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ἀλαζονεία

alazoneía

G212 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

An attitude or quality of boastful arrogance, characterized by pretentious claims or exaggerated self-importance; an overt display of self-exaltation or vain confidence. In various contexts, can describe the demonstration or speech of one who asserts things beyond reality, especially regarding one's own status or abilities.

Semantic Range

boastful arrogance, vain or pretentious display, empty pride, self-exaltation, haughty self-confidence, ostentatious boasting

Root / Etymology

From ἀλαζών (alazōn), meaning 'boaster' or 'impostor'; formed with the suffix -εία, which denotes a quality, state, or condition. The term ἀλαζών itself is of uncertain further etymology, possibly of pre-Greek origin, and refers to someone who makes false or grandiose claims.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek (5th–4th cent. BCE), ἀλαζονεία describes a character trait of making empty or boastful claims, particularly those designed to impress or deceive others (e.g., Plato, Aristotle). In Hellenistic texts, it retains this association with boastful imposture. In the Septuagint and Jewish-Greek writings, the term is rare but can be used in moral-cultic discourse to warn against hubris or arrogant presumption before God or others. In the New Testament (e.g., 1 John 2:16), ἀλαζονεία denotes a worldly quality of vain pride or haughty self-reliance, distinct from simple boasting (καύχησις), with a sense of presumptuousness that ignores limits or dependency. Standard English translations often render the word as 'pride', 'boasting', or 'arrogance'; however, its range is more specifically aligned with empty pretense and self-inflation, not mere confidence or communal boasting. The term does not always imply verbal boasting—it may refer to an attitude or display as well as speech.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀλαζών; braggadocio, i.e. (by implication) self-confidence:--boasting, pride.

Root Family

ἀλαζονεία (alazoneia) — boastful arrogance, pretentious display, empty pride, self-exaltation

Root ἀλαζον- to boast, to make empty claims, to display pretentiousness

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G212-02 ἀλαζονίαις alazoniais N DAT F PL arrogance to boastful arrogances arrogances 1
G212-01 ἀλαζονία alazonia N NOM F SG pride boastful arrogance boastful arrogance 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G212-02 James 4:16 ἀλαζονίαις alazoniais N DAT F PL arrogance to boastful arrogances arrogances
G212-01 1 John 2:16 ἀλαζονία alazonia N NOM F SG pride boastful arrogance boastful arrogance
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