2 Timothy 3:3 — Word Study
N1904ἄστοργοι, ἄσπονδοι, διάβολοι, ἀκρατεῖς, ἀνήμεροι, ἀφιλάγαθοι,
BSAunloving,astorgos [without natural affection, hard-hearted] implacable,aspondos△ [implacable, irreconcilable] slanderous,diabolos [false accusers, devilish] without self-control,akratēs△ [intemperate, lacking restraint] savage,anēmeros△ [fierce, savage] without love of good,aphilagathos△ [hating good, hostile to virtue]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| ἄστοργοι, | unloving, | Adjective, nominative, plural |
| ἄσπονδοι, | implacable, | Adjective, nominative, plural |
| διάβολοι, | slanderous, | Adjective, nominative, plural |
| ἀκρατεῖς, | without self-control, | Adjective, nominative, plural |
| ἀνήμεροι, | savage, | Adjective, nominative, plural |
| ἀφιλάγαθοι, | without love of good, | Adjective, nominative, plural |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, |
| KJV | Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, |
| ASV | without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, |
| YLT | without natural affection, implacable, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, not lovers of those who are good, |
| WEB | without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, not lovers of good, |
| BBE | Without natural love, bitter haters, saying evil of others, violent and uncontrolled, hating all good, |
Where they part company is ἄστοργοι — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured as a list of adjectives describing the negative traits of people in the last days.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectἄστοργος
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
4 of 6 occur nowhere else in the New Testament — words chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word in the Greek New Testament, stands 19,867 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 2 Timothy 3:3
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Characteristics of the Last Daysgenerated
2 Timothy 3:3 is part of a passage where Paul warns Timothy about the difficult times that will come in the last days. He describes the people of that time as exhibiting various negative traits, including being unloving, unforgiving, and slanderous. This description serves as a caution for believers to be aware of the moral challenges that will arise in society, emphasizing the need for discernment and faithfulness amidst such conditions.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew 10:21 | Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. |
| 2 | Romans 1:31 | They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. |
| 3 | 2 Samuel 21:1–3 | During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.” |
| 4 | Psalm 15:4 | who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath, |
| 5 | Ezekiel 17:15–19 | But this king rebelled against Babylon by sending his envoys to Egypt to ask for horses and a large army. Will he flourish? Will the one who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and yet escape?’ |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 26 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — ἄστοργοι, astorgosgenerated
The Greek word ἄστοργος (*astorgos*) is an adjective meaning 'unloving' or 'without natural affection.' It combines a negative particle with a root related to familial love, indicating a lack of affection, particularly towards family members. In this context, it describes individuals who are hard-hearted and unfeeling.
This term appears in both Romans 1:31 and 2 Timothy 3:3, where it highlights a significant moral failing in society. The parsing as nominative plural masculine indicates it describes a group of people characterized by this trait.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the verse uses the term unloving, which is also found in the New English Translation. Other translations like the KJV and ASV use without natural affection to convey the same idea.
The translations differ primarily in how they render the Greek word ἄστοργοι. While the BSB and NETB choose 'unloving', the KJV and ASV opt for 'without natural affection'.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb in this verse is ἔσονται, meaning 'they will be'. It governs the entire sentence, which lists the negative traits that characterize people in the last days.
The structure includes a series of adjectives that describe the subject, creating a comprehensive list of traits. This construction emphasizes the severity and breadth of the moral decline.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In 2 Timothy 3:3, the word διάβολοι (diaboloi), translated as 'slanderous,' appears in the Septuagint (LXX) in a context that aligns with the Hebrew word שָׁטָן (śāṭān), meaning 'adversary' or 'Satan.' This connection emphasizes the malicious and adversarial nature of those described in the verse, reflecting a broader theme of opposition and hostility.
The choice of διάβολος in the LXX conveys a sense of active slander and accusation, resonating with the Hebrew concept of an adversary who opposes and accuses, thus deepening the moral implications of the behaviors listed in this passage.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
2 Timothy 3:3 describes people in the last days as unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, and without love of good. These traits highlight a significant moral decline, warning believers to be aware of such behaviors in society.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To be 'unloving' refers to a lack of natural affection, particularly towards family and close relationships, indicating a hard-heartedness.
Paul lists these traits to warn Timothy and the church about the moral challenges they will face in the last days, encouraging them to remain steadfast in their faith.
This verse serves as a reminder to be vigilant against similar negative traits in ourselves and society, and to cultivate love and compassion.
Being 'without self-control' indicates a lack of restraint over one's desires and impulses, leading to destructive behaviors.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some ways I can demonstrate love and compassion in a world that often lacks these qualities?
- How can I guard against becoming desensitized to the negative traits described in this passage?
- In what areas of my life do I struggle with self-control, and how can I seek help in those areas?
- What practical steps can I take to promote goodness and virtue in my community?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Basil of Caesarea and the Apostolic Constitutions reference this verse to discuss the dangers of moral decline and the traits of apostasy.
The apostle also showed how much incontinency is to be dreaded by including it among the signs of apostasy, when he said, “In the last days shall come dangerous times.Early Church Fathers on 2 Timothy 3 →
Wherefore henceforward it will be free from blame and reproach, and become clear of such wicked, deceitful, abusive, unmerciful, traitorous persons; of such as are "haters of those that are good, lovers of pleasure"Early Church Fathers on 2 Timothy 3 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 2 Timothy 3:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWithout natural affection,.... To parents, or children, or wife; parents thrusting their children into religious houses, cloisters, c.
Read John Gill on 2 Timothy 3 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWithout natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Without natural affection , [ astorgoi (G794)] - love between parents and children, and similar relationships.
Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Timothy 3 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWithout natural affection; having no kindness for such as nature obligeth them to love and honour. Truce-breakers; men that will be held by no bonds or leagues. Or rather, implacable; so we translate the same Greek word, ; men so full of malice that they will admit no terms or covenants of peace. False accusers; Greek, devils, venting their malice by informing against and accusing others, without any regard to truth. Incontinent; intemperate, drunkards, gluttons, unclean persons, &c. Fierce; men without any gentleness, cruel. Despisers of those that are good; men that have no kindness for any good men, haters of them.
Read Matthew Poole on 2 Timothy 3 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Ver. 3. Without natural affection, &c.] True Christians live soberly, as touching themselves, righteously toward men, and godly towards their God, Titus 2:12. But these antipodes are, as touching themselves, self-lovers, silver lovers, pleasure mongers, incontinent, boasters, proud, heady, high minded. As for their carriage towards others, they are blasphemers, disobedient to parents, without natural affection, truce breakers, or irreconcileable, ασπονδοι, false accusers, or devils, fierce or savage, despisers of those that are good, traitors, &c. And as to God, they are not…
Read John Trapp on 2 Timothy 3 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(3) Without natural affection.—Careless and regardless of the welfare of those connected with them by ties of blood. Trucebreakers.—Better rendered, implacable.False-accusers.—Or, slanderers. (See 1 Timothy 3:11.) Incontinent.—Having no control over the passions. Fierce.—Inhuman, savage, or merciless. Despisers of those that are good.—Better rendered, no lovers of good—that is, hostile to every good thought and work.
Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Timothy 3 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 3. Without natural affection] αστοργοι. Without that affection which parents bear to their young, and which the young bear to their parents. An affection which is common to every class of animals; consequently, men without it are worse than brutes. Truce-breakers] ασπονδοι. From α, negative, and σπονδη, a libation, because in making treaties libations both of blood and wine were poured out. The word means those who are bound by no promise, held by no engagement, obliged by no oath; persons who readily promise any thing, because they never intend to perform. False accusers] διαβολοι. Devils; but properly enough rendered false accusers, for this is a principal work of the devil.…
Read AdamClarke on 2 Timothy 3 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges3. without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers] Or, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, another triad which starts from another breach of the same fifth commandment, the rending of the family ties of love, and advances to a breach of the sixth commandment in a refusal to make peace, and further of the ninth commandment in calumnious attacks and slanders. The threefold contrary spirit is in the same Sermon on the Mount, Luke 6:27, ‘love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, bless them that curse you.’ The word for ‘unloving’ occurs only in Romans 1:31, the other similarities of which seem to suggest that St Paul may have it in his mind, and be sadly tracing the decline and…
Read Cambridge on 2 Timothy 3 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleWithout natural affection - see the notes at Romans 1:31. Trucebreakers - The same word in Romans 1:31, is rendered “implacable;” see the notes at that verse.
