Forbid
The Language of Divine Prohibition
The concept of forbidding runs deep through the biblical narrative, from the very first prohibition in the Garden of Eden to the apostolic teachings of the New Testament. In Scripture, forbidding is not merely about restriction but about the exercise of legitimate authority, whether divine or human, to set boundaries for the good of God's people. The various Hebrew and Greek words translated as 'forbid' carry nuances ranging from restraint and prevention to absolute moral prohibition.
Forbidding in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, several different Hebrew words are translated as 'forbid,' each carrying a distinct shade of meaning. When Moses' assistant Joshua urged him to stop Eldad and Medad from prophesying in the camp, the word used conveys the idea of restraining or holding back (Numbers 11:28). Moses refused, expressing his wish that all God's people were prophets.
In Deuteronomy, the word for 'forbid' is connected to commanding, reflecting the idea that God's prohibitions carry the full weight of divine authority. God forbade Israel from approaching certain territories (Deuteronomy 2:37) and from making graven images (Deuteronomy 4:23). These prohibitions were not arbitrary restrictions but expressions of God's sovereign will for Israel's protection and holiness.
Leviticus uses forbidding in the context of the law, where certain actions are 'commanded not to be done' (Leviticus 5:17). This framing shows that biblical prohibition is the negative side of divine commandment: what God forbids is as authoritative as what He commands.
The Expression 'God Forbid'
One of the most striking uses of 'forbid' in Scripture is the exclamation 'God forbid,' which appears frequently in both testaments. In the Old Testament, the underlying Hebrew word expresses horror or abhorrence at an idea, literally conveying the sense of 'far be it from me' or 'may it never be so.' David used this expression when his men urged him to kill Saul (1 Samuel 24:6; 26:11), and it appears when characters recoil from a morally repugnant suggestion (Genesis 44:7; Joshua 22:29; 24:16).
In the New Testament, Paul frequently uses the Greek phrase meaning 'may it never be' in his epistles, particularly in Romans where he is working through the logical implications of grace and law. When he asks whether believers should continue in sin so that grace may abound, his emphatic response is 'God forbid' (Romans 3:4; 6:2). In Galatians 6:14, Paul declares that he would never boast except in the cross of Christ, using this same forceful expression.
Jesus used the concept when the crowd responded to one of His parables with 'God forbid' (Luke 20:16), recognizing the terrible implications of the story of the wicked tenants.
Jesus and the Act of Forbidding
Some of the most memorable uses of 'forbid' in the New Testament involve Jesus correcting His disciples when they tried to prevent others from coming to Him. When the disciples rebuked those who brought children to Jesus, He said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them' (Matthew 19:14; Mark 10:14; Luke 18:16). The Greek word here means to cut short, restrain, or hinder.
Similarly, when John the Baptist initially tried to prevent Jesus from being baptized, the word used conveys the sense of hindering or attempting to stop something (Matthew 3:14). These passages reveal that human attempts to forbid what God intends are themselves contrary to God's purposes.
Theological Implications
The biblical language of forbidding teaches several important truths. First, only legitimate authority can rightly forbid. God's prohibitions carry absolute moral weight because they flow from His perfect character. Second, the expression 'God forbid' reveals that believers are to have an instinctive moral revulsion toward sin and blasphemy. Third, the warnings against wrongly forbidding others, as when Jesus corrected His disciples, remind us that human authority must always be exercised under God's greater authority.
Biblical Context
The concept of forbidding appears from Genesis through Revelation. Key Old Testament occurrences include God's prohibitions in the Law (Deuteronomy 2:37; 4:23; Leviticus 5:17), David's refusal to harm Saul (1 Samuel 24:6; 26:11), and expressions of moral horror (Genesis 44:7; Joshua 22:29). In the New Testament, Jesus forbids hindering children (Matthew 19:14), Paul uses 'God forbid' repeatedly in Romans and Galatians, and the concept appears in Acts regarding the unhindered preaching of the gospel (Acts 28:31).
Theological Significance
The biblical usage of 'forbid' reveals the nature of divine authority and moral boundaries. God's prohibitions are expressions of His holy character, not arbitrary rules. The emphatic 'God forbid' shows that believers should recoil instinctively from sin and false teaching. Jesus' corrections of those who wrongly forbade others remind us that human authority must align with God's purposes. Paul's use of 'may it never be' in Romans demonstrates that right theology produces right moral instincts.
Historical Background
The various Hebrew and Greek words translated as 'forbid' reflect the rich vocabulary of authority and prohibition in ancient cultures. The Hebrew expression rendered 'God forbid' literally conveys profanation or abhorrence and was a common oath formula in the ancient Near East. The Greek phrase used by Paul was a strong rhetorical device in Hellenistic rhetoric, expressing the strongest possible rejection of a proposition. Ancient translation traditions, including the Septuagint, show the challenge of conveying these nuances across languages.