Narcissist* Case Studies – Haman

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As mentioned recently, the person called Haman in the Old Testament book of Esther was most likely a narcissist (scoffer, one filled with insolent pride).  How do we know that Haman was a narcissist?  Look at some of the descriptions:

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10 Haman ……. went to his house and sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11 Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the number of his sons, and every instance where the king had magnified him and how he had promoted him above the princes and servants of the king. 12 Haman also said, “Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the banquet which she had prepared; and tomorrow also I am invited by her with the king. 

Esther 5:10-12

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This is clear narcissistic self-aggrandisement.  See here and here and here for more.

In his insolent pride, Haman created a plan to get rid of Mordecai’s people, the Jews.  The book of Esther is an illustration of how God prepares a slippery slope leading to sudden destruction for such people, as described in Psalm 73.

Setting the stage as part of God’s rescue plan and the revelation of Haman’s evil plan arising from his insolent pride, God actively worked behind the scenes.  We often assume that God does not see and hear our cry for help, totally blind to what He is actually doing.

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During that night the king could not sleep so he gave an order to bring the book of records, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. It was found written what Mordecai had reported concerning Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who were doorkeepers, that they had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.

The king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” Then the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”So the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace in order to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had prepared for him. The king’s servants said to him, “Behold, Haman is standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” 

Esther 6:1-5

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Typical of narcisissts, Haman delusionally assumed that he was the one whom the king was preparing to honor, oblivious to the reality of what was taking place.

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So Haman came in and the king said to him, “What is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king desire to honor more than me?”

Then Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king desires to honor,let them bring a royal robe which the king has worn, and the horse on which the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown has been placed; and let the robe and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble princes and let them array the man whom the king desires to honor and lead him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, ‘Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.’” 

Esther 6:6-9

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In his pride, Haman immediately and mistakenly assumed that he was the most deserving of the king’s honor.  His advice to the king on how to honor him was to create an image that effectively exalted Haman to be on the same level as the king in the eyes of the public – wearing the king’s robe, riding the king’s horse, and having someone go in front proclaiming the greatness of the man being exalted.

This is exactly what the original narcissist satan attempted – to be exalted to the same level as his king, in this case God.

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In the end, Haman’s insolent pride led to his sudden downfall.

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* Narcissist is the modern colloquial term for what the Bible calls “insolent pride”.  See here and here for an explanation

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See here for initial steps to peace with God

 

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“The People Of The Lie”

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John 9:39-41

39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” 40 Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

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One of the primary traits of the narcissistic Pharisees was their attitude of moral superiority and refusal to acknowledge that they had any sin – even though their inward lives were full of sin.  In this they deceived and lied to both themselves and others.  This can also be seen in Luke 18:9-14, Matthew 23:25-28, and Matthew 9:10-13.

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M Scott Peck was a psychiatrist whose personal journey ultimately led him to commit to Christianity.  By observation and analysis, through the lens of Christianity, he reached the same conclusion that Jesus had already made clear above.

Following are excerpts from a book he wrote on the subject

. Continue reading

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Common Descriptions, Different Terms

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While there is a degree of common ground between the secular and Biblical approaches to narcissism – mostly in the description of narcissists and how they behave, i.e. narcissistic traits – the approaches diverge substantially in the areas of root causes, possible solutions, and ways in which “victims” should deal with these troubling people.

To simply illustrate the overlap and divergence between the different approaches, the overlapping areas in the following Venn diagram below are primarily descriptive (how do narcissists behave), and the non-overlapping areas tend toward the causal (why are narcissists the way they are) and the prescriptive (what to do about it).

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Human nature has been the same since the beginning of humankind. Since the Bible speaks about the nature of man and interpersonal relationships, we should see the kind of people the secular world refers to as “narcissists” in the Bible.  By accurately identifying the terms the Bible uses to describe the people which the secular world calls narcissists, we can then study those terms for a comprehensive look at what the Bible says about narcissism.

Since the term narcissism derives from the character Narcissus in Greek mythology, and usage in the world of psychiatry only began in the early 1900’s[i], we would not expect the Bible to use that term.  Some of the terms the Bible regularly uses for narcissism are “insolent pride,” “proud,” “haughty,” and “scoffer”. These terms, as well as others, can be considered synonymous with narcissism.

 “Proud,” “Haughty,” “Scoffer,” are his names, who acts with insolent pride.

Proverbs 21:24

Prior to the widespread use of the term narcissism, people commonly recognized the traits of these people by other labels, such as: megalomania, egocentricity, conceit, arrogance, haughtiness, vanity, self-absorption, etc.  We can equate the Bible’s terminology with the term narcissism used by the secular world, based on comparable descriptions of the same people.

Among many others, this equivalence in terms is illustrated in Wikipedia’s definition, which says that narcissistic traits derive from “arrogant pride:”[ii]

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“Narcissism is the pursuit of gratification from vanity, or egotistic admiration of one’s own physical or mental attributes, that derive from arrogant pride. The term originated with Narcissus in Greek mythology, who fell in love with his own image reflected in a pool of water.”

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One of the differences between the secular and Biblical approaches is that the secular psych world is “outside in” – observing characteristics, grouping them, and then labeling them – whereas the Biblical approach is “inside out.”  God alone knows the heart and character of a narcissistic person.  He gives the person with that kind of heart a name and then describes that type of person and the damage they leave in their wake in cascading detail.  Here’s a simple chart illustrating these approaches:

In a sense, the secular psych world only observes and categorizes the characteristics which God through the Bible has already defined.

[i] Sigmund Freud wrote the essay “On Narcissism” in 1914, see wikipedia.org/wiki/On Narcissism

[ii] From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissism)

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Hypocrisy & Judgmentalism – Two Unmistakable Marks Of Narcissism – Part 2

Please see here for part 1

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Jesus further highlighted the link between hypocrisy and judging others in Matthew 7:1-5:

 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?

You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.  Matthew 7:1-5

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The word “judge” in Matthew 7:1 has the same root “krino”[1] as in the word hypocrite.  The hypocrite has a “log in his eye” – a euphemism for a “big problem” or “big character flaw”.  But, out of pride the hypocrite minimizes his own log to be “nothing” – saying to himself “I’m OK”.  He then pretends helpfulness by offering to take the speck (a little problem) out of his brother’s eye, but in fact is acting as a proud judge, setting himself up as superior.

His judgment is proof that he has a problem in the same life area in which he is trying to “help” his brother.

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Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge[2] another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.  Romans 2:1

Continue reading

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Hypocrisy & Judgmentalism – Two Unmistakable Marks Of Narcissism – Part 1

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Jesus called the narcissistic scribes and Pharisees “hypocrites” seven times in Matthew 23.  There was a reason He emphasized it – He was making clear to them that even though they may have fooled people with their outward appearance of faux-righteousness, He clearly saw through to their proud, greedy hearts.  Hypocrisy is a prime trait of a scoffer/narcissist.

“The word hypocrite ultimately came into English from the Greek word hypokrites, which means “an actor” or “a stage player.” The Greek word itself is a compound noun: it’s made up of two Greek words that literally translate as “an interpreter from underneath.” That bizarre compound makes more sense when you know that the actors in ancient Greek theater wore large masks to mark which character they were playing, and so they interpreted the story from underneath their masks.”[1] Continue reading

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Narcissism = Insolent Pride in the Bible

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Proverbs 21:24

24 “Proud,” “Haughty,” “Scoffer,” are his names,
Who acts with insolent pride.

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You may have found this blog because you have a “narcissist” in your life, or  in the life of someone you care about.   At first, you may not have known that you were dealing with a narcissist, but the pain and damage this selfish, arrogant, condescending, domineering person caused might have driven you to search for answers on what was going on, and on how to deal with this difficult person.  As you went online or to books on  Amazon, you read more about who this person is, and how he operates.  And you likely read some explanations as to how he got this way, or advice regarding how to deal with this “narcissist”.  In the process of trying to learn everything possible in your search for answers, you may have decided to explore what the Bible has to say on the subject.

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While the Bible does not specifically refer to “narcissism” –  which takes its name from Greek mythology – it does speak to the subject.

Continue reading

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Narcissism and The Progression of Fools – Introduction

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We have until now focused this biblical study of what the secular world calls “narcissism” primarily on the term “scoffer”, as one of the labels applied to those with insolent pride – the Biblical analog to the secular term.

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Proverbs 21:24

24 “Proud,” “Haughty,” “Scoffer,” are his names,
Who acts with insolent pride.

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While not specifically called by the English term “fool”, the scoffer is part of a progression of foolishness described in Proverbs, starting with the “simple fool” (or “naive”), and moving all the way to the “committed fool”.  Each is a progressively greater degree of turning away from God’s wisdom, and walking an increasingly proud and self-seeking path which is independent from God.   Pride is a primary root to this self-seeking path independent from God, with increasing insolence up to the level of “insolent pride” (aka “scoffer”) and beyond.   Knowing this progression is helpful in identifying at least one of the ways in which someone can become a narcissist.

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The progression is as follows:

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(Types of Fool)     naive  ->  perverse ->  scoffing  ->   stubborn ->   committed

(Hebrew word)     pthiy  ->     ewil       ->     luts       ->      kecil      ->      nabal Continue reading

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Secular Definitions – Narcissism Was Formerly Called Megalomania

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Megalomania

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This article is about a condition relating to grandiosity. For other uses, see Megalomania (disambiguation).   See also: Narcissistic personality disorder
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Megalomania is a psychopathological condition characterized by fantasies of power, relevance, omnipotence, and by inflated self-esteem.   Historically it was used as a name for narcissistic personality disorder prior to the latter’s first use by Heinz Kohut in 1968, and is used today as a non-clinical equivalent.[1][2] It is not mentioned in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)[3] or the International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD).

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Etymology

The word megalomania is derived from the Greek μεγαλο- megalo- “large, great”, and μανία mania “madness, frenzy”. Its first attested use in English occurred in 1890, as a translation of the French mégalomanie.

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Early Freudianism

Sigmund Freud commented of the adult neurotic’s sense of omnipotence that “this belief is a frank acknowledgement of a relic of the old megalomania of infancy”.[4] He similarly concluded that “we can detect an element of megalomania in most other forms ofparanoic disorder. We are justified in assuming that this megalomania is essentially of an infantile nature and that, as development proceeds, it is sacrificed to social considerations”.[5]

Edmund Bergler also considered megalomania to be normal in the child,[6] and for it to be reactivated in later life in gambling.[7]Otto Fenichel states that, for those who react in later life to narcissistic hurt with denial, a similar regression to the megalomania of childhood is taking place.[8]

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Object relations

Whereas Freud saw megalomania as an obstacle to psychoanalysis, in the second half of the 20th century object relations theory, both in the States and among British Kleinians, set about revaluing megalomania as a defence mechanism that offered potential access for therapy.[9] Such an approach built on Heinz Kohut‘s view of narcissistic megalomania as an aspect of normal development, by contrast with Kernberg‘s consideration of such grandiosity as a pathological development distortion.[10]

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Everyday

As well as a symptom of pathology, a degree of megalomania is a way of defending against loss in everyday life—a manic defense against the experience of separation and loss.[11] When linked to a position of power, whether military, political, orcontrol-freak bureaucratical,[12] it is likely to lead to miscalculation as a by-product of the subject’s conceit.[13]

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Therapy

Because the megalomaniac tends not to be particularly interested in examining or changing the self,[14] talking cures may be less effective than medication in their treatment.[15] The transference in a talking cure may also be compromised by the patient’s enhancement of any megalomaniac tendencies within the analyst him/herself.[16]

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Another Narcissism Test

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Narcissism (Insolent Pride) can take many forms.  He (or she) can be the obvious extroverted center of attention, but he can also be introverted and reserved.

The essence of narcissism is not the outward style, but “selfishness and empty conceit” instead of “humility of mind” – as Paul admonished against here……

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Philippians 2:3 – “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves…”

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A good secular discussion of this can be found in the following article

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http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/beautiful-minds/23-signs-youe28099re-secretly-a-narcissist-masquerading-as-a-sensitive-introvert/

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This article includes an interesting test for “introverted narcissism”.  Its worth a look.

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Note:  Narcissism is the modern colloquial term for what the Bible describes as “insolent pride” – see here

 

 

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“Scoffer” – More Hebrew Words on Narcissists from Proverbs 21:24

The ultimate goal of this blog is to understand narcissism and how to deal with it from not just the secular literature, but more importantly from a biblical perspective.  There are many areas in common between the Bible and secular literature in defining narcissists and how to deal with them.  But there are also areas of difference which we will see later.

 

“Proud”, “Haughty”, “Scoffer” are his names, who acts with insolent pride.  Proverbs 21:24 (NASB)

 

 

To expand on Proverbs 21:24 in defining a narcissist (“Proud, Haughty, Scoffer are his names who acts with insolent pride”), we need to further expand the definition of the “names – Proud, Haughty, Scoffer”, just as we expanded “insolent pride” from http://insolentpride.blogspot.jp/2013/10/insolent-pride-hebrew-word.html .    Following is the breakdown of the word “scoffer” from http://biblesuite.com/hebrew/3887.htm.

luts: ambassador, have in derision, interpreter, make a mock, mocker

Original Word: לִיץ

Part of Speech: Verb

Transliteration: luts

Phonetic Spelling: (loots)

Short Definition: ambassador

Word Origin

the same as lits, q.v.

[לִיץverb scorn (Late Hebrew id.; verb not in cognates; compare Phoenician מלץ interpreter CIS22; CIS44; CIS88; Arabic  is turn aside (intransitive); hence perhaps properly speak indirectly or obliquely, FlDe Pr.1, 6); —Qal Perfect3masculine לַצְתָּ Proverbs 9:12Imperfect יָלִיץ Proverbs 3:34 2t.; Participle לֵץ Proverbs 9:711t.; plural לֵצִים Psalm 1:1 3t.; — scornוְלַצְתָּ לְבַדְּךָ תִשָּׂא Proverbs 9:12 if thou scornest thou alone shalt bear it (opposed to חָכַמְתָּ), with accusative Proverbs 14:9Proverbs 19:28; with לְלַלֵּצִים הוּאיָֿלִיץscorners he (Godscorneth Proverbs 3:34הַלֵּץ the scorner is proud and haughty Proverbs 21:24, delights in scorning Proverbs 1:22, is incapable of discipline Proverbs 9:7, reproof Proverbs 9:8; is Proverbs 15:12, or rebuke is Proverbs 13:1, cannot find wisdom Proverbs 14:6; is an abomination Proverbs 24:9, should be avoided Psalm 1:1; smitten and punished for the benefit of the simple Proverbs 19:25Proverbs 21:11 and banished for the removal of contention Proverbs 22:10; judgment is prepared for him Proverbs 19:29; “” עָרִיץIsaiah 29:20; wine is a scorner Proverbs 20:1. —

Hiph`il Perfect3masculine plural suffix הֱלִיצֻנִי Psalm 119:51Participle מֵלִיץ Genesis 42:23Job 33:23; plural construct מְלִיצֵי2Chronicles 32:31; suffix מְלִיצַי Job 16:20מְלִיצֶיךָ Isaiah 43:27; —

1 deride Job 16:20Psalm 119:51.

