Bible Encyclopedias
Rail; Railing; Railer

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

rāl , rāl´ing , rāl´ẽr : To "rail" on (in modern usage "against") anyone is to use insolent or reproachful language toward one. It occurs in the Old Testament as the translation of חרף , ḥāraph ( 2 Chronicles 32:17 , "letters to rail on Yahweh"), and of עיט , ‛ı̄ṭ (1 Samuel 25:14 , of Nabal, "he railed at them," the English Revised Version "flew upon them," margin "railed on"). In the New Testament "to rail" is the translation of βλασφημέω , blasphēméō (Mark 15:29; Luke 23:39; "railing," 1 Timothy 6:4; 2 Peter 2:11; Judges 1:9 ). The word loidorı́a , rendered railing" in 1 Peter 3:9 the King James Version, is in the Revised Version (British and American) "reviling," and loı́doros , "railor," in 1 Corinthians 5:11 is in the Revised Version (British and American) "reviler." See also RACA .