DENY (כָּחַשׁ, H3950, meaning to deceive, lie [Gen 18:15; Lev 6:3]; מָנַע, H4979, meaning to withhold, refuse [1 Kings 20:7; Prov 30:7] KJV; ἀρνέομαι, G766, meaning to say no, reject, disown [Matt 10:33; Acts 3:13]; ἀπαρνέομαι, G565; this compound word has same meaning as ἀρνέομαι, G766, [Luke 9:23; John 13:38]). The word “deny” is a composite of deeper meanings as can be seen from the various Heb. and Gr. words from which it is tr.

First, there is the concept of denying by lying. Sarah denied/lied that she laughed in Genesis 18:15. In Proverbs 30:9 the writer is concerned lest he come to deny God by lying about his knowledge of God. Peter denied the Lord by lying about his involvement with Jesus (Matt 26:70, 72).

Second, there is the idea of denying by withholding something from someone. The writer is requesting two things in Proverbs 30:7, and he asks that they not be denied/withheld from him before he dies. This same idea is seen in Genesis 30:2 where Jacob is expressing his anger against Rachel in that she feels that Jacob is at fault because she had not yet conceived a child. The attitude of denying oneself (Matt 16:24; Mark 8:34) would come under this second category as well. It is the withholding or the refusing of one’s self-interest and personal ambition in acknowledgement of Jesus Christ.

Third, there is denial by rejecting or disowning someone or something. Many Jews of Jerusalem rejected Jesus as Messiah (Acts 3:13). Joshua established a monument as a reminder to the people that they not disown or reject the God who led them into the Promised Land (Josh 24:26). Job was concerned that he not put his confidence or trust in gold, lest he reject God (Job 31:28).