ἀναίτιος
anaítios
G338 predicate adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Not responsible for wrongdoing, without culpability; primarily meaning innocent or free from blame with respect to a charge or accusation. It denotes someone not liable for penalty or condemnation, particularly in judicial or moral contexts. Used to describe a person or action as lacking the cause or grounds for blame, accusation, or punishment.
Semantic Range
innocent, not responsible, free from blame, guiltless, not liable for punishment, blameless (esp. in legal or religious sense), not chargeable (with a fault), without legal cause
Root / Etymology
From the negative prefix ἀ- (privative, 'not') and αἴτιος ('responsible for, causing'), thus meaning 'not responsible [for a cause or fault]'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἀναίτιος appears in legal and ethical contexts, denoting someone not at fault or not chargeable for a specific action. It is relatively rare but attested from 5th-century BCE literature. In the Septuagint, the term often renders Hebrew terms for innocence or freedom from bloodguilt (see, e.g., Deut 19:10 LXX). In the New Testament (e.g., Matt 12:5,7), it refers to being free from legal or religious guilt, especially as judged by scriptural law or tradition. The English translations 'innocent,' 'blameless,' and 'guiltless' often capture basic meaning but can obscure the nuance of legal responsibility versus moral guilt—the Greek leans more toward 'not legally culpable' or 'not to be held responsible.' Unlike related terms such as ἄμεμπτος (blameless, irreproachable), ἀναίτιος specifically negates legal or causal responsibility, not merely ethical quality.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from Α (as a negative particle) and αἴτιος (in the sense of αἰτία); innocent:--blameless, guiltless.
Root Family
ἀναίτιος (anaitios) — not responsible, free from blame, without culpability
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G338-01 |
ἀναίτιοί | anaitioi | ADJ.P NOM M PL |
blameless | those not responsible | innocent | 1 |
G338-02 |
ἀναιτίους | anaitious | ADJ.S ACC M PL |
innocent | guiltless ones | guiltless ones | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G338-01 |
Matthew 12:5 | ἀναίτιοί | anaitioi | ADJ.P NOM M PL |
blameless | those not responsible | innocent |
G338-02 |
Matthew 12:7 | ἀναιτίους | anaitious | ADJ.S ACC M PL |
innocent | guiltless ones | guiltless ones |