God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the garden of Eden naked yet not ashamed (Gen 2). They had not yet sinned. As soon as they sinned, they became aware of their nakedness and hid themselves (so they thought) from God (Gen 3). They make themselves an ineffective covering for their shame by making aprons of leaves. God had to confront their sin. He invited them to repent and confess, and He provided an effective covering for their nakedness. God puts shame on sinners and removes it from the repentant. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy (Prov 28:13).” There are 90 verses that say He puts it on and 41 that say He removes it from the repentant and prevents it for the righteous. David prayed in the psalms for God to keep him from shame and for it be on his enemies instead. Some verses such as in Proverbs don’t say directly that God will put shame on people, but that it is the direct result of their actions. People should be ashamed of their sins (Rom 6:21). God expects it (Jer 6:15, Jer 8:12). God intends for shame to be a motivator to repent, not to run from God. Not being ashamed of sin is a sign or reprobation (Eph 4:19). Once we have repented and have forsaken sin, we don’t have to let shame defeat us anymore. The blood of Christ covers it (1Jn 1:5-2:2). Shame can be a spiritually destructive force when it is not dealt with scripturally. Once we have dealt with shame via the gospel of Jesus Christ (1Cor 15:1-4, Acts 2:38), we can have victory over the rule of sin and shame. We do not have to be ashamed of our Savior, His word, and out testimony of Him (Rom 1:16).
I. Hebrew words
A. Simsa – scornful whispering
1. God puts on – Ex 32:25
2. God takes off - none
B. Kalam – humiliate, confound
1. on – Num 12:14, Ps 49:9, Ps 70:2, Is 41:11, Jer 6:15, Jer 8:12, Jer 22:22, Eze 16:54 & 61,
Eze 36:32, Eze 43:10-11
2. off – Ps 74:21, Is 45:17, Is 50:7. Is 54:4
C. Herpa – disgrace, reproach
1. on – Ps 44:13, Ps 69:7 & 9 & 10 & 19-20, Is 47:3, Jer 23:40, Jer 24:9, Jer 29:18, Jer 42:18,
Jer 44:8 & 12, Jer 49:13, Eze 5:14-15, Eze 22:4, Dan 12:2, Hos 12:14, Mic 6:16
2. off – Gen 30:23, Josh 5:9, 1Sam 25:39, Neh 4:4, Ps 39:8, Ps 119:22 & 39, Is 25:8, Is 51:7,
Is 54:4, Eze 36:15 & 30, Joel 2:19
D. Bset – shame, confusion
1. on – 2Chr 32:21, Ps 132:18, Is 30:3, Jer 7:19
2. off – Is 54:4, Is 61:7, Zeph 3:5 & 19
E. Bus – ashamed, confounded
1. on - 2Ki 19:25-26, Ps 44:7, Ps 53:5, Is 23:4, Is 26:11, Is 65:13, Is 66:5, Jer 2:36, Jer 12:13,
Jer 17:13, Jer 20:11, Jer 22:22, Jer 48:13 & 39, Jer 49:23, Jer 50:12, Jer 51:47, Eze
16:52 & 63, Eze 32:30, Eze 36:32, Joel 1:11, Mic 3:7, Mic 7:16, Zeph 3:11, Zech 9:5,
Zech 13:4
2. off – Gen 2:25, Ps 22:5, Ps 37:19, Is 29:22, Is 45:17, Is 49:23, Is 50:7, Is 54:4, Joel 2:26-
27
F. Haper – blush, be ashamed
1. on – Is 1:29, Is 33:9, Jer 15:9, Jer 50:12, Mic 3:7
2. off – Ps 34:5, Is 54:4
G. Erua – nakedness
1. on – Is 20:4, Is 47:3, Eze 16:37, Eze 23:29
2. off – none
H. Kelimooth – shame, disgrace
1. on – Jer 23:40
2. off – none
I. Basna – shame
1. on – Hos 10:6
2. off – none
II. Greek words
A. Aschyne – shame, dishonesty
1. on - Rev 3:18
2. off – none
B. Entrepo – shame
1. on - 2Thes 3:14
2. off – none
C. Entrope – shame
1. on – 1Cor 6:5, 1Cor 15:34
2. off – none
D. Epaischynomai – be ashamed
1. on – Mk 8:38, Rom 6:21
2. off – Rom 1:16, 2Tim 1:8 & 12, Heb 2:11, Heb 11:16
E. Kataischyno – disgrace, shame
1. on – Lk 13:17, 1Cor 1:27
2. off – Rom 5:5, Rom 9:33, Rom 10:11, 1Pet 2:6
F. Aischyno – disfigure, dishonor, shame
1. on – none
2. off – Phil 1:20, 1Pet 4:16, 1Jn 2:28
G. Anepaischyntos – need not to be ashamed
1. on – none
2. off – 2Tim 2:15