To Spitefully Mistreat (ὑβρίζω)
The Greek verb ὑβρίζω (hybrízō) means to insult, to treat insolently, or to behave arrogantly. It typically conveys actions that involve outrage, abuse, or hubris—excessive pride, arrogance, or self-confidence—toward others, often violating social norms or showing disdain for others through word or deed.
Through one of the parables Jesus told to the Jews, He spoke of a king who gave a wedding for his son. He sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but none of them would come. He again sends them out, but they paid no attention, going about their own business. Some of them, moreover, spitefully mistreated the king’s servants (Matthew 22:1-6). Jesus was referring to the Jews’ rejection of their Messiah—the One God had promised to send. They mistreated the prophets and rejected the word of God. Therefore, God would bring wrath upon those among the Jews who rejected His word and would invite others to the wedding in their place.
The feelings of the Pharisees were hurt when Jesus called them out for their hypocritical ways. They tithed a mint of every herb but neglected justice (Luke 11:42). Jesus pronounced a woe upon them, for they sought the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces, yet they were like unmarked graves that people walked over without knowing—spiritually dead men who did not know God. One of the lawyers listening to Jesus objected, claiming that Jesus was treating them spitefully by saying such things (Luke 11:45). In response, Jesus pronounced a woe against the lawyers as well, for they loaded people with burdens hard to bear, while they themselves did not touch the burdens with one of their fingers (Luke 11:46).
As Jesus and His disciples were on their way to Jerusalem to fulfill what had been written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man, He informed them that He would be delivered over to the Gentiles, to be mocked and spitefully mistreated (Luke 18:31–32). He would die, but God would raise Him from the dead three days later (Luke 18:33). However, the disciples did not understand any of these things, for the sayings were hidden from them. At that time, they had not yet come to understand what the Old Testament Scriptures testified would happen to the Messiah (Luke 18:34).
In Iconium, the Jews who did not believe in the message of the resurrected Christ stirred up the emotions of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. They manipulated the Gentiles and leaders of the city to mistreat Paul and Barnabas so they would have the opportunity to stone them (Acts 14:5).
In Philippi, Paul and Silas were spitefully mistreated by the city’s leaders due to a false accusation brought by the masters of a young girl possessed by a spirit of divination. She had followed Paul and Silas, proclaiming that they were servants of the Most High God who proclaimed a way of salvation. After many days of this, Paul rebuked the demon. When her master realized that she could no longer bring them money, they falsely accused Paul and Silas of stirring up trouble against Rome. Rather than investigating or hearing evidence, the leaders beat them threw them in prison (Acts 16:16–24). When Paul and Silas came to Thessalonica, even after being mistreated in Philippi, they boldly spoke the word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:2).
The expression “to spitefully mistreat” is predominantly used in Scripture in reference to the outrage and abuse directed—especially by the Jews—toward those who spoke the truth, particularly concerning the Messiah and His resurrection.