A reproof on the word rebuke

The word "rebuke" is not the same as "reproof".

The ancient Greek word "ἐπιτιμάω" ≈ "honor, censure" so that the word can be good or not good depending on the context. In the GNT (Greek New Testament) and LXX (Septuagint) it is in the "censure" sense.

The ancient Greek prefix "επι" ≈ "on".
The ancient Greek word "τιμή" ≈ "honor, value, worth" as in the name "Timothy" which means "honoring God".

An important idea of a "rebuke" is that the person doing the "rebuke" is assuming a superior relationship to the one being rebuked who is therefore in a subordinate relationship.

Matthew 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. [kjv]

Why can Jesus "rebuke" the wind?

What might the "wind" represent?
Can one logically reason with the wind?

Matthew 8:26

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KJV: And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

Greek: και λεγει αυτοις τι δειλοι εστε ολιγοπιστοι τοτε εγερθεις επετιμησεν τοις ανεμοις και τη θαλασση και εγενετο γαληνη μεγαλη

*G2008 *29 ἐπιτιμάω (ep-ee-tee-mah'-o) : from G1909 and G5091; to tax upon, i.e. censure or admonish; by implication, forbid:--(straitly) charge, rebuke.

Usage

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επετιμησεν *14

Matthew 8:26 ... O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; ...
Matthew 12:16 And charged them that they should not ...
Matthew 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he ...
Matthew 20:31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: ...
Mark 1:25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, ...
Mark 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said ...
Mark 8:30 And he charged them that they should tell no man ...
Mark 8:33 ... looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee ...
Mark 9:25 ... that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, ...
Luke 4:35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, ...
Luke 4:39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left ...
Luke 8:24 ... we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging ...
Luke 9:42 ... tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, ...
Luke 9:55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, ...

επετιμων *4

Mark 10:13 ... them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
Mark 10:48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: ...
Luke 18:15 ... but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
Luke 18:39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold ...

επιτιμησον *3

Luke 17:3 ... trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if ...
Luke 19:39 ... unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
2 Timothy 4:2 ... in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all ...

επιτιμαν *2

Matthew 16:22 ... took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far ...
Mark 8:32 ... took him, and began to rebuke him.

επιτιμων *2

Luke 4:41 ... the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not ...
Luke 23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost ...

επετιμησαν

Matthew 19:13 ... pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

επετιμα

Mark 3:12 And he straitly charged them that ...

επιτιμησας

Luke 9:21 And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;

επιτιμησαι

Jude 1:9 ... but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

The word "reproof" is not the same as "rebuke".

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. [kjv]

The word "rebuke" has more of an official censure from a superior-subordinate relationship.

The word "reproof" has more of an intellectual logical reasoning interchange.

More: A reproof on the use of the word reproof

2 Timothy 4:2

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KJV: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Greek: κηρυξον τον λογον επιστηθι ευκαιρως ακαιρως ελεγξον επιτιμησον παρακαλεσον εν παση μακροθυμια και διδαχη

1 Timothy 5:1 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; [kjv]

One might "reprove" and elder as in reasoning logically about what is being done.

One should not "rebuke" an elder as in a superior-subordinate relationship.

1 Timothy 5:1

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KJV: Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;

Greek: πρεσβυτερω μη επιπληξης αλλα παρακαλει ως πατερα νεωτερους ως αδελφους

Matthew 16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. [kjv]

It would be inappropriate for Peter to "rebuke" the Lord. Why?

Matthew 16:22

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KJV: Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

Greek: και προσλαβομενος αυτον ο πετρος ηρξατο επιτιμαν αυτω λεγων ιλεως σοι κυριε ου μη εσται σοι τουτο

Matthew 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. [kjv]

Jesus can "rebuke" the devil. Why?

Matthew 17:18

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KJV: And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

Greek: και επετιμησεν αυτω ο ιησους και εξηλθεν απ αυτου το δαιμονιον και εθεραπευθη ο παις απο της ωρας εκεινης

Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. [kjv]

Angels should not "rebuke" the devil.

Should humans try to "rebuke" the devil?

Jude 1:9

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KJV: Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

Greek: ο δε μιχαηλ ο αρχαγγελος οτε τω διαβολω διακρινομενος διελεγετο περι του μωσεως μωυσεως σωματος ουκ ετολμησεν κρισιν επενεγκειν βλασφημιας αλλ αλλα ειπεν επιτιμησαι σοι κυριος

2 Peter 2:16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet. [kjv]

The KJV (King James Version) uses "rebuked" but the Greek uses "reproved".

In 2 Peter 2:16, the "beast of burden" reproves Balaam who is represented by the "brute beast". The Greek is a military term for a magnificent "war horse" bred solely for the purpose of being destroyed as needed during battle.

Balaam is in the superior position while the beast of burden is in the subordinate position.

In the context, it is inappropriate for a faithful follower of Jesus as a subordinate to "rebuke" the false teacher as the leader and superior. It is not inappropriate to "reprove" the leader is in logically arguing that what was asked should not be done.

2 Peter 2:16

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KJV: But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

Greek: ελεγξιν δε εσχεν ιδιας παρανομιας υποζυγιον αφωνον εν ανθρωπου φωνη φθεγξαμενον εκωλυσεν την του προφητου παραφρονιαν

Let us look at other verses where the Greek has "reprove" but the KJV has "rebuke".

Is the meaning of each verse more clear when the proper translation had been used?

1 Timothy 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. [kjv]

Which is better, if needed?

Should one "rebuke" a sinner before everyone?
Should one "reprove" a sinner before everyone?

1 Timothy 5:20

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KJV: Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

Greek: τους δε αμαρτανοντας ενωπιον παντων ελεγχε ινα και οι λοιποι φοβον εχωσιν

Titus 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; [kjv]

2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. [kjv]

Titus 1:13

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KJV: This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

Greek: η μαρτυρια αυτη εστιν αληθης δι ην αιτιαν ελεγχε αυτους αποτομως ινα υγιαινωσιν εν τη πιστει

Titus 2:15

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KJV: These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Greek: ταυτα λαλει και παρακαλει και ελεγχε μετα πασης επιταγης μηδεις σου περιφρονειτω

Leviticus 19:17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. [kjv]

Which is better, if needed?

Should one "rebuke" a neighbor?
Should one "reprove" a neighbor?

Leviticus 19:17

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KJV: Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.

Hebrew: לא תשנא את אחיך בלבבך הוכח תוכיח את עמיתך ולא תשא עליו חטא׃

Greek: ου μισησεις τον αδελφον σου τη διανοια σου ελεγμω ελεγξεις τον πλησιον σου και ου λημψη δι αυτον αμαρτιαν

Brenton: You shall not hate your brother in your heart: you shall in any wise rebuke your neighbour, so you shall not bear sin on his account.

Proverbs 9:8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. [kjv]

The LXX uses the same word for "reprove" and "rebuke".

The Hebrew uses slightly different words but they have the same Strongs meaning and not the distinction found in the Greek.

Proverbs 9:8

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KJV: Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

Hebrew: אל תוכח לץ פן ישנאך הוכח לחכם ויאהבך׃

Greek: μη ελεγχε κακους ινα μη μισωσιν σε ελεγχε σοφον και αγαπησει σε

*H3198 יָכַח (yaw-kahh') : a primitive root; to be right (i.e. correct); reciprocal, to argue; causatively, to decide, justify or convict:--appoint, argue, chasten, convince, correct(-ion), daysman, dispute, judge, maintain, plead, reason (together), rebuke, reprove(-r), surely, in any wise.