Quick Definition
unintelligent, unwise, undiscerning
Strong's Definition
unintelligent; by implication, wicked
Derivation: from G1 (Α) (as a negative particle) and G4908 (συνετός);
KJV Usage: foolish, without understanding
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἀσύνετος, ἀσύνετον, unintelligent, without understanding: Mat_15:16; Mar_7:18; stupid: Rom_1:21; Rom_10:19. In imitation of the Hebrew πΘαΘμ, ungodly (Wis_1:5; Sir_15:7 f (cf. ἀσυνέτειν, Psalm 118:158 ())), because a wicked man has no mind for the things which make for salvation: Rom_1:31 (others adhere here to the Greek usage; cf. Fritzsche at the passage). (In Greek writings from Herodotus down.) (Cf. σοφός, at the end).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἀσύνετος asynetos 5x
unintelligent, dull, Mat_15:16 ; Mar_7:18 ;
reckless, perverse, Rom_1:21 ; Rom_1:31 ;
unenlightened, heathenish, Rom_10:19
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἀ -σύνετος , -ον
[in LXX : Deu_32:21 ( H5036 ). Job_13:2 ( H5307 ), Psa_92:6 ( H3685 ), Psa_76:5 , Wis_2:1-24 , Sir_6:1-37 * ;]
without understanding or discernment: Mat_15:16 , Mar_7:18 ( Swete , in l ), Rom_1:21 ; Rom_1:31 ; Rom_10:19 (for an ex . of its use in the moral sense, v. MM , s.v. ).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἀσύνετος [page 87]
P Oxy III. 471 .89 (ii/A.D.), ἦν δὲ οὐκ ἀσύνετον , and he was not stupid. Kaibel 225 .3 (near Ephesus) ἀξυνέτων δὲ βουλαῖς ἀνθρώπων τοῦδε ἔτυχον θανάτου : it seems clear that foolish here does not primarily denote lack of brains but moral obliquity.
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
ἀσύνετος "void of understanding, stupid", Hdt. , attic; "not to be understood, unintelligible", Eur.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
ἀ-σύνετος, -ον
[in LXX: Deu.32:21 (נָבָל). Job.13:2 (נָפַל), Psa.92:6 (כְּסִיל), Psa.76:5, Wis.2:1-24, Sir.6:1-37 * ;]
without understanding or discernment: Mat.15:16, Mrk.7:18 (Swete, in l), Rom.1:21, 31 10:19 (for an ex. of its use in the moral sense, see MM, see word).†
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Without understanding (801) asunetos
Without understanding (801) (asunetos from a = without + sunetós = sagacious, discerning) describes the man who is a fool, who cannot learn the lesson of experience, who will not use the mind and brain that God has given to him. This person is without insight or understanding and is descriptive of unredeemed man's heart. This man has an inability to bring together facts and make sense out of them. In context this man has an inability to conclude from the creation there is a Creator. It is the man who is without insight into moral or religious things and thus is so blinded that evil is thought of as good and good as evil.
Asunetos is used 5 times in the NT (Mt 15:16; Mk 7:18; Ro 1:21, 31; 10:1). Jesus asks His disciples "are you still lacking in understanding?" Mt 15:16 (cp identical use in Mk 7:18); of men whose "foolish (asunetos) heart was darkened" Ro 1:21 ; of "a nation (gentiles) without understanding" Ro 10:19.
There are 4 uses of asunetos in the non-apocryphal Septuagint - Deut. 32:21; Job 13:2; Ps. 76:5; 92:6
Haldane adds that without understanding
well expresses the original; for although the persons so described were not destitute of understanding as to the things of this world, but as to these might be the most intelligent and enlightened, yet, in a moral sense, or as respects the things of God, they were unintelligent and stupid. This agrees with the usual signification of the word, and it perfectly coincides with universal experience. All men are by nature undiscerning as to the things of God, and to this there never was an exception. (Haldane, R. An Exposition of Romans) (Bolding added)
UNTRUSTWORTHY: asunthetous: (2Ki 18:14-37; Is 33:8; 2Ti 3:3)
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