2 Participle interpreter Genesis 42:23 (E); figurative of intermediaries between God and man, Job 33:28;Isaiah 43:27ambassador2Chronicles 32:31.

Po`lel Participle plural לֹצֲצִים (מְ dropped Köii. 479scorners Hosea 7:5.

Hithpa`el Imperfect תִּתְלוֺצָ֑צוּ act as a scorner, shew oneself a mockerIsaiah 28:22.

ambassador, have in derision, interpreter, make a mock, mocker

A primitive root; properly, to make mouths at, i.e. To scoff; hence (from the effort to pronounce a foreign language) to interpret, or (generally) intercede — ambassador, have in derision, interpreter, make a mock, mocker, scorn(-er, -ful), teacher.

בִּמְלִיצֵ֣י ׀ במליצי הֱלִיצֻ֣נִי הַמֵּלִ֖יץ הליצני המליץ וְ֝לֵ֗ץ וְ֝לַ֗צְתָּ וְלֵצִ֗ים וּמְלִיצֶ֖יךָ ולץ ולצים ולצת ומליציך יָלִ֑יץ יָלִ֣יץ יליץ לֵ֑ץ לֵ֗ץ לֵ֝צִ֗ים לֵ֣ץ לֵ֭ץ לֵֽץ׃ לַלֵּצִ֣ים לַלֵּצִ֥ים ללצים לץ לץ׃ לצים מְלִיצַ֥י מֵלִ֗יץ מליץ מליצי תִּתְלוֹצָ֔צוּ תתלוצצו bim·lî·ṣê bimlîṣê bimliTzei ham·mê·lîṣ hammêlîṣ hammeLitz hĕ·lî·ṣu·nî hĕlîṣunî heliTzuni lal·lê·ṣîm lallêṣîm lalleTzim lê·ṣîm lêṣ lêṣîm Letz leTzim mə·lî·ṣay mê·lîṣ mêlîṣ məlîṣay meLitz meliTzai tiṯ·lō·w·ṣā·ṣū titloTzatzu tiṯlōwṣāṣū ū·mə·lî·ṣe·ḵā ūməlîṣeḵā umeliTzeicha veLatzta veLetz veleTzim wə·laṣ·tā wə·lê·ṣîm wə·lêṣ wəlaṣtā wəlêṣ wəlêṣîm yā·lîṣ yālîṣ, ya litz

Strong’s Hebrew 3887
27 Occurrences
bim·lî·ṣê — 1 Occ.

ham·mê·lîṣ — 1 Occ.

hĕ·lî·ṣu·nî — 1 Occ.

lal·lê·ṣîm — 2 Occ.

lêṣ — 11 Occ.

lê·ṣîm — 1 Occ.

mê·lîṣ — 1 Occ.

mə·lî·ṣay — 1 Occ.

tiṯ·lō·w·ṣā·ṣū — 1 Occ.

ū·mə·lî·ṣe·ḵā — 1 Occ.

wə·laṣ·tā — 1 Occ.

wə·lêṣ — 1 Occ.

wə·lê·ṣîm — 1 Occ.

yā·lîṣ — 3 Occ.

Genesis 42:23 

BIB: יוֹסֵ֑ף כִּ֥י הַמֵּלִ֖יץ בֵּינֹתָֽם׃ 

KJV: understood [them]; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.

INT: Joseph by an interpreterbetween2 Chronicles 32:31 

BIB: וְכֵ֞ן בִּמְלִיצֵ֣י ׀ שָׂרֵ֣י בָּבֶ֗ל

KJV: Howbeit in [the business of] the ambassadors of the princes

INT: Even the ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon

Job 16:20 

BIB: מְלִיצַ֥י רֵעָ֑י אֶל־

KJV: My friends scorn me: [but] mine eye

INT: scorn my friends to

Job 33:23 

BIB: עָלָ֨יו ׀ מַלְאָ֗ךְ מֵלִ֗יץ אֶחָ֥ד מִנִּי־

KJV: be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one

INT: and is an angel an interpreter One out

Psalm 1:1 

BIB: עָמָ֑ד וּבְמוֹשַׁ֥ב לֵ֝צִ֗ים לֹ֣א יָשָֽׁב׃

KJV: in the seat of the scornful.

INT: stand the seat of the scornful Nor sit

Psalm 119:51 

BIB: זֵ֭דִים הֱלִיצֻ֣נִי עַד־ מְאֹ֑ד

KJV: have had me greatly in derision: [yet] have I not declined

INT: the arrogant derisionagainst greatly

Proverbs 1:22 

BIB: תְּֽאֵהֲב֫וּ פֶ֥תִי וְלֵצִ֗ים לָ֭צוֹן חָמְד֣וּ

KJV: simplicity? and the scorners delight

INT: love ones ambassadorscoffing delight

Proverbs 3:34 

BIB: אִם־ לַלֵּצִ֥ים הֽוּא־ יָלִ֑יץ

KJV: Surely he scorneth the scorners:

INT: Though scorneth he the scorners

Proverbs 3:34 

BIB: לַלֵּצִ֥ים הֽוּא־ יָלִ֑יץ [וְלַעֲנִיִּים כ]