Read Albert Barnes on 2 Timothy 3 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good,
without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, not lovers of good,
unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good,
unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good,
Tyndale line
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good,
without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good,
Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Without naturall affection, truce breakers, false accusers, intemperate, fierce, no louers at all of them which are good,
Strictly literal
without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, of unsubdued passions, savage, having no love for what is good,
without natural affection, implacable, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, not lovers of those who are good,
without natural affection, implacable, false accusers, without control, barbaric, not lovers of those who are good,
They will be without natural affection, unable to reconcile, slanderers, without self-control, violent, not lovers of good.
From the Latin
Without affection, without peace, slanderers, incontinent, unmerciful, without kindness,
Simplified
Heartless and unforgiving, they'll commit slander and have no self-control. Brutal people who hate what's good,
Without natural love, bitter haters, saying evil of others, violent and uncontrolled, hating all good,
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the Nestle 1904 treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The earliest translations — Latin and Syriac
Every translation is an argument about meaning made by someone who had to commit to one. These two were made while the Greek was still a living language, and they are the oldest opinions we have about what this verse says.
sine affectione, sine pace, criminatores, incontinentes, immites, sine benignitate,
Jerome revised the Old Latin against the Greek from AD 382; the Latin west read this text for a thousand years.
ܐܟܠܝ ܩܪܨܐ ܡܫܥܒܕܝ ܠܪܓܬܐ ܒܥܪܝܪܝܐ ܣܢܝܝ ܛܒܬܐ
The Bible of the Syriac-speaking church, in the language nearest to the Aramaic Jesus spoke.
Shown verse by verse rather than word by word: aligning a Greek word to its Latin or Syriac counterpart automatically would be guesswork, and a wrong alignment is worse than none.
The Greek editions compared — what the manuscripts actually say
Eight printed editions of the Greek New Testament, side by side. Where they agree the wording is settled; where a word is missing from an edition it is marked, so you can see the difference rather than take it on trust.
ἄστοργοι, ἄσπονδοι, διάβολοι, ἀκρατεῖς, ἀνήμεροι, ἀφιλάγαθοι,
The standard critical text of the New Testament.
ἄστοργοι, ἄσπονδοι, διάβολοι, ἀκρατεῖς, ἀνήμεροι, ἀφιλάγαθοι,
The previous edition, still widely cited.
ἄστοργοι, ἄσπονδοι, διάβολοι, ἀκρατεῖς, ἀνήμεροι, ἀφιλάγαθοι,
The Society of Biblical Literature edition, freely licensed.
ἄστοργοι, ἄσπονδοι, διάβολοι, ἀκρατεῖς, ἀνήμεροι, ἀφιλάγαθοι,
The edition that turned scholarship toward the earliest manuscripts.
ἄστοργοι, ἄσπονδοι, διάβολοι, ἀκρατεῖς, ἀνήμεροι, ἀφιλάγαθοι,
An independent critical text built from the oldest witnesses then known.
ἄστοργοι, ἄσπονδοι, διάβολοι, ἀκρατεῖς, ἀνήμεροι, ἀφιλάγαθοι,
A recent critical edition following documentary evidence closely.
ἄστοργοι, ἄσπονδοι, διάβολοι, ἀκρατεῖς, ἀνήμεροι, ἀφιλάγαθοι,
The reading of the majority of surviving manuscripts.
ἄστοργοι, ἄσπονδοι, διάβολοι, ἀκρατεῖς, ἀνήμεροι, ἀφιλάγαθοι,
The printed tradition behind the King James Version.
A witness that read differently would show its variant word here, marked.
