [read Galatians 2:11-21 (18)]
- For if I build up again the things which I have destroyed, I make myself a prevaricator (DouayRheims).
- KJV: For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
- G3848 parabates transgressor
- Galatians 2:18 prevaricator – Latin: praevaricatorem; Greek: παραβάτης parabates (par-ab-at’-ace) a violator; rebel; law-breaker. KJV: breaker, transgress(-or).
1. Elisha avoided being truthful or direct
- 2 Kings 8:10 [read 2 Kings 8:7-15 (10)]
- Then Elisha said to Hazael, “Go and tell Ben-Hadad, ‘You will live.’ But really the Lord told me, ‘He will die.’” (ERV)
- KJV: And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the LORD hath showed me that he shall surely die.
2. Abraham was not direct when he said his wife was his sister
- Abraham was guilty of prevarication, he tells Pharoah and Abimelek that Sarah, is his sister, but deliberately concealed the truth about their marriage: (prevaricates to Pharoah); Genesis 20:1-18 (prevaricates to Abimelek).
- Genesis 12:18-19 [read Genesis 12:10-20 (18-19)]
- Finally, the king sent for Abram and said to him, “What have you done to me? Why didn’t you tell me Sarai was your wife? 19 Why did you make me believe she was your sister? Now I’ve married her. Take her and go! She’s your wife.” (CEV)
- KJV: And Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? 19 Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.
3. Sarah avoided telling the truth
- Genesis 18:15 [read Genesis 18:1-15 (15)]
- Sarah was afraid. So she lied and said, “I didn’t laugh.” But the Lord said, “No. You did laugh.” (ICB)
- KJV: Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
Challenge
Can you think of other examples of prevarication in the Scriptures?
Definition
Get out of telling the truth: to avoid giving a direct and honest answer or opinion, or a clear and truthful account of a situation, especially by quibbling or being deliberately ambiguous or misleading. Evasion of the truth; deceit, evasiveness. To lie, mislead, or conceal the truth on purpose.
A divergence from the truth, equivocation, quibbling, a want of plain-dealing or straightforwardness, especially a deliberate misrepresentation by evasive answers, often used as a less offensive synonym for a lie. The Latin praevaricatio was specifically applied to the conduct in an action at law in which an advocate ( praevaricator ) in collusion with his opponent put up a bad case of defence. Praevaricare meant literally to walk with the legs very wide apart, to straddle, hence to walk crookedly, to stray from the direct road, varicus, straddling, being derived from varus, bow-legged, a word which has been connected etymologically with German quer, transverse, across, and English “queer.” — prevarication – 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica
- FYI
- I found the word prevaricate or a similar term in the following versions of the English Bible:
- ♦ Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV), Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA), Douay-Rheims Bible (DRB), and Douay-Rheims Challoner (DRC)
- ♦ Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB), Daniel Mace New Testament 1729 (Mace), and the Wycliffe Bible (WYC).
Do not avoid telling the truth
- 1 Timothy 2:13-15 [read 1 Timothy 2:8-15 (13-15)]
- For Adam was first formed, afterward Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived, in breaking of the law [in prevarication, or breaking of the law]. 15 But she shall be saved by generation of children, if she dwell perfectly in faith, and love, and holiness, with soberness. (WYC).
- KJV: For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
Do not be a prevaricator or guilty of prevarication; Revelation 21:8 “…all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and sulphur: which is the second death.” (RKJNT)
The idea is, to not lie and to not avoid telling the truth. Because, in reality, prevarication is lying and avoids being truthful or direct! I pray that you have enjoyed and will make the most of this Bible snack. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺
Related docs for further Spiritual growth:
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