KJV: Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth

INT: scorneth he the scornersafflicted gives

Proverbs 9:7 

BIB: יֹ֤סֵ֨ר ׀ לֵ֗ץ לֹקֵ֣חַֽ ל֣וֹ

KJV: He that reproveth a scorner getteth

INT: corrects A scorner gets dishonor

Proverbs 9:8 

BIB: אַל־ תּ֣וֹכַח לֵ֭ץ פֶּן־ יִשְׂנָאֶ֑ךָּ

KJV: Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate

INT: not reprove A scorner or will hate

Proverbs 9:12 

BIB: חָכַ֣מְתָּ לָּ֑ךְ וְ֝לַ֗צְתָּ לְֽבַדְּךָ֥ תִשָּֽׂא׃

KJV: thou shalt be wise for thyself: but [if] thou scornest,thou alone shalt bear

INT: are wise are wise scornestalone will bear

Proverbs 13:1 

BIB: מ֣וּסַר אָ֑ב וְ֝לֵ֗ץ לֹא־ שָׁמַ֥ע

KJV: instruction: but a scornerheareth

INT: discipline father’s A scornerdoes not listen

Proverbs 14:6 

BIB: בִּקֶּשׁ־ לֵ֣ץ חָכְמָ֣ה וָאָ֑יִן

KJV: A scorner seeketh wisdom,

INT: seeks A scorner wisdom and none

Proverbs 14:9 

BIB: אֱ֭וִלִים יָלִ֣יץ אָשָׁ֑ם וּבֵ֖ין

KJV: Fools make a mock at sin:

INT: Fools A mock sin among

Proverbs 15:12 

BIB: לֹ֣א יֶאֱהַב־ לֵ֭ץ הוֹכֵ֣חַֽ ל֑וֹ

KJV: A scorner loveth

INT: does not love A scornerreproves to

Proverbs 19:25 

BIB: לֵ֣ץ תַּ֭כֶּה וּפֶ֣תִי

KJV: Smite a scorner, and the simple

INT: A scorner Strike and the naive

Proverbs 19:28 

BIB: עֵ֣ד בְּ֭לִיַּעַל יָלִ֣יץ מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּפִ֥י

KJV: witness scornethjudgment:

INT: witness A rascally scornethof justice and the mouth

Proverbs 19:29 

BIB: נָכ֣וֹנוּ לַלֵּצִ֣ים שְׁפָטִ֑ים וּ֝מַהֲלֻמ֗וֹת

KJV: are prepared for scorners,and stripes

INT: are prepared scornersJudgments and blows

Proverbs 20:1 

BIB: לֵ֣ץ הַ֭יַּין הֹמֶ֣ה

KJV: Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink

INT: a mocker Wine A brawler

Proverbs 21:11 

BIB: בַּעְנָשׁ־ לֵ֭ץ יֶחְכַּם־ פֶּ֑תִי

KJV: When the scorner is punished,

INT: is punished the scornerbecomes the naive

Proverbs 21:24 

BIB: זֵ֣ד יָ֭הִיר לֵ֣ץ שְׁמ֑וֹ ע֝וֹשֶׂ֗ה

KJV: [and] haughty scorner [is] his name,

INT: Proud Haughty scorner are his names acts

Proverbs 22:10 

BIB: גָּ֣רֵֽשׁ לֵ֭ץ וְיֵצֵ֣א מָד֑וֹן

KJV: Cast out the scorner, and contention

INT: Drive the scorner will go and contention

Proverbs 24:9 

BIB: וְתוֹעֲבַ֖ת לְאָדָ֣ם לֵֽץ׃ 

KJV: [is] sin: and the scorner [is] an abomination

INT: is an abomination to menand the scorner

Isaiah 28:22 

BIB: וְעַתָּה֙ אַל־ תִּתְלוֹצָ֔צוּ פֶּֽן־ יֶחְזְק֖וּ

KJV: Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands

INT: and now nay mockers Or will be made

27 Occurrences

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“Haughty” – More Hebrew Words on Narcissists from Proverbs 21:24

The ultimate goal of this blog is to understand narcissism and how to deal with it from not just the secular literature, but more importantly from a biblical perspective.  There are many areas in common between the Bible and secular literature in defining narcissists and how to deal with them.  But there are also areas of difference which we will see later.

 

“Proud”, “Haughty”, “Scoffer” are his names, who acts with insolent pride.  Proverbs 21:24 (NASB)

 

 

To expand on Proverbs 21:24 in defining a narcissist (“Proud, Haughty, Scoffer are his names who acts with insolent pride”), we need to further expand the definition of the “names – Proud, Haughty, Scoffer”, just as we expanded “insolent pride” from http://insolentpride.blogspot.jp/2013/10/insolent-pride-hebrew-word.html .    Following is the breakdown of the word “proud” from http://biblesuite.com/hebrew/3093.htm.

yahir: proud, haughty

Original Word: יָהִיר

Part of Speech: Adjective

Transliteration: yahir

Phonetic Spelling: (yaw-here’)

Short Definition: haughty

Word Origin

from an unused word

Definition

proud, haughty

NASB Translation

haughty (2).