Word by word, across the editions
Every edition agrees. All 8 printed editions — Nestle-Aland 28, Nestle-Aland 27, SBLGNT, Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Tyndale House 2017, Textus Receptus (KJV), Byzantine majority — carry every word of this verse, in the same order, with no difference that any translator would render differently.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Greek New Testament — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 2 Timothy 3:3
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Greek lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. Imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, the full Liddell-Scott-Jones, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate LSJ, Robinson and Packard on the Greek, Webster and Cawdrey on the English the translators were using. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Greek word ἄστοργος (i.e., *astorgos*) means 'without natural affection' or 'unloving.' It is built from a negative particle and a root related to familial love. The term appears in Romans 1:31 and 2 Timothy 3:3, where it describes a lack of affection towards kindred. Various lexicons note its use in classical literature, indicating a broader range of meanings related to heartlessness.
* ἄστοργος, -ον
(< στοργή, family affection, love of kindred, v.s. ἀγάπη),
without natural affection: Ro 1:31, II Ti 3:3 (MM, s.v.).†
ἄστοργος, -ov, (στοργή love of kindred), without natural affection: Ro. i. 31; 2 Tim. iii. 3. (Aeschin., Theocr., Plut., al.)
ἄστοργος. Kaibel τ465 (iii/iv A.D.) ἀστόργου μοῖρα κίχεν θανάτου : the epitaph is among the Elgin marbles. In 20. 102844 (Andros, hymn to Isis, iv/A.D.), it means ‘‘amorem non expertus.” Στοργή is found in Chest. 11. 3619 (A.D. 360) εὐνοίας Kal στοργῆς ἔτι Te καὶ ὑπηρεσίας.
ἄστοργος (astorgos) — unfeeling.
ἄστοργ-ος, ον,
without natural affection, ἄστοργος ψυχήν[Refs 4th c.BC+]the heartless one, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἄ. θάνατος cruel, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
2. without attraction, [Refs 1st c.AD+]:—also ἀστόργης (sic) [Refs]
ἄστοργος
astorgos
from 1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of
stergo (to cherish affectionately); hard-hearted towards
kindred:--without natural affection.
see GREEK for 1
ἄστοργος, ον
Adj
unloving, devoid of affection
ἄστοργος astorgos 2x
devoid of natural or instinctive affection, without affection to kindred, Rom. 1:31; 2 Tim. 3:3*
ἄστοργος στοργή without natural affection, Aeschin.; ὥστοργος (i. e. ὁ ἄστ.) the heartless one, Theocr.
Adj-NPM — Adjective · nominative · plural · masculinenominative — the one doing it — the subject.
Agrees with anything else marked plural masculine.
A-NPM Part of Speech: Adjective Case: Nominative Number: Plural Gender: Masculine
2 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 2 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.
← what comes before
what comes after →
branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path
The Greek word ἄσπονδος (aspondos) is built from a negative particle and a term for a libation, indicating a lack of treaty or truce. It covers meanings such as implacable and irreconcilable, often used in contexts of conflict or hostility. The New Testament references it in 2 Timothy 3:3, where it describes certain negative traits.
* ἄσπονδος, -ον
(< σπονδή, a libation);
without truce (Thuc.).
admitting of no truce, implacable (Dem., al.): II Ti 3:3.†
ἄσπονδος, -ov, (σπονδή a libation, which, as a kind of sacrifice, accompanied the making of treaties and compacts; cf. Lat. spondere) ; [fr. Thue. down]; 1. without a treaty or covenant; of things not mutually agreed upon, e. g. abstinence from hostilities, Thue. 1, 37, ete. 2. that cannot be persuaded to enter into a covenant, implacable, (in this sense fr. Aeschyl. down; esp. in the phrase ἄσπονδος πόλεμος, Dem. pro cor. p. 314, 16; Polyb. 1, 65, 6; [Philo de sacrif. §4]; Οἷς. ad Att. 9, 10, 5; [ef. Trench § lii.]): joined with ἄστοργος, Ro. i. 31 Rec.; 2 Tim. iii. 3.
ἄσπονδος (aspondos) — irreconcilable.
ἄσπονδ-ος, ον,
without σπονδή or drink-offering: hence,
I. of a god, to whom no drink-offering is poured, ἄ. θεός, i.e. death, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. without a regular truce (ratified by σπονδαί), ἀνοκωχή[Refs 5th c.BC+]; of persons, without making a truce, ἄ. ἀπιέναι[Refs]; ἀσπόνδους τοὺς νεκροὺς ἀνελέσθαι take up their dead without leave asked, [Refs]; τὸ εὐπρεπὲς ἄσπονδον the specious plea of neutrality, [Refs]
II.2. admitting of no truce, implacable, ἄσπονδόν τ᾽ Ἄρη (ἀράν codices) [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of persons, implacable, [NT]. adverb -δως, ἔχειν[Refs 1st c.AD+]
ἄσπονδος
aspondos
from 1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of 4689; literally,
without libation (which usually accompanied a treaty), i.e. (by
implication) truceless:--implacable, truce-breaker.
see GREEK for 1
see GREEK for 4689
ἄσπονδος, ον
Adj
implacable
ἄσπονδος aspondos 1x
pr. unwilling to make a treaty; hence, implacable, irreconcilable, 2 Tim. 3:3*
ἄσπονδος σπονδή without drink-offering, of a god, to whom no drink-offering is poured, ἄσπ. θεός i. e. death, Eur.
without a regular truce (which was ratified by σπονδαί), Thuc.; ἀσπόνδους τοὺς νεκροὺς ἀνελέσθαι to take up their dead without leave asked, id. Thuc.; τὸ ἄσπονδον a keeping out of treaty or covenant with others, neutrality, id. Thuc.
admitting of no truce, implacable, deadly, Lat. internecinus, of war, Aesch., Dem.
Adj-NPM — Adjective · nominative · plural · masculinenominative — the one doing it — the subject.
Agrees with anything else marked plural masculine.
A-NPM Part of Speech: Adjective Case: Nominative Number: Plural Gender: Masculine
2 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 1 different way. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.
ἡ δ’ ἅπαξ διαζευχθεῖσα καὶ διοικισθεῖσα ὡς ἄσπονδος μέχρι τοῦ παντὸς αἰῶνος ἐκτετόξευται, εἰς τὸν ἀρχαῖον οἶκον ἐπανελθεῖν ἀδυνατοῦσα.
διάβολος is derived from διαβάλλω, meaning slanderous or accusing falsely. It refers to a slanderer or the Devil, particularly in the New Testament, where it is used to denote Satan as the accuser of humanity. Key verses include Matthew 4:1 and 1 Timothy 3:11. The lexicons consistently identify it with the concept of false accusation and malevolence.
διάβολος, -ov, (διαβάλλω, q. ν.); prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely, (Arstph., Andoc., Plut., al.): 1 Tim. iii. 11; 2 Tim. iii. 3; Tit. ii. 3; as subst. ὁ διάβολος, a calumniator, false accuser, slanderer, [see κατηγορέω. fin.], (Xen. Ages. 11, 5; [Aristot., al.]): Sept. Esth. vii. 4; viii. 1. In the Bible and in eccl. writ. ὁ διάβολος [also διάβ. without the art.; cf. W. 124 (118); B. 89 (78)] is applied κατ᾽ ἐξοχήν to the one called in Hebr. jOwn, ὁ σατανᾶς (q. v.), viz. Satan, the prince of demons, the author of evil, persecuting good men (Jobi.; Zech. iii. 1 sqq., cf. Rev. xii. 10), estranging mankind from God and enticing them to sin, and afflicting them with diseases by means of demons who take possession of their bodies at his bidding; the malignant enemy of God and the Messiah: Mt. iv. 1, 5, [8, 11]; xiii. 39; xxv. 41; Lk. iv. 2, [3, 5 RL, 6, 13]; viii. 12; Jn.…
Read the full entry →διάβολος (diabolos) — devilish/the Devil.
διάβολ-ος, ον,
slanderous, backbiting, γραῦς [Refs 4th c.BC+]: superlative -ώτατος[Refs 5th c.BC+]; διάβολόν τι, aliquid invidiae, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. substantive, slanderer, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; enemy, [LXX]: hence, = Sâtân,[Refs]; the Devil, [NT]
III. adverb -λως injuriously, invidiously, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
διάβολος
diabolos
from 1225; a traducer; specially, Satan (compare 7854):--false
accuser, devil, slanderer.
see GREEK for 1225
see HEBREW for 07854
διάβολος, ον
Adj
slanderous, the Slanderer, the Devil
διάβολος diabolos 37x
slanderer, 1 Tim. 3:11; 2 Tim. 3:3; Tit. 2:3; a treacherous informer, traitor, Jn. 6:70; ὁ διάβολος, the devil
διάβολος διάβολος, ον slanderous, backbiting, Sup.; διαβολώτατος Ar.
as Subst. a slanderer, Arist.: the slanderer, the Devil, NTest.
adv. -λως, injuriously, invidiously, Thuc.
Adj-NPM — Adjective · nominative · plural · masculinenominative — the one doing it — the subject.
Agrees with anything else marked plural masculine.
A-NPM Part of Speech: Adjective Case: Nominative Number: Plural Gender: Masculine
38 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 3 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.
Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 37 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.
← what comes before
what comes after →
branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path
Counted over the 15 Old Testament verses where this Greek word stands: which Hebrew word keeps standing there too. A correspondence of verses rather than a word-by-word alignment, so read the percentage as strength of evidence, not as a claim about any single verse.
καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸς πανθαμαρτωλὸς ὢν καὶ μήπω φυγὼν τὸν πειρασμόν, ἀλλ̓ ἔτι ὢν ἐν μέσοις τοῖς ὀργάνοις τοῦ διαβόλου σπουδάζω τὴν δικαιοσύνην διώκειν, ὅπως ἰσχύσω κἂν ἐγγὺς αὐτῆς γενέσθαι, φοβούμενος τὴν κρίσιν τὴν μέλλουσαν.
τοῖς οὖν κληθεῖσι πρὸ τούτων τῶν ἡμερῶν ἔθηκεν ὁ κύριος μετάνοιαν: καρδιογνώστης γὰρ ὢν ὁ κύριος καὶ πάντα προγινώσκων ἔγνω τὴν ἀσθένειαν τῶν ἀνθρώπων καὶ τὴν πολυπλοκίαν τοῦ διαβόλου, ὅτι ποιήσει τι κακὸν τοῖς δούλοις τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ πονηρεύσεται εἰς…
ἀδελφοὶ αὐτῶν εὑρεθῶμεν τῇ ἐπιεικείᾳ: μιμηταὶ δὲ τοῦ κυρίου σπουδάζωμεν εἶναι, τίς πλέον ἀδικηθῇ, τίς ἀποστερηθῇ, τίς ἀθετηθῇ: ἵνα μὴ τοῦ διαβόλου βοτάνη τις εὑρεθῇ ἐν ὑμῖν, ἀλλ̓ ἐν πάσῃ ἁγνείᾳ καὶ σωφροσύνῃ μένητε ἐν Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ σαρκικῶς καὶ…
οἶδα μὲν ἀεὶ ὅτι διὰ τῶν ἁγίων σου εὐχῶν σωθήσομαι ἀπὸ παντὸς πειρατηρίου τοῦ διαβόλου καὶ ἀπὸ πάσης ἐπιβουλίας ἀνθρώπων, καὶ νῦν παρακαλῶ ὅπως μνημονεύσῃς μου ἐν ταῖς ἁγίαις
θην μάλα εὐχαριστήσας τῷ πανελεήμονι θεῷ ἐ … εργι πάντοτε τὸν διάβολον. τὴν εὐλογίαν, ἣν ἀπέστειλεν ἡ σὴ ἁγιότης διὰ τῶν σῶν παίδων, τὰ τῆς πανηγυρήσεως,
πρεσβείας τῶν ὁσίων ὑμῶν εὐχῶν ὅπως ῥυσθῶ παρὰ τοῦ Κρείττονος … πατ … τοῦ διαβόλου … ε μεῖζον πάντων προσκυνῶ καὶ ἀσπάζομαι ἐκθύμως τὴν ὑμετέραν πατρικὴν διάθεσιν μετὰ τῶν
The Greek word ἀκρατής (i.e., *akrates*) is built from the negative prefix and the root for power, meaning 'powerless' or 'without self-control.' It covers a range of meanings including moral weakness, intemperance, and lack of command over oneself or one's passions. The New Testament references it in 2 Timothy 3:3, where it describes a lack of self-control.
