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αἰσχύνη

aischýnē

G152 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A state or feeling of shame, disgrace, or dishonor; the emotion arising from conscious awareness of dishonor or impropriety. In broader contexts, can signify a socially recognized cause of shame or a situation that brings disgrace, including loss of reputation or public standing. In some texts, may denote shameful conduct or an act regarded as improper or dishonorable.

Semantic Range

shame, disgrace, dishonor, sense of shame, public humiliation, cause of disgrace, shameful conduct

Root / Etymology

From αἰσχύνω ('to dishonor, to put to shame, to disgrace'), formed with the feminine abstract noun suffix -η. Direct connection to the verb αἰσχύνομαι ('to feel shame, to be disgraced').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, αἰσχύνη primarily refers to a sense of shame or honor lost (as opposed to ἀτιμία, 'dishonor' as a status) and is often connected with societal expectations, especially regarding acts perceived as dishonorable. In Hellenistic and Koine contexts, including the LXX and NT, the term continues this sense but can emphasize both the inward emotion (shame, embarrassment) and the objective state (disgrace, reproach). Usage often contrasts with concepts such as 'glory' (δόξα) or 'honor' (τιμή), framing αἰσχύνη as their opposite. In the Septuagint, it commonly translates Hebrew בּוּשׁ (bôsh, 'to be put to shame') and related roots, often in covenantal or prophetic contexts concerning national or collective disgrace. In the NT, αἰσχύνη refers both to objective disgrace ('public shame') and to subjective feelings ('feeling of shame'), sometimes with moral or eschatological overtones (e.g., being shamed at the last judgment). Greek and Roman social concepts of shame/honor deeply inform its meaning; thus, the sense may include both internal feeling and external loss of status. Traditional English translations such as 'shame' or 'disgrace' convey much but can miss socio-cultural nuances of honor-shame societies. The word does not narrowly mean only 'dishonesty', and such translation is secondary or contextual at best.

Translation Consistency

primary "shame" 5 occurrences

"Shame" is the most natural, common English word covering the full SILEX range (internal feeling of shame, disgrace, dishonor, and situations causing public humiliation). It appears most frequently in the P2 renderings and is broad enough to cover both personal sense and social disgrace while remaining idiomatic and concise—better than the more formal or narrower alternatives like "disgrace" or "dishonor."

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"disgraces" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from αἰσχύνομαι; shame or disgrace (abstractly or concretely):--dishonesty, shame.

Root Family

αἰσχύνη (aischýnē) — shame, disgrace, dishonor

Root αἰσχυν- to disgrace, to shame, to dishonor

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G152-03 αἰσχύνης aischunes N GEN F SG shame of shame of shame 3
G152-02 αἰσχύνῃ aischune N DAT F SG shame in shame shame 2
G152-01 αἰσχύνας aischunas N ACC F PL shame disgraces disgraces 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G152-03 Luke 14:9 αἰσχύνης aischunes N GEN F SG shame of shame of shame
G152-03 2 Corinthians 4:2 αἰσχύνης aischunes N GEN F SG shame of shame of shame
G152-02 Philippians 3:19 αἰσχύνῃ aischune N DAT F SG shame in shame shame
G152-03 Hebrews 12:2 αἰσχύνης aischunes N GEN F SG shame of shame of shame
G152-01 Jude 1:13 αἰσχύνας aischunas N ACC F PL shame disgraces disgraces
G152-02 Revelation 3:18 αἰσχύνη aischune N NOM F SG shame in shame shame
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