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κήρυγμα

kḗrygma

G2782 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A public proclamation or announcement; specifically, an official declaration delivered by a herald. In early Christian and New Testament contexts, refers to the message publicly proclaimed—particularly the announcement of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus as Messiah. The term can also denote the content of a formal proclamation, not the act of preaching itself, but what is proclaimed.

Semantic Range

proclamation, announcement by a herald, official declaration, content of public preaching, the central message proclaimed by early followers of Jesus, formal announcement

Root / Etymology

From the verb κηρύσσω (kēryssō), 'to proclaim, announce publicly, act as a herald.' The noun κήρυγμα derives from the root κηρυκ-, carrying the idea of announcement by a herald; suffix -μα forms a noun indicating the result of the action.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, κήρυγμα is used broadly for proclamations or edicts made by an official herald, relating to festival announcements, wars, or legal summonses. In the Septuagint, it occasionally translates Hebrew terms for proclamation or royal decrees. In the New Testament and early Christian literature, κήρυγμα refers most often to the central message about Jesus proclaimed by early followers; this message was considered an authoritative declaration, as opposed to personal speculation or opinion. The word does not denote the act (preaching) itself, but the content—the message publicly declared. English translations sometimes render κήρυγμα as 'preaching' or 'proclamation,' but 'message publicly declared' or 'announcement' would better reflect its precise ancient meaning. Over time, particularly in theological contexts, the term κήρυγμα (kerygma) has also come to refer to the essential core of Christian proclamation (though this is an abstracted, later use not found in most Koine sources).

Translation Consistency

primary "proclamation" 8 occurrences

κήρυγμα is primarily the public announcement or official declaration itself—the message/proclamation. "Proclamation" is the natural, neutral English noun that captures both the formal heralding sense and the central announced message used in NT contexts, and so works consistently for all occurrences.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κηρύσσω; a proclamation (especially of the gospel; by implication, the gospel itself):--preaching.

Root Family

κήρυγμα (kērygma) — proclamation, heralded announcement, official declaration

Root κηρυκ- to proclaim, to announce, to herald

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2782-01 κήρυγμα kerugma N ACC N SG preaching heralded proclamation heralded proclamation 6
G2782-02 κηρύγματι kerugmati N DAT N SG preaching to the proclamation in the proclamation 1
G2782-03 κηρύγματος kerugmatos N GEN N SG message preached of the proclamation proclamation 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2782-01 Matthew 12:41 κήρυγμα kerugma N ACC N SG preaching heralded proclamation heralded proclamation
G2782-01 Luke 11:32 κήρυγμα kerugma N ACC N SG preaching heralded proclamation heralded proclamation
G2782-01 Romans 16:25 κήρυγμα kerugma N ACC N SG preaching heralded proclamation heralded proclamation
G2782-03 1 Corinthians 1:21 κηρύγματος kerugmatos N GEN N SG message preached of the proclamation proclamation
G2782-01 1 Corinthians 2:4 κήρυγμά kerugma N NOM N SG preaching heralded proclamation heralded proclamation
G2782-01 1 Corinthians 15:14 κήρυγμα kerugma N NOM N SG preaching heralded proclamation heralded proclamation
G2782-01 2 Timothy 4:17 κήρυγμα kerugma N NOM N SG preaching heralded proclamation heralded proclamation
G2782-02 Titus 1:3 κηρύγματι kerugmati N DAT N SG preaching to the proclamation in the proclamation
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