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ἐπιτιμάω

epitimáō

G2008 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To express strong disapproval or to censure; to speak critically towards someone or something in order to correct or warn them. In various contexts, ἐπιτιμάω can mean to rebuke, admonish, warn, or reproach, often with the intent of corrective discipline, not merely shaming. In certain uses (especially in the New Testament), it can also mean to issue a directive or command of prohibition—sometimes with authority over illness, spirits, or nature.

Semantic Range

to rebuke, to censure, to admonish, to warn, to reproach, to forbid by authoritative speech, to penalize (rare, technical/legal sense), to silence or command (especially supernatural or impersonal forces)

Root / Etymology

From ἐπί (upon, over) and τιμάω (to value, to honor). The root sense denotes addressing someone with weight or authority—sometimes a negative value, as in censure. Thus, 'to lay a valuation upon' comes to refer to assigning blame or rebuke. The construction is native to Hellenistic Greek and extends a range of meaning from 'to honor' (τιμάω) into its antithesis via the prefix.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἐπιτιμάω often means 'to honor upon,' that is, to show honor by imposing a fine (the 'price' of an offense), or as a technical term for penalizing. In later Hellenistic and Koine Greek, especially in biblical literature, the dominant sense becomes 'to rebuke, to reprimand,' most commonly seen in interpersonal contexts (a teacher rebukes a disciple, a superior censures an inferior, etc.). In the Gospels, ἐπιτιμάω acquires a distinct nuance when addressed to supernatural forces (diseases, unclean spirits, storms), signifying authoritative speech that restrains, silences, or prohibits. As such, the English 'rebuke' only partially captures the sense—particularly when the context is a command to cease or desist. English translations may use 'charge,' 'warn,' or 'command,' but these do not always fully reflect the nuance of corrective or prohibitive speech. The meaning of penalizing via 'fine' is rare in the New Testament but attested in some extrabiblical and Septuagintal occurrences. In summary, the term covers a range of corrective, admonitory, and prohibitive speech acts, always involving the communication of authority, displeasure, or censure.

Translation Consistency

primary "rebuke" 28 occurrences

'Rebuke' best captures the typical and most frequent sense of ἐπιτιμάω in the New Testament — expressing strong disapproval, admonishing or censure with corrective intent — while also naturally covering authoritative prohibitive or commanding uses (e.g., rebuking winds, spirits, or sickness). It is the most common rendering in the P2 set and is a natural, concise English verb that fits the SILEX semantic range.

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

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐπί and τιμάω; to tax upon, i.e. censure or admonish; by implication, forbid:--(straitly) charge, rebuke.

Root Family

ἐπιτιμάω (epitimáō) — to value, to assess, to censure, to rebuke authoritatively

Root τιμ- to value, to honor, to assign worth, to assess

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2008-03 ἐπετίμησεν epetimesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG rebuked he rebuked he rebuked 14
G2008-08 ἐπιτίμησον epitimeson V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG rebuke Rebuke! Rebuke 3
G2008-04 ἐπετίμων epetimon V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL rebuked they were rebuking they were rebuking 3
G2008-09 ἐπιτιμῶν epitimon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG rebuking rebuking rebuking 2
G2008-02 ἐπετίμησαν epetimesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL rebuked they sternly rebuked they sternly rebuked 2
G2008-05 ἐπιτιμᾶν epitiman V PRS ACT INF to rebuke to authoritatively rebuke to rebuke 2
G2008-06 ἐπιτιμήσαι epitimesai V AOR ACT OPT 3P SG rebuke may he rebuke may he rebuke 1
G2008-07 ἐπιτιμήσας epitimesas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG warned having rebuked having rebuked 1
G2008-01 ἐπετίμα epetima V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG he charged was rebuking was rebuking 1

Occurrences in Scripture

29 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2008-03 Matthew 8:26 ἐπετίμησεν epetimesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG rebuked he rebuked he rebuked
G2008-03 Matthew 12:16 ἐπετίμησεν epetimesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG charged he rebuked he rebuked
G2008-05 Matthew 16:22 ἐπιτιμᾶν epitiman V PRS ACT INF to-rebuke to authoritatively rebuke to rebuke
G2008-03 Matthew 17:18 ἐπετίμησεν epetimesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG rebuked he rebuked he rebuked
G2008-02 Matthew 19:13 ἐπετίμησαν epetimesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL rebuked they sternly rebuked they sternly rebuked
G2008-03 Matthew 20:31 ἐπετίμησεν epetimesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG rebuked he rebuked rebuked
G2008-03 Mark 1:25 ἐπετίμησεν epetimesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG rebuked he rebuked he rebuked
G2008-01 Mark 3:12 ἐπετίμα epetima V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG he charged was rebuking was rebuking
G2008-03 Mark 4:39 ἐπετίμησεν epetimesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he rebuked he rebuked he rebuked
G2008-03 Mark 8:30 ἐπετίμησεν epetimesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he charged he rebuked he charged
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