Character in the Bible

OF SAINTS

Attentive to Christ's voice

• John 10:3-4 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

⇒See also McClintock and Strong Cyclopedia for Character.

Blameless and harmless

• Philippians 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Bold

• Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

Contrite

• Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
• Also Isaiah 66:2.

Devout

• Acts 8:2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
• Also Acts 22:12.

Faithful

• Revelation 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Fearing God

• Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
• Also Acts 10:2.

Following Christ

• John 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
• Also John 10:27.

Godly

• Psalm 4:3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
• Also 2 Peter 2:9.

Guileless

• John 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

Holy

• Deuteronomy 7:6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
• Also Deuteronomy 14:2; Colossians 3:12.

Humble

• Psalm 34:2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
• Also 1 Peter 5:5.

Hungering for righteousness

• Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Just

• Genesis 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
• Also Habakkuk 2:4; Luke 2:25.

Led by the Spirit

• Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Liberal

• Isaiah 32:8 But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.
• Also 2 Corinthians 9:13.

Loathing themselves

• Ezekiel 20:43 And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.

Loving

• Colossians 1:4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
• Also 1 Thessalonians 4:9.

Lowly

• Proverbs 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Meek

• Isaiah 29:19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
• Also Matthew 5:5.

Merciful

• Psalm 37:26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
• Also Matthew 5:7.

New creatures

• 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
• Also Ephesians 2:10.

Obedient

• Romans 16:19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
• Also 1 Peter 1:14.

Poor in spirit

• Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Prudent

• Proverbs 16:21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

Pure in heart

• Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
• Also 1 John 3:3.

Righteous

• Isaiah 60:21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
• Also Luke 1:6.

Sincere

• 2 Corinthians 1:12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
• Also 2 Corinthians 2:17.

Steadfast

• Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
• Also Colossians 2:5.

Taught by God

• Isaiah 54:13 And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
• Also 1 John 2:27.

True

• 2 Corinthians 6:8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

Undefiled

• Psalm 119:1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

Upright

• 1 Kings 3:6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
• Also Psalm 15:2.

Watchful

• Luke 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

Zealous of good works

• Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

See RIGHTEOUS, DESCRIBED

OF THE WICKED

Abominable

• Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Alienated from God

• Ephesians 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
• Also Colossians 1:21.

Blasphemous

• Luke 22:65 And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.
• Also Revelation 16:9.

Blinded

• 2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
• Also Ephesians 4:18.

Boastful

• Psalm 10:3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
• Also Psalm 49:6.

Conspiring against saints

• Nehemiah 4:8 And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
• Also Nehemiah 6:2; Psalm 38:12.

Corrupt

• Matthew 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
• Also Ephesians 4:22.

Covetous

• Micah 2:2 And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.
• Also Romans 1:29.

Deceitful

• Psalm 5:6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
• Also Romans 3:13.

Delighting in the iniquity of others

• Proverbs 2:14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
• Also Romans 1:32.

Despising saints

• Nehemiah 2:19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?
• Also Nehemiah 4:2; 2 Timothy 3:3-4.

Destructive

• Isaiah 59:7 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.

Disobedient

• Nehemiah 9:26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.
• Also Titus 3:3; 1 Peter 2:7.

Enticing to evil

• Proverbs 1:10-14 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. 11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: ...
• Also 2 Timothy 3:6.

Envious

• Nehemiah 2:10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
• Also Titus 3:3.

Evildoers

• Jeremiah 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.
• Also Micah 7:3.

Fearful

• Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
• Also Revelation 21:8.

Fierce

• Proverbs 16:29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
• Also 2 Timothy 3:3.

Foolish

• Deuteronomy 32:6 Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?
• Also Psalm 5:5.

Forgetting God

• Job 8:13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:

Fraudulent

• Psalm 37:21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
• Also Micah 6:11.

Froward

• Proverbs 21:8 The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.
• Also Isaiah 57:17.

Glorying in their shame

• Philippians 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Hard-hearted

• Ezekiel 3:7 But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.

Hating the light

• Job 24:13 They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
• Also John 3:20.