Strong’s Hebrew 3093
2 Occurrences
yā·hîr — 2 Occ.Proverbs 21:24 BIB: זֵ֣ד יָ֭הִיר לֵ֣ץ שְׁמ֑וֹ

NAS: Proud, Haughty, Scoffer,

KJV: Proud [and] haughtyscorner

INT: Proud Haughty scorner are his names

Habakkuk 2:5 

BIB: בּוֹגֵ֔ד גֶּ֥בֶר יָהִ֖יר וְלֹ֣א יִנְוֶ֑ה

NAS: betrays the haughty man,

KJV: by wine, [he is] a proudman,

INT: betrays man the haughtynever stay

2 Occurrences

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“Proud” – More Hebrew Words on Narcissists from Proverbs 21:24

The ultimate goal of this blog is to understand narcissism and how to deal with it from not just the secular literature, but more importantly from a biblical perspective.  There are many areas in common between the Bible and secular literature in defining narcissists and how to deal with them.  But there are also areas of difference which we will see later.

 

“Proud”, “Haughty”, “Scoffer” are his names, who acts with insolent pride.  Proverbs 21:24 (NASB)

 

 

To expand on Proverbs 21:24 in defining a narcissist (“Proud, Haughty, Scoffer are his names who acts with insolent pride”), we need to further expand the definition of the “names – Proud, Haughty, Scoffer”, just as we expanded “insolent pride” from http://insolentpride.blogspot.jp/2013/10/insolent-pride-hebrew-word.html .    Following is the breakdown of the word “proud” from http://biblesuite.com/hebrew/2086.htm.

————————————————————————————————–

Proud

 

zed: insolent, presumptuous

Original Word: זֵד

Part of Speech: Noun Masculine

Transliteration: zed

Phonetic Spelling: (zade’)

Short Definition: arrogant

Word Origin

from zud

Definition

insolent, presumptuous

NASB Translation

arrogant (9), arrogant men (1), presumptuous (1), proud (2).

זֵד adjective insolent, presumptuous: — ׳ז Proverbs 21:24; plural זֵדִים Jeremiah 43:2 11t.; — always masculine, and always of opposition to ׳י, wickedness; with qualified noun expressed, only הָאֲנָשִׁים הַזֵּדִים Jeremiah 43:2, of opponents of Jeremiah; elsewhere used substantively, as technical term for godless, rebellious men; once singular זֵד יָהִיר לֵץ שְׁמוֺ Proverbs 21:24 a haughty insolent one, scorner is his name(“” עוֺשֶׂה בְּעֶבְרַת זָדוֺן); usually plural Isaiah 13:11(׳גְּאוֺן ז; “” גַּאֲוַת עָרִיצִים); Malachi 3:13 (“” עשֵֹׁי רִשְׁעָה), Malachi 4:19 (“” רִשְׁעָה עשֵֹׁה); and in Psalm 86:14 (“” עָרִיצִים), Psalm 119:21(“” מִמִּצְוֺתֶיךָ הַשֹּׁגִים), Psalm 119:51Psalm 119:69Psalm 119:78Psalm 119:85Psalm 119:122; so probably also Psalm 19:14 גַּם מִזֵּדִים חֲשׂךְ עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ also from presumptuous men hold back thy servant (Ew Ol Hup Che RVm); > presumptuous sins Deal. (AV RV).

presumptuous, proud

From zuwd; arrogant — presumptuous, proud.

see HEBREW zuwd

הַזֵּדִ֑ים הזדים זֵ֘דִ֤ים זֵ֣ד זֵ֭דִים זֵדִ֑ים זֵדִ֔ים זֵדִ֜ים זֵדִ֣ים זֵדִֽים׃ זד זדים זדים׃ מִזֵּדִ֨ים ׀ מזדים haz·zê·ḏîm hazzeDim hazzêḏîm miz·zê·ḏîm mizzeDim mizzêḏîm zê·ḏîm zed zêḏ zeDim zêḏîm

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Strong’s Hebrew 2086
13 Occurrences

haz·zê·ḏîm — 1 Occ.

miz·zê·ḏîm — 1 Occ.

zêḏ — 1 Occ.

zê·ḏîm — 10 Occ.

Psalm 19:13 

BIB: גַּ֤ם מִזֵּדִ֨ים ׀ חֲשֹׂ֬ךְ עַבְדֶּ֗ךָ

NAS: Your servant from presumptuous [sins]; Let them not rule

KJV: thy servant also from presumptuous [sins]; let them not have dominion

INT: Also presumptuous keep your servant

Psalm 86:14 

BIB: אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ זֵ֘דִ֤ים קָֽמוּ־ עָלַ֗י

NAS: O God, arrogant menhave risen

KJV: O God, the proud are risen

INT: God arrogant have risen against

Psalm 119:21 

BIB: גָּ֭עַרְתָּ זֵדִ֣ים אֲרוּרִ֑ים הַ֝שֹּׁגִים

NAS: You rebuke the arrogant,the cursed,

KJV: Thou hast rebuked the proud [that are] cursed,

INT: rebuke the arrogant the cursed wander

Psalm 119:51 

BIB: זֵ֭דִים הֱלִיצֻ֣נִי עַד־

NAS: The arrogant utterly deride

KJV: The proud have had me greatly

INT: the arrogant derision against

Psalm 119:69 

BIB: עָלַ֣י שֶׁ֣קֶר זֵדִ֑ים אֲ֝נִ֗י בְּכָל־

NAS: The arrogant have forged a lie

KJV: The proud have forged a lie

INT: against A lie the arrogant I all

Psalm 119:78 

BIB: יֵבֹ֣שׁוּ זֵ֭דִים כִּי־ שֶׁ֣קֶר

NAS: May the arrogant be ashamed,

KJV: Let the proud be ashamed;

