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κύων

kýōn

G2965 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A domestic dog; used primarily for the animal itself, but also as a figurative or pejorative term denoting an impure, despised, or morally degenerate person. While the central sense is the animal, secondary connotations relate to social exclusion, impurity, or insult in specific contexts.

Semantic Range

domestic dog, hound, wild dog; person regarded as impure, outsider, or despised; morally corrupt person; scavenger

Root / Etymology

From the root κυον-, related to classical Greek and Indo-European roots for 'dog' (cf. Latin canis, Sanskrit śván). The word is ancient and well-attested in Greek literature.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, κύων primarily denoted the domestic dog, valued for guarding, hunting, or as a companion, but also sometimes symbolizing greed, shamelessness, or impurity in figurative use. In the Septuagint, κύων translates Hebrew כֶּלֶב (kelev), referring to the literal animal but at times appearing in contexts associated with impurity, idolatry, or outsiders (e.g., Deut 23:18, Phil 3:2). In New Testament and broader Hellenistic usage, κύων is used both literally and pejoratively, often as an epithet for those considered outsiders to the in-group (e.g., 'Gentiles' in Matt 15:26, Phil 3:2; see also Rev 22:15 for a symbolic/pejorative sense). While later Christian tradition equates 'dogs' with the morally impure or with non-adherents, these figurative meanings build upon pre-existing Greco-Roman and Second Temple Jewish uses where dogs were often viewed as unclean, despised, or scavenging animals. The term does not have the positive connotations sometimes found in other ancient cultures. Modern translations often render κύων simply as 'dog,' but this may miss the derogatory and culturally specific nuances, especially in polemical or boundary-marking texts.

Translation Consistency

primary "dog" 5 occurrences

Primary sense is the domestic animal; ‘dog’ is the most natural, neutral English word that covers literal animal uses and common figurative/pejorative senses (e.g., calling someone a dog). Using the base form ‘dog’ allows consistent inflection for number or grammatical form in translation.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary word; a dog ("hound") (literally or figuratively):--dog.

Root Family

κυον- (kýōn) — dog, canine

Root κυον- dog, canine

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2965-02 κύνες kunes N NOM M PL dogs dogs dogs 2
G2965-01 κύνας kunas N ACC M PL dogs dogs dogs 1
G2965-03 κύων kuon N NOM M SG A dog dog dog 1
G2965-04 κυσίν kusin N DAT M PL dogs to dogs dogs 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2965-04 Matthew 7:6 κυσίν kusin N DAT M PL dogs to dogs dogs
G2965-02 Luke 16:21 κύνες kunes N NOM M PL dogs dogs dogs
G2965-01 Philippians 3:2 κύνας kunas N ACC M PL dogs dogs dogs
G2965-03 2 Peter 2:22 κύων kuon N NOM M SG A dog dog dog
G2965-02 Revelation 22:15 κύνες kunes N NOM M PL dogs dogs dogs
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