ὄνειδος

óneidos

G3681 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Insult, reproach, shame; denotes the act or state of being subjected to verbal abuse, public dishonor, or disgrace. The term is regularly used to describe words or actions that bring shame or infamy upon someone, reflecting both external scorn and the resultant loss of social standing. In various contexts, it may refer specifically to a spoken insult or taunt, but generally encompasses broader experiences of humiliation, ignominy, or discredit, whether personal, social, or communal.

Semantic Range

reproach, insult, disgrace, shame, public taunt, ignominy, loss of honor, infamy

Root / Etymology

Related to the verb ὀνειδίζω (to reproach, to insult) and potentially linked with the base of ὄνομα (name), suggesting association with being spoken against or having one's 'name' subjected to scorn. The precise etymology beyond its relation to ὀνειδίζω is uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

ὄνειδος is well attested in classical Greek (e.g., Homer, Herodotus), where it designates the shame or disgrace caused by others' words or deeds, frequently in competitive or honor-shame contexts. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek (including the LXX and New Testament), it retains this core sense of reproach, especially as social or communal disdain. In the Septuagint, ὄνειδος frequently translates Hebrew terms for shame or reproach, conveying the loss of honor before others or before the community. In New Testament usage, the term often denotes the experience of believers facing public disgrace or verbal abuse (e.g., Hebrews 11:26, 'the reproach of the Anointed'). English translations often render ὄνειδος as 'reproach,' 'disgrace,' 'shame,' or 'insult'; however, nuances tied to honor-shame culture and the communal implications of public scorn are sometimes underrepresented in translation. Distinct from λοιδορία (verbal abuse, railing), ὄνειδος is broader, centering on the resultant dishonor and loss of status rather than merely the act of insult.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably akin to the base of ὄνομα; notoriety, i.e. a taunt (disgrace):--reproach.

Root Family

ὄνειδος (oneidos) — reproach, insult, shame, disgrace

Root ὀνειδ- to reproach, to insult, to bring shame

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3681-01 ὄνειδός oneidos N ACC N SG disgrace reproach reproach 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3681-01 Luke 1:25 ὄνειδός oneidos N ACC N SG disgrace reproach reproach