Bible Dictionary
DEFY
To defy means to taunt or challenge someone to combat, as Goliath challenged Israel. In another Old Testament context, the word is better understood as declaring or denouncing.
Definition
To defy means to taunt or challenge someone to combat. In another biblical setting, however, the word is better understood as declaring or denouncing rather than issuing a challenge.
Biblical Usage
The familiar sense appears in the account of David and Goliath, where Goliath taunted and challenged Israel. In Numbers 23:7,8, “denounce” is a better translation than “defy.”
Historical Background
The two senses reflect different Hebrew terms. Charaph conveys taunting or challenging to combat, while za'am in Numbers 23:7,8 is better represented by “denounce.”
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>de-fi' (charaph, za`am): In 1Sa 17:10,25,26,36,45 (the story of David and Goliath) and kindred passages, this word is used in its most familiar sense--"to taunt," "challenge to combat" (Hebrew charaph). In Nu 23:7,8 "denounce" would be a better translation than "defy" (Hebrew za`am).</p>