Flattery

Passages on this topic

From Nave’s Topical Bible (1896), a historical reference index. The groupings are Nave’s; the verses are shown in the text used across this site.

General scriptures concerning

• Job 17:5 If a man denounces his friends for a price, the eyes of his children will fail.
• Job 32:21–22 I will be partial to no one, nor will I flatter any man. For I do not know how to flatter, or my Maker would remove me in an instant.’’
• Psalm 5:8–9 Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make straight Your way before me. For not a word they speak can be trusted; destruction lies within them. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.
• Psalm 12:2–3 They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart. May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue.
• Psalm 36:2 For his eyes are too full of conceit to detect or hate his own sin.
• Psalm 49:13 This is the fate of the foolish and their followers who endorse their sayings. Selah
• Psalm 49:18 Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul — and men praise you when you prosper —
• Psalm 78:36 But they deceived Him with their mouths, and lied to Him with their tongues.
• Proverbs 5:3 Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil,
• Proverbs 6:24 to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

Instance of

By Jacob

• Genesis 33:10 But Jacob insisted, “No, please! If I have found favor in your sight, then receive this gift from my hand. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me favorably.

By Gideon

• Judges 8:1–3 Then the men of Ephraim said to Gideon, “Why have you done this to us? Why did you fail to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they contended with him violently. But Gideon answered them, “Now what have I accomplished compared to you? Are not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the…

By Mephibosheth

• 2 Samuel 9:8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?”

By the woman of Tekoah

• 2 Samuel 14:17–20 And now your servant says, ‘May the word of my lord the king bring me rest, for my lord the king is able to discern good and evil, just like the angel of God. May the LORD your God be with you.’” Then the king said to the woman, “I am going to ask you something; do not conceal it from me!” “Let my…

By Absalom

• 2 Samuel 15:2–6 He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out and ask, “What city are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,” Absalom would say, “Loo…

By Israel and Judah

• 2 Samuel 19:41–43 Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?” And all the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is o…

By Adonijah

• 1 Kings 1:42 As he was speaking, suddenly Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest arrived. “Come in,” said Adonijah, “for you are a man of valor. You must be bringing good news.”

By Ahab

• 1 Kings 20:4 And the king of Israel replied, “Just as you say, my lord the king: I am yours, along with all that I have.”

By false prophets

• 1 Kings 22:13 Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah instructed him, “Behold now, with one accord the words of the prophets are favorable to the king. So please let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”

By Darius's courtiers

• Daniel 6:7 All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce a decree that for thirty days anyone who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions.

By the Herodians

• Luke 20:21 “Teacher,” they inquired, “we know that You speak and teach correctly. You show no partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

By Tyrians

• Acts 12:22 And they began to shout, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!”

Tertullus flatters Felix

• Acts 24:2–4 When Paul had been called in, Tertullus opened the prosecution: “Because of you, we have enjoyed a lasting peace, and your foresight has brought improvements to this nation. In every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with all gratitude. But in order not to delay you any…

Paul correctly informs Felix

• Acts 24:10 When the governor motioned for Paul to speak, he began his response: “Knowing that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I gladly make my defense.

By Herod Agrippa II

• Acts 26:2–3 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today to defend myself against all the accusations of the Jews, especially since you are acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. I beg you, therefore, to listen to me patiently.