προσωποληψία
prosōpolēpsía
G4382 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Partiality; the act or quality of giving preference or special regard to an individual or group based on external factors such as status, appearance, or social position, rather than on merit or justice. In contexts, specifically refers to the unfair discrimination or bias shown toward individuals ('respect of persons'), especially in legal or communal judgments, often viewed as contrary to fairness or equity.
Semantic Range
partiality, favoritism, respect of persons, unjust preference or discrimination based on social status or outward appearance
Root / Etymology
From προσωπολήπτης (prosōpolēptēs, 'one who shows partiality'), itself a compound of πρόσωπον (prosōpon, 'face, appearance, person') and λαμβάνω (lambanō, 'to receive, take'). Thus, literally 'receiving the face' or 'regard of person.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term προσωποληψία is a post-classical formation, rarely attested in earlier Greek and mostly found in Hellenistic and Christian literature. It conveys the concept of partiality based specifically on outward or socially recognized distinctions, rather than intrinsic worth. In both the Septuagint and the New Testament (e.g., Romans 2:11; James 2:1), it denotes judicial or ethical unfairness—favoring individuals due to status, wealth, or other external factors—in contrast to the impartial justice emphasized in Israelite and wider Greco-Roman traditions. English translations commonly render the term as 'respect of persons,' 'partiality,' or 'favoritism,' but these may obscure the term's precise focus on bias grounded in personal, social, or external attributes. The term is constructed analogously to Hebrew expressions such as נֹשֵׂא פָּנִים (literally 'lifting up the face'), reflecting influence from Israelite legal idioms as translated in the Septuagint. Related terms include προσωπολήπτης (a person who displays partiality), while the antonymic concept would be ἀπροσωποληψία (impartiality).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from προσωπολήπτης; partiality, i.e. favoritism:--respect of persons.
Root Family
προσωποληψία (prosōpolēpsia) — partiality, favoritism, regard of persons, unjust preference
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4382-01 |
προσωπολημψία | prosopolempsia | N NOM F SG |
partiality | partiality | 3 |
G4382-02 |
προσωπολημψίαις | prosopolempsiais | N DAT F PL |
partiality | with partialities | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4382-01 |
Romans 2:11 | προσωπολημψία | prosopolempsia | N NOM F SG |
partiality | |
G4382-01 |
Ephesians 6:9 | προσωπολημψία | prosopolempsia | N NOM F SG |
partiality | partiality |
G4382-01 |
Colossians 3:25 | προσωπολημψία | prosopolempsia | N NOM F SG |
partiality | partiality |
G4382-02 |
James 2:1 | προσωπολημψίαις | prosopolempsiais | N DAT F PL |
partiality | with partialities |