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κακοποιέω

kakopoiéō

G2554 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To do harm, to act with malice, to perform actions that are injurious or morally wrong; in particular, to engage in deeds characterized as evil or contrary to accepted norms. The term can refer generally to inflicting harm upon others, misconduct in civic or social context, or immoral behavior as understood by the surrounding community.

Semantic Range

to injure, to do harm, to commit wrongful acts, to act maliciously, to engage in criminality, to behave as a malefactor

Root / Etymology

From κακοποιός (one who does evil, malefactor), itself derived from κακός ('bad, evil') + ποιέω ('to do, to make'). The verb form emphasizes the action of doing evil rather than the character of the person.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, κακοποιέω appears with the general sense 'to do harm, injure, maltreat.' In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and New Testament, the word often denotes engaging in wrongful or criminal acts, in contrast to actions deemed good or virtuous (cf. ἀγαθοποιέω, 'to do good'). In the New Testament (e.g., 1 Peter 2:12, 14; 3:16, 17), it often appears in legal or social contexts to describe wrongdoing or the accusation of wrongdoing, sometimes specifically of Christians accused by outsiders. English translations often render it as 'do evil,' 'act wickedly,' or 'do wrong,' which captures much but not all of its nuance; the term may refer to both legally defined misdeeds and broader social wrongdoing. It should be contrasted with other terms for evil (e.g., πονηρός, which often carries a broader sense of evil character or intent).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κακοποιός; to be a bad-doer, i.e. (objectively) to injure, or (genitive) to sin:--do(ing) evil.

Root Family

κακοποιέω (kakopoieō) — to do harm, to act wickedly, to do evil

Root κακοποι- to do harm, to act wickedly, to do evil

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2554-01 κακοποιῆσαι kakopoiesai V AOR ACT INF to do evil to do harm to do harm 2
G2554-03 κακοποιοῦντας kakopoiountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL doing evil those doing harm doing evil 1
G2554-02 κακοποιῶν kakopoion V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG does evil of harm-doers does evil 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2554-01 Mark 3:4 κακοποιῆσαι kakopoiesai V AOR ACT INF to do evil to do harm to do harm
G2554-01 Luke 6:9 κακοποιῆσαι kakopoiesai V AOR ACT INF to do harm to do harm to do harm
G2554-03 1 Peter 3:17 κακοποιοῦντας kakopoiountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL doing evil those doing harm doing evil
G2554-02 3 John 1:11 κακοποιῶν kakopoion V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG does evil of harm-doers does evil
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