Bible Dictionary
WREST
To wrest is to twist, turn aside, or pervert justice or meaning. Scripture warns against distorting God’s words or misusing difficult passages of Scripture, especially through ignorance or instability.
Definition
To wrest is to twist, turn aside, distort, or pervert. The word may describe the corruption of judgment and justice or the misuse and misinterpretation of words.
Biblical Usage
Moses’ writings use wrest of turning aside judgment or justice. The Psalms describe enemies as twisting the servant of God’s words, while 2 Peter warns that ignorant and unstable people distort difficult writings of Paul to their own destruction.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>rest: Found in the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) 3 times in the writings of Moses, namely, Ex 23:2,6; De 16:19. In all three places it refers to twisting, or turning aside, or perverting judgment or justice. In De 24:17 the Revised Version (British and American) has "wrest" where the King James Version has "pervert."</p><p>In Ps 56:5 ('atsabh); 2Pe 3:16 (strebloo), it refers to the word or words of God in the Scriptures. In the Psalms the servant of God, who speaks in God's name, complains that the enemies "wrest," misinterpret, misapply and pervert his words. In Peter it is the ignorant and unstedfast who so pervert and misuse some of the difficult words of Paul, and they do it to their own destruction--a most earnest warning against carelessness and conscienceless indifference in interpreting Scripture.</p><p>G. H. Gerberding</p>