Heady and high-minded

• 2 Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Hostile to God

• Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
• Also Colossians 1:21.

Hypocritical

• Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
• Also 2 Timothy 3:5.

Ignorant of God

• Hosea 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
• Also 2 Thessalonians 1:8.

Impudent

• Ezekiel 2:4 For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.

Incontinent

• 2 Timothy 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Infidel

• Psalm 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
• Also Psalm 14:1.

Loathsome

• Proverbs 13:5 A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.

Lovers of pleasure, not of God

• 2 Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Lying

• Psalm 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
• Also Psalm 62:4; Isaiah 59:4.

Mischievous

• Proverbs 24:8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
• Also Micah 7:3.

Murderous

• Psalm 10:8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.
• Also Psalm 94:6; Romans 1:29.

Prayerless

• Job 21:15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
• Also Psalm 53:4.

Persecuting

• Psalm 69:26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.
• Also Psalm 109:16.

Perverse

• Deuteronomy 32:5 They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.

Proud

• Psalm 59:12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.
• Also Obadiah 3; 2 Timothy 3:2.

Rebellious

• Isaiah 1:2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
• Also Isaiah 30:9.

Rejoicing in the affliction of saints

• Psalm 35:15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:

Reprobate

• 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
• Also 2 Timothy 3:8; Titus 1:16.

Selfish

• 2 Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Sensual

• Philippians 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
• Also Jude 19.

Sold under sin

• 1 Kings 21:20 And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.
• Also 2 Kings 17:17.

Stiff-hearted

• Ezekiel 2:4 For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.

Stiff-necked

• Exodus 33:5 For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.
• Also Acts 7:51.

Uncircumcised in heart

• Jeremiah 9:26 Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.

Unclean

• Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
• Also Ephesians 4:19.

Unjust

• Proverbs 11:7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
• Also Isaiah 26:18.

Unmerciful

• Romans 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Ungodly

• Proverbs 16:27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.

Unholy

• 2 Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Unprofitable

• Matthew 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
• Also Romans 3:12.

Unruly

• Titus 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

Unthankful

• Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
• Also 2 Timothy 3:2.

Untoward

• Acts 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

Unwise

• Deuteronomy 32:6 Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?

See WICKED, DESCRIBED

GOOD

• Proverbs 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
• Also Ecclesiastes 7:1.

DEFAMATION OF, PUNISHED

• Deuteronomy 22:13-19 If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her, 14 And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid: 15 Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel's virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate: 16 And the damsel's father shall say unto the elders, I gave my daughter unto this man to wife, and he hateth her; ...

REVEALED IN COUNTENANCE

• Isaiah 3:9 The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

See COUNTENANCE

See FACE

FIRMNESS OF

• Psalm 57:7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
• Also Psalm 108:1; 112:7; Matthew 10:22; Mark 4:20; 1 Corinthians 7:20; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:3; Hebrews 10:23; 13:9; James 1:25.

INSTANCES OF FIRMNESS

Joseph in resisting Potiphar's wife

• Genesis 39:7-12 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? 10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. ...

Pilate

• John 19:22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.

Paul

• Acts 20:22-24 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
• Also Acts 21:13-14.

See DECISION

See STABILITY

INSTABILITY OF

• Proverbs 24:21-22 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: 22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
• Also Proverbs 27:8; Jeremiah 2:36; Hosea 6:4; 7:8; 10:2; Matthew 8:19-22; 13:19-22; Mark 4:15-19; Luke 8:5-15; 9:59-62; Ephesians 4:14; James 1:6-8; 4:8; 2 Peter 2:14.

See INDECISION

See INSTABILITY

See DECISION

See PERSEVERANCE

See STABILITY

INSTANCES OF INSTABILITY

REUBEN

• Genesis 49:3-4 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: 4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

PHARAOH

• Exodus 8:15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
• Also Exodus 8:32; 9:34; 14:5.

SOLOMON

• 1 Kings 11:4-8 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. 7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. ...

ISRAELITES

• Exodus 32:8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
• Also Judges 2:17,19; 2 Chronicles 11:17; 12:1; 1 Samuel 18:19.