Bible Dictionary
Reprobate
Reprobate describes something rejected after being tested and found wanting. It may refer to people who fail to prove genuine faith or good works, or to land that produces thorns instead of fruit.
Definition
Reprobate describes what is rejected because it is worthless or has failed a test. The term may describe persons who have failed to use their opportunities or who have not proved genuine in faith and good works. It can also describe land that, instead of producing useful growth, bears thorns and thistles.
Biblical Usage
In biblical usage, reprobate retains the idea of rejection because of failure under trial. It is applied to people who disappoint the expectation of good works and to land that fails the husbandman’s test by producing thorns.
Historical Background
The term reflects the contrast between what is approved after testing and what is found wanting. Its underlying biblical usage therefore combines testing, approval or disapproval, and consequent rejection.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
That which is rejected on account of its own worthlessness (Jer. 6:30; Heb. 6:8; Gr. adokimos, “rejected”). This word is also used with reference to persons cast away or rejected because they have failed to make use of opportunities offered them (1 Cor. 9:27; 2 Cor. 13:5-7).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>The close phonetic resemblance and etymological affinity of dokimos to the verb dokimazo, "to try," "test," has caused the notion of "being tested," "tried," and its opposite of "being found wanting in the test" to associate itself more or less distinctly with the adjectives dokimos and adokimos. Thus the more complex meaning results of that which is acknowledged or rejected, because it has approved or not approved itself in testing. This connotation is present in 2Co 13:5,6,7; 2Ti 3:8; Tit 1:16; Heb 6:8. In the first two of these passages the word is used of Christians who ostensibly were in the true faith, but either hypothetically or actually are represented as having failed to meet the test. "Reprobate unto every good work" (Tit 1:16) are they who by their life have disappointed the expectation of good works. The "reprobate (rejected) land" of Heb 6:8 is land that by bearing thorns and thistles has failed to meet the test of the husband man. It should be noticed, however, that adokimos, even in these cases, always retains the meaning of rejection because of failure in trial; compare in the last-named passage: "rejected and nigh unto cursing."</p><p>LITERATURE.</p><p>Cremer, Biblisch-theologisches Worterbuch der neutestamentlichen Gracitat(10), 356-57.</p><p>Geerhardus Vos</p>