ἀκρατής, -ές
(< κράτος),
[in LXX: Pr 27:20*;]
powerless, impotent;
in moral sense, lacking self-control, incontinent: II Ti 3:3.†
ἀκρατής, -€s, Zen. -€os, -οῦς, (κράτος), without self-control, intemperate: 2 Tim. iii. 3. (Freq. in prof. writ. fr. Plato and Xen. down.)
ἀκρατής same papyrus shows us the participial object clause, 1. ¥* ἀκούσαντες δὲ ἐν TO μεγάλω Σαραπιείου ὄντα oe. In P Amb IT. 378 (ii/B.c.) ἐκούομεν δὲ μὴ παραγεγονέϊναι . . . we have apparently the infin. construction, and so in P Grenf II. 36% (8.6. 95), ἠκούσαμεν τὸν μῦν καταβεBpwxévat τὸν omdpov—Witkowski (? p. 120, cf. p. xiv.) allows the writer to be ‘‘ modice eruditus.” For ἀκούειν ὡς cf. CPHerm 225: for the commoner ὅτι, P Tebt II. 4168 (iii/A.D.) μὴ οὖν ἀκούσῃς ἀνθρώπων ὅτι μέλλω μένιν ἐνθάδε. With the introductory imper., asin Mk 45, cf. the dialogue in P Ryl II. 63% (iii/a.p.) where ἄκουε precedes an exposition.
ἀκρατής (akratēs) — intemperate.
ἀκρατ-ής, ές,
(κράτος) powerless, impotent, γῆρας[Refs 5th c.BC+] of paralysed limbs, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
2. in Law, invalid, πρῆσις[Refs]
II. with genitive of things, not having power or command over a thing, γλώσσης[Refs 4th c.BC+]; φωνῆς, παντὸς τοῦ σώματος, ἑωυτοῦ, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀ. τῶν χειρῶν, of persons with their hands tied, [Refs 1st c.BC+]; intemperate in the use of a thing, ἀφροδισίων, οἴνου, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀ. κέρδους, τιμῆς intemperate in pursuit of them, [Refs 4th c.BC+]infinitive, ἀ. εἴργεσθαί τινος unable to refrain from.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]adverb -τῶς, Ionic dialect -τέως, διακεῖσθαι[Refs 5th c.BC+]
ἀκρατής
akrates
from 1 (as a negative particle) and 2904; powerless, i.e. without
self-control:--incontinent.
see GREEK for 1
see GREEK for 2904
ἀκρατής, ές
Adj
lacking self-control, inclined to excess
ἀκρατής akratēs 1x
without self-control, intemperate, 2 Tim. 3:3
ἀκρατής a_priv, κράτος powerless, impotent, Soph.
c. gen. rei, not having power or command over a thing, Lat. impotens, γλώσσης Aesch.; ὀργῆς Thuc.:—also, intemperate in the use of a thing, οἴνου Xen., Arist.; περὶ τὰ πόματα id. Arist.
absol. without command over oneself, incontinent, Lat. impotens sui, id. Arist.
of things, immoderate, δαπάνη Anth.
Adj-NPM — Adjective · nominative · plural · masculinenominative — the one doing it — the subject.
Agrees with anything else marked plural masculine.
A-NPM Part of Speech: Adjective Case: Nominative Number: Plural Gender: Masculine
1 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 1 different way. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.
τὴν οὖν πηρὰν αἴσθησιν τῆς τῶν πραγμάτων ἀντιλήψεως ἐξηπάτηκεν, εἴ γε δυναμένην ἐπὶ νοῦν τρέπεσθαι καὶ ἡνιοχεῖσθαι ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ κεκώλυκεν, ἐπὶ τὸ ἐκτὸς αἰσθητὸν ἀγαγοῦσα καὶ λίχνον αὐτὴν ἀπεργασαμένη τοῦ ἑαυτῆς ποιητικοῦ, ἵνα ἡ μὲν αἴσθησις πηρὸς οὖσα…
ἦν δὲ ἀκρατὴς ἐν τῷ λόγῳ καὶ κρίσεως ὀργιλαίτερος, καὶ τέλος οὕτως ἔχοντα γινώσκοντες αὐτὸν οἱ παρόντες θάνατον αὐτῆς κατεψηφίσαντο.
The Greek word ἀνήμερος (anēmeros) is built from the negative prefix ἀ- and ἥμερος (tame). It means not tame, wild, or savage, and is used to describe fierce behavior in both people and countries. The New Testament references it in 2 Timothy 3:3, where it characterizes certain individuals.
ἀν-ήμερος, -ov (a priv. and ἥμερος). not tame, savage, fierce: 2 Tim. iii. 3. (In Grk. writ. fr. [Anaecr. 1, 7] Aeschyl. down.)
ἀνήμερος. A good example of this NT ἅπ. εἰρ. (2 Tim 38) is afforded by Epictetus’ description (I. iii. 7) of those who forget their divine origin as like to lions—@ypior kal θηριώδεις καὶ ἀνήμεροι
ἀνήμερος (anēmeros) — brutal.
ἀνήμερ-ος, ον,
not tame, wild, savage, of persons, πολιήτας[NT+6th c.BC+]; of a country, [Refs 5th c.BC+] W., compare p.85: superlative, [Refs 4th c.BC+]. adverb -ρως, ἀ. τισὶ χρήσασθαι[Refs 1st c.BC+]
ἀνήμερος
anemeros
from 1 (as a negative particle) and hemeros (lame); savage:--fierce.
see GREEK for 1
ἀνήμερος, ον
Adj
not tame, fierce
ἀνήμερος anēmeros 1x
savage, fierce, ferocious, 2 Tim. 3:3*
ἀνήμερος not tame, wild, savage, of persons and countries, Aesch.
Adj-NPM — Adjective · nominative · plural · masculinenominative — the one doing it — the subject.
Agrees with anything else marked plural masculine.
A-NPM Part of Speech: Adjective Case: Nominative Number: Plural Gender: Masculine
1 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 1 different way. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.
The Greek word ἀφιλάγαθος (*aphilagathos*) is built from a negative particle and a root meaning 'good.' It describes someone who is not loving or is hostile to what is good, as seen in 2 Timothy 3:3. The term appears rarely in Greek literature, primarily in the New Testament and some ancient texts.
*† ἀ-φιλ-άγαθος, -ον,
without love of good: II Ti 3:3 (not elsewhere in Gk. lit., but v. MM, s.v.).†
ἀφιλάγαθος. in P Oxy I. 33} 18 (ii/a.p.) (= Chrest 1. 20) a certain Apfianus charges the Emperor Marcus Aurelius (?) with τυραννία ἀφιλοκαγαθία ἀπαιδία (presumably ἀπαιδευσία), after extolling his deified father as φιλόσοφος, ἀφιλάργυρος, and φιλάγαθος. Vettius Valens has the negative of a similar compound ἀφιλόκαλος, also found in Plutarch. Nageli (p. 52) cites from an inscr, of ii/iii A.D. (Tanais) the strengthened compound παραφιλάγαθος.
ἀφιλάγαθος (aphilagathos) — hating good.
ἀφῐλ-άγᾰθος [ᾰγ], ον,
notloving the good, [NT]
ἀφιλάγαθος
aphilagathos
from 1 (as a negative particle) and 5358; hostile to virtue:--despiser
of those that are good.
see GREEK for 1
see GREEK for 5358
ἀφιλάγαθος, ον
Adj
not loving that which is good
ἀφιλάγαθος aphilagathos 1x
not a lover of good and good men, 2 Tim. 3:3*
ἀφιλάγαθος not loving the good, NTest.
Adj-NPM — Adjective · nominative · plural · masculinenominative — the one doing it — the subject.
Agrees with anything else marked plural masculine.
A-NPM Part of Speech: Adjective Case: Nominative Number: Plural Gender: Masculine
good (Tobh, Tubh, yaTabh; agathos, agathon, kalos, kalon): In English "good" is used in various senses, most of which are represented in the Bible.
(1) In the Old Testament the commonest word is Tobh, occurring very frequently and translated in a great variety of ways. Of the different shades of meaning, which frequently run into each other, the following may be distinguished:
(a) Possessing desirable qualities, beneficial, agreeable, e.g. "good for food" (Ge 2:9); "We will do thee good" (Nu 10:29); Who will show us any good?" (Ps 4:6); "good tidings of good" (Isa 52:7).
1 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 1 different way. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.