πονηρότερος
ponēróteros
G4191 attributive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Comparative form of 'evil' or 'morally bad'; conveying the sense of 'more evil', 'more morally corrupt', or 'more harmful' than another person, act, or thing. Used comparatively to indicate a heightened degree of moral wrongdoing, depravity, or malevolent intent.
Semantic Range
more evil, more morally corrupt, more harmful, more depraved, of greater moral wrongdoing or harmfulness
Root / Etymology
Formed from πονηρός (ponēros, 'evil, morally wicked, harmful') with the comparative suffix -τερος (-teros), indicating comparison. Ultimately from the root πονηρ- related to toil, pain, or harm.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The word πονηρότερος occurs rarely, as the comparative of πονηρός, which itself is widely attested in classical, Hellenistic, and Koine Greek literature with a broad range of negative senses including 'evil', 'worthless', 'morally corrupt', and 'causing trouble or harm'. The comparative form is used when contrasting degrees of evilness, typically in moral, ethical, or behavioral evaluations. In later Greek and Christian writings, the term continued to denote moral evil with increasing focus on internal corruption as opposed to external harm. Standard English translations, such as 'more wicked', capture the basic comparative sense but may not fully reflect the term's broader connotations of harmfulness and negative quality beyond moral evil. The word should be distinguished from terms such as κακός (kakos), which can indicate general badness or incompetence, and κακουργός (kakourgos), which implies criminal behavior.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
comparative of πονηρός; more evil:--more wicked.
Root Family
πονηρ- (ponēría) — evil, wickedness, maliciousness, active moral corruption
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G4189 | πονηρία | in wickedness |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4191-01 |
πονηρότερα | ponerotera | ADJ.A ACC N PL COMP |
more evil | more evil things | more evil | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4191-01 |
Matthew 12:45 | πονηρότερα | ponerotera | ADJ.A ACC N PL COMP |
more evil | more evil things | more evil |
G4191-01 |
Luke 11:26 | πονηρότερα | ponerotera | ADJ.A ACC N PL COMP |
more evil | more evil things | more evil |