INT: be ashamed may the arrogant with A lie

Psalm 119:85 

BIB: כָּֽרוּ־ לִ֣י זֵדִ֣ים שִׁיח֑וֹת אֲ֝שֶׁ֗ר

NAS: The arrogant have dug pits

KJV: The proud have digged pits

INT: have dug the arrogant pits me who

Psalm 119:122 

BIB: אַֽל־ יַעַשְׁקֻ֥נִי זֵדִֽים׃ 

NAS: for good; Do not let the arrogant oppress

KJV: for good: let not the proudoppress

INT: nay oppress the arrogant

Proverbs 21:24 

BIB: זֵ֣ד יָ֭הִיר לֵ֣ץ

NAS: Proud, Haughty, Scoffer,

KJV: Proud [and] haughty scorner

INT: Proud Haughty scorner

Isaiah 13:11 

BIB: וְהִשְׁבַּתִּי֙ גְּא֣וֹן זֵדִ֔ים וְגַאֲוַ֥ת עָרִיצִ֖ים

NAS: to the arrogance of the proud And abase

KJV: and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease,

INT: put to the arrogance of the proud the haughtiness of the ruthless

Jeremiah 43:2 

BIB: וְכָל־ הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים הַזֵּדִ֑יםאֹמְרִ֣ים אֶֽל־

NAS: and all the arrogant men

KJV: of Kareah, and all the proud men,

INT: and all men the arrogant to say to

Malachi 3:15 

BIB: אֲנַ֖חְנוּ מְאַשְּׁרִ֣ים זֵדִ֑ים גַּם־ נִבְנוּ֙

NAS: we call the arrogantblessed;

KJV: And now we call the proudhappy;

INT: we call the arrogant only built

Malachi 4:1 

BIB: וְהָי֨וּ כָל־ זֵדִ֜ים וְכָל־ עֹשֵׂ֤ה

NAS: and all the arrogant and every

KJV: as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do

INT: become and all the arrogant and every do

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Narcissism / Insolent Pride – The Hebrew Word

Since the word “insolent pride” used in Proverbs 21:24 is a foundation for this discussion, we need to take a closer look at the Hebrew word for it – “zadon”

From http://biblesuite.com/hebrew/2087.htm

zadon: insolence, presumptuousness

Original Word: זָדוֹן

Part of Speech: Noun Masculine

Transliteration: zadon

Phonetic Spelling: (zaw-done’)

Short Definition: arrogance

Word Origin

from zud

Definition

insolence, presumptuousness

NASB Translation

arrogance (3), arrogant (2), insolence (2), insolent pride (1), presumptuously (2), pride (1).

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Here are the uses

Strong’s Hebrew 2087 – 11 Occurrences

bə·zā·ḏō·wn — 2 Occ.

haz·zā·ḏō·wn — 1 Occ.

ḇə·zā·ḏō·wn — 1 Occ.

zā·ḏō·wn — 4 Occ.

zə·ḏō·wn — 2 Occ.

zə·ḏō·nə·ḵā — 1 Occ.

Deuteronomy 17:12 

BIB: אֲשֶׁר־ יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה בְזָד֗וֹן לְבִלְתִּ֨י שְׁמֹ֤עַ

NAS: acts presumptuously by not listening

KJV: that will dopresumptuously, and will not hearken

INT: who acts presumptuouslynot listening

 

Deuteronomy 18:22 

BIB: דִבְּר֖וֹ יְהוָ֑ה בְּזָדוֹן֙ דִּבְּר֣וֹ הַנָּבִ֔יא

NAS: has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid

KJV: hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid

INT: spoken the LORDpresumptuously has spoken the prophet

1 Samuel 17:28 

BIB: יָדַ֣עְתִּי אֶת־ זְדֹנְךָ֗ וְאֵת֙ רֹ֣עַ

NAS: I know your insolence and the wickedness

KJV: I know thy pride, and the naughtiness

INT: I acknowledge your insolence and the wickedness of your heart

Proverbs 11:2 

BIB: בָּֽא־ זָ֭דוֹן וַיָּבֹ֣א קָל֑וֹן

NAS: When pride comes, then comes

KJV: [When] pride cometh, then cometh

INT: comes pride comes dishonor

Proverbs 13:10 

BIB: רַק־ בְּ֭זָדוֹן יִתֵּ֣ן מַצָּ֑ה

NAS: Through insolence comes nothing

KJV: Only by pride cometh contention:

INT: but insolence comes strife

Proverbs 21:24 

BIB: ע֝וֹשֶׂ֗ה בְּעֶבְרַ֥ת זָדֽוֹן׃ 

NAS: Who acts with insolent pride.

