ἀθέμιτος
athemitos
unlawful
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word ἀθέμιτος (athemitos) is defined as "unlawful." This term is used to describe actions or situations that are not in accordance with established rules or regulations. Its primary function is to convey a sense of illegality or impropriety. In the two instances where ἀθέμιτος appears in the Bible, it is used to describe behavior that is considered unacceptable or forbidden. This emphasis on the rule-breaking nature of the actions suggests that the word is used to highlight the severity of the offense. The use of ἀθέμιτος in these contexts underscores the importance of adhering to established norms and codes of conduct. The significance of ἀθέμιτος lies in its ability to convey a sense of moral and social transgression. By labeling certain actions as unlawful, the word ἀθέμιτος serves as a warning against behavior that is considered unacceptable and potentially harmful to individuals and communities.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences across the text
He said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean.
1 Peter 4:3For we have spent enough of our past time doing the desire of the Gentiles, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunken binges, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries.