προσωπολήπτης (G4381) — Greek Lexicon

προσωπολήπτης

prosōpolḗptēs

G4381 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

One who shows partiality or favoritism; specifically, a person who judges or treats others based on external appearances, status, or identity, rather than intrinsic qualities. The term often conveys the sense of being unfair or biased by allowing one's judgment to be influenced by someone’s face (appearance), social standing, or other superficial characteristics. In context, it signals unjust discrimination or preference toward individuals for personal reasons rather than objective standards.

Semantic Range

one who shows favoritism, respecter of external status or appearances, one who acts with partiality or bias, discriminator based on social/ethnic identity or appearance

Root / Etymology

Formed from πρόσωπον (face, appearance, presence) and λαμβάνω (to take, receive). The word literally means 'one who receives/takes face (personality or status),' i.e., someone who judges by outward appearance. The formation parallels Hebrew idioms (e.g., נֹשֵׂא פָּנִים 'one who lifts up the face') that express partiality.

Historical & Contextual Notes

First attested in Hellenistic Jewish Greek (LXX, later Jewish Greek writings), this term is rare or unattested in earlier classical Greek literature. The word is rooted in Semitic idiom, likely calqued from the Hebrew expression for showing partiality (נֹשֵׂא פָּנִים). In the New Testament (Acts 10:34; James 2:9), προσωπολήπτης denotes someone who practices discrimination or partiality in judgment, typically in a legal or communal context. English translations often render it as 'respecter of persons,' which can obscure the original focus on outward status rather than the more specific judicial or social favoritism. In contrast to ἀπροσωπολήπτως (impartially), προσωπολήπτης always has a pejorative implication. The term appeared in Jewish-Greek legal and ethical discourse to signify a violation of justice, where impartiality is emphasized as a divine attribute—God is 'not a προσωπολήπτης' (not a respecter of persons).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from πρόσωπον and λαμβάνω; an accepter of a face (individual), i.e. (specially), one exhibiting partiality:--respecter of persons.

Root Family

προσωπολήπτης (prosōpolēptēs) — to show favoritism, to accept external appearances, to judge with bias

Root προσωποληπτ- to show favoritism, to accept external appearances, to judge impartially or with bias

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4381-01`	προσωπολήμπτης	prosopolemptes	`N NOM M SG`	respecter of persons	a face-favoring one	a respecter of persons	1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4381-01`	Acts 10:34	προσωπολήμπτης	prosopolemptes	`N NOM M SG`	respecter of persons	a face-favoring one	a respecter of persons

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