KJV: who dealeth in proudwrath.

INT: acts wrath insolent

 

Jeremiah 49:16 

BIB: הִשִּׁ֤יא אֹתָךְ֙ זְד֣וֹן לִבֶּ֔ךָ שֹֽׁכְנִי֙

NAS: As for the terror of you, The arrogance of your heart

KJV: hath deceived thee, [and] the pride of thine heart,

INT: the terror deceived the arrogance of your heart live

Jeremiah 50:31 

BIB: הִנְנִ֤י אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ זָד֔וֹן נְאֻם־ אֲדֹנָ֥י

NAS: I am against you, O arrogant one, Declares

KJV: Behold, I [am] against thee, [O thou] most proud, saith

INT: behold I am againstarrogant Declares the Lord

Jeremiah 50:32 

BIB: וְכָשַׁ֤ל זָדוֹן֙ וְנָפַ֔ל וְאֵ֥ין

NAS: The arrogant one will stumble

KJV: And the most proud shall stumble

INT: will stumble the arrogantand fall no

Ezekiel 7:10 

BIB: הַמַּטֶּ֔ה פָּרַ֖ח הַזָּדֽוֹן׃ 

NAS: has budded, arrogancehas blossomed.

KJV: hath blossomed, pride hath budded.

INT: the rod has blossomedarrogance

 

Obadiah 1:3 

BIB: זְד֤וֹן לִבְּךָ֙ הִשִּׁיאֶ֔ךָ

NAS: The arrogance of your heart

KJV: The pride of thine heart hath deceived

INT: the arrogance of your heart deceived

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What is Narcissism

There are a lot of good sources to define Narcissism.    Some characteristics from http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Living_With_a_Narcissist

 

Determining whether someone is a narcissist

It can be difficult to determine whether someone is a narcissist, even to experts. This is particularly true if you do not know the person very well or spend some time looking for the traits to be revealed. Non-professional diagnosis should be avoided, since there is a risk that they will be skewed closeness to the subject.

Narcissistic traits are the source of self-love/value and self-empowerment, everyone has the traits found in narcissism at different levels, it is only when it is pathological (akin to schizophrenia) that it can become detrimental to those around the sufferer of the disorder.

It is not uncommon between partners, couples and parents (in relation to children, especially teenagers) to at some point interpret a strong personality as being narcissist, labeling and explaining away behaviors as such is easier, more that to dedicated the necessary effort in a deeper analysis. Furthermore, only a qualified mental health professional can officially diagnose personality disorders or mental illnesses.

The following list of traits may provide clues, if someone is demonstrating strong narcissist behavior.

  • A narcissists typically require:
Attention from others (e.g. likes to be at the center of a discussion when visitors are in the house);
Adulation from others (i.e. likes to be admired by others and therefore presents a positive image of himself or herself to others in order to secure that admiration);
Subservience from others (especially those who live with him or her);
  • Recent research shows that narcissists sometimes are “ego dystonic” — that is, having thoughts or exhibiting behaviour that contradict their idealized self-image. Mostly, narcissists don’t care about the clash, and moreover they often rationalize the clash by blaming others. But many narcissists do develop permanent “ego-dystony” — that is, they constantly feel bad about themselves and their behaviour. When in such a mood of self-doubt, the narcissist is likely to utter things like “you deserve better” and “I can never please anyone”.

But these proclamations are meant to TEST the narcissist’s closest, nearest, or dearest. Will they abandon/humiliate/betray him once they discover his true face?

  • A narcissist often criticises or vilifies others but hates it when others criticise him or her.
The narcissist may also be very adept at vilifying, doing it in a gracious or innocent or humorous manner, and making his or her backbiting seem socially acceptable.
  • A narcissist likes to receive praise from others but often dislikes to hear other people being praised.
Therefore, if you are in the habit of often speaking well of people (always giving praise when praise is due) then you may soon encounter objections from narcissists who hate to see others being praised. In this way, you may start to see narcissists raising their heads above the parapet to take aim at others who you praise.
  • A narcissist likes to ask favours of others but dislikes it when others ask too many favours of him or her.
  • A narcissist can be dishonest but at the same time is a master of disguise and can lie very convincingly. The narcissist’s lies may take the form of exaggeration or, in some cases, complete fabrication. To many who live with the narcissist it seems that the narcissist has a cavalier disrespect for precise truth, and there is a strong temptation for other family members to adopt a similar disrespect for precise truth.
  • A narcissist thinks that he or she is entitled to special privileges or special treatment.
  • A narcissist is interpersonally exploitative and takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends, without regard for how their choices might effect others.
  • A narcissist has little or no empathy and is unwilling or unable to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
A lack of genuine empathy (e.g. feeling genuinely sad when seeing other people being sad) is a key aspect of pathological narcissism — although it should be borne in mind that a lack of empathy is exhibited not only by narcissists but by sociopaths as well. Moreover, one may feel genuine sympathy without expressing it, or may convincingly feign sympathy while feeling nothing.
  • A narcissist is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her.
  • A narcissist typically seeks to control the family finances.
  • A narcissist often has an arrogant affect (e.g. haughty behaviours or attitudes).
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