προσωποληπτέω
prosōpolēptéō
G4380 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To show partiality or favoritism toward someone, especially by judging based on external features or status rather than on merit; to regard or treat individuals differently based on personal biases, appearance, or position. The term primarily describes the act of showing unjust favoritism, often in legal, social, or communal settings, rather than evaluating impartially.
Semantic Range
to show partiality, to be partial, to judge with bias, to show favoritism, to make distinctions based on external factors, to act with unjust regard for persons, to give preferential treatment
Root / Etymology
From προσωπολήπτης (prosōpolēptēs, 'one who shows partiality'), which itself is derived from πρόσωπον ('face, appearance, person') and λαμβάνω ('to receive, take'). The verb προσωποληπτέω means 'to act as one who receives the face'—that is, to judge or act according to appearance or status rather than fairness.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Attested only in later Koine Greek (especially in the Christian tradition), προσωποληπτέω is a verb formation based on the noun προσωπολήπτης, paralleling Hebrew idioms (like נשׂא פנים) found in the Septuagint and subsequent Jewish-Greek literature. In the New Testament, it denotes the ethical principle of impartiality, especially in judicial or community contexts (e.g., James 2:9). The concept is less about mere respect and more about unjust favoritism or a breach of fairness. Regular English translations ('respect of persons', 'partiality') have reduced the idiom to legal and ethical terms, but the verb reflects a distinctive critique of social or legal bias, rooted in both Hellenistic and Hebrew ethical discourse.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from προσωπολήπτης; to favor an individual, i.e. show partiality:--have respect to persons.
Root Family
προσωποληπτέω (prosōpolēpteō) — to show partiality, to favor based on appearance or status, to judge with bias
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4380-01 |
προσωπολημπτεῖτε | prosopolempteite | V PRS ACT IND 2P PL |
you show partiality | you are showing partiality | you are showing partiality | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4380-01 |
James 2:9 | προσωπολημπτεῖτε | prosopolempteite | V PRS ACT IND 2P PL |
you show partiality | you are showing partiality | you are showing partiality |