κατάκρισις

katákrisis

G2633 noun

SILEX Entry

Root κρίν- to judge, to decide, to separate

Definition

Formal act of pronouncing judgment against someone; specifically, the declaration of a verdict or sentencing that conveys guilt and condemnation. Can refer generally to the act of condemning, but primarily used for official or judicial condemnation delivered as a legal verdict.

Semantic Range

formal condemnation, judicial sentence, pronouncing guilty, act of condemning, adverse verdict

Root / Etymology

From the verb κατακρίνω (to judge against, to condemn), itself from κατά (against, down) and κρίνω (to judge, to separate). Thus, κατακρίσις is a nominal form denoting the act or state of rendering judgment against.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, κατακρίσις is rare, appearing mostly in juridical or rhetorical contexts to denote the act of condemnation or a condemning sentence, especially contrasted with ἀπόφασις (acquittal). Its New Testament use (notably 2 Corinthians 3:9) refers to the function or administration associated with judgment bringing condemnation, particularly in contrast to δικαίωσις (vindication, acquittal). In legal and rhetorical contexts, the term emphasizes not merely disapproval, but an authoritative or binding sentence. English translations often render it as 'condemnation' or 'sentence,' but these may not always capture its juridical formality; it does not merely mean 'blame' but specifically the act of judicial or formal condemnation—the passing of sentence. The noun is closely related to, but distinct from, κατάκριμα (G2631), which often refers more to the result (the state or verdict of condemnation), whereas κατακρίσις emphasizes the act or process itself.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κατακρίνω; sentencing adversely (the act):--condemn(-ation).

Root Family

κατάκρισις (katakrisis) — to judge against, to condemn, to render a verdict

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G2633-01 κατακρίσεως katakriseos N GEN F SG of judicial condemnation 1
G2633-02 κατάκρισιν katakrisin N ACC F SG formal condemnation 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G2633-01 2 Corinthians 3:9 κατακρίσεως katakriseos N GEN F SG of judicial condemnation
G2633-02 2 Corinthians 7:3 κατάκρισιν katakrisin N ACC F SG formal condemnation