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ἄκαρπος

ákarpos

G175 predicate adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Lacking fruit or produce; literally, not bearing fruit or crops. Figuratively, ineffective or unproductive, lacking in results, virtue, or good works. The word is used both for physical barrenness (as of trees or plants) and for metaphorical lack of productive outcome (such as a person's actions or the results of teaching).

Semantic Range

not bearing fruit, barren (of land, plants, or women); ineffective, unproductive (of actions, works, or teachings); lacking positive results; morally or spiritually ineffectual

Root / Etymology

Composed of the privative prefix ἀ- (not, without) and καρπός (fruit). Thus, ἄκαρπος means 'fruitless' or 'without fruit.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἄκαρπος primarily means 'fruitless,' referring to trees, land, or plants that do not yield produce. The term appears in Hellenistic and Koine Greek with an expanded figurative sense, denoting lack of productivity, benefit, or moral/spiritual outcome—in other words, a state of ineffectiveness or failure to achieve desired results. In the Septuagint, it occurs in the sense of barren land or infertile women (though infrequently). In the New Testament, ἄκαρπος is commonly used metaphorically: for example, describing people whose actions are morally or spiritually ineffective or teachings that produce no righteous outcome (e.g., Mt 13:22; Eph 5:11; 2 Pet 1:8). Standard English translations as 'unfruitful' or 'barren' capture the literal sense but may obscure the broader application to ineffective works or moral quality in later texts. Related adjectives like ἄγονος (unproductive) focus on childlessness or non-productiveness more narrowly, while ἄκαρπος is broader, covering general inability to yield fruit or desired consequences.

Translation Consistency

primary "fruitless" 4 occurrences

"Fruitless" is a natural, commonly used adjective that covers both the literal sense (not bearing fruit; barren) and the figurative sense (ineffective, unproductive, lacking results). It reads smoothly in English across contexts (plants, land, actions, teaching) and thus best fulfills the consistency and naturalness principles for this Strong's entry.

Alternatives (3 occurrences):
"unfruitful" (3x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from Α (as a negative particle) and καρπός; barren (literally or figuratively):--without fruit, unfruitful.

Root Family

ἄκαρπος (akarpos) — fruit, produce, yield (with privative: without fruit)

Root καρπ- fruit, produce, yield

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G175-04 ἄκαρπος akarpos ADJ.P NOM M SG unfruitful fruitless is fruitless 3
G175-05 ἀκάρπους akarpous ADJ.S ACC M PL unfruitful fruitless ones unfruitful 1
G175-03 ἀκάρποις akarpois ADJ.R DAT N PL unfruitful to fruitless things unfruitful 1
G175-01 ἄκαρπα akarpa ADJ.A NOM N PL fruitless fruitless things fruitless 1
G175-02 ἄκαρποι akarpoi ADJ.P NOM M PL unfruitful fruitless ones unfruitful 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G175-04 Matthew 13:22 ἄκαρπος akarpos ADJ.P NOM M SG unfruitful fruitless is fruitless
G175-04 Mark 4:19 ἄκαρπος akarpos ADJ.P NOM M SG unfruitful fruitless is fruitless
G175-04 1 Corinthians 14:14 ἄκαρπός akarpos ADJ.P NOM M SG unfruitful fruitless is fruitless
G175-03 Ephesians 5:11 ἀκάρποις akarpois ADJ.R DAT N PL unfruitful to fruitless things unfruitful
G175-02 Titus 3:14 ἄκαρποι akarpoi ADJ.P NOM M PL unfruitful fruitless ones unfruitful
G175-05 2 Peter 1:8 ἀκάρπους akarpous ADJ.S ACC M PL unfruitful fruitless ones unfruitful
G175-01 Jude 1:12 ἄκαρπα akarpa ADJ.A NOM N PL fruitless fruitless things fruitless
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