The word is only used 3 times in the Old Testament, in the King James Version anyway. Twice translated “escheweth” and once “eschewed,” a verb every time.

It’s a translation of a Hebrew verb spelled “sur.” But that verb appears a lot in the Bible, around 300 times in fact! it most often means “to put away.” Or “to depart,” or at times “to remove.”

In English “to eschew” means “to deliberately avoid using” something! The root of the word has evolved from an old German word meaning “shy.” There is also a German verb, “scheuen” meaning “to shun” something. Occasionally I find the word being said to mean “to dread” something.

The point being?

Job the man of God (the Lord’s servant) eschewed evil!

In fact, every time the word is used (again, in the Old Testament) it is located in the Book of Job! Actually, concerning Job, that godly man.

“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and ESCHEWETH evil.” Job 1:1

“And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and ESCHEWETH evil?” Job 1:8

And for a third time in two chapters: “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and ESCHEWETH evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.” Job 2:8

Job was dedicated to avoiding evil (sin) in his life!

He was “afraid” of the stuff!

Simon Peter once uses the word (in English) in his First Letter. “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. Let him ESCHEW evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.” 1st Peter 1:10-11 (The Greek verb is “ekklino,” meaning “not bowing down” to something!)

What a challenge to us today!

To ESCHEW evil!

Paul put it this way: “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1st Thessalonians 5:22

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell