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ἀνομία

anomía

G458 noun

SILEX Entry

Root νομ- law, lawlessness, absence of law, violation

Definition

The condition or state of being without law; lawlessness; disregard for established law, custom, or standard. In various contexts, refers both to a lack of adherence to prescribed law and to concrete acts that violate law. It also denotes general unrighteousness or wickedness—particularly as expressed in habitual conduct that opposes accepted moral or divine norms. Thus, ἀνομία can be used in a legal, social, or moral context to indicate the absence of law, the violation of law, or opposition to an expected moral order.

Semantic Range

lawlessness, absence of law, violation of law, disregard for law, unrighteousness, iniquity, wickedness, condition of acting outside prescribed law or custom

Root / Etymology

From ἄνομος (ánomos, 'lawless, without law') + -ία (a nominal suffix indicating a state or condition). ἄνομος is itself from ἀ- (a-, 'without') + νόμος (nómos, 'law'). The word is a compound indicating the state or quality of being without νόμος.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἀνομία primarily referred to the absence of νόμος (law, custom) or to acts of lawlessness. In Hellenistic and Koine sources, the term is used both in general legal contexts ('violation of civic law') and in religious or moral contexts ('opposition to divine command' or 'living outside God’s law'). In the Septuagint, ἀνομία often translates Hebrew terms like עָוֹן (avon, 'iniquity, guilt'), broadening its sense to include moral wrongdoing, not only technical legal violations. In the New Testament, ἀνομία commonly denotes both lawlessness in the sense of open disregard for divine law and a broader condition of moral unrighteousness or iniquity. English translations as 'iniquity,' 'lawlessness,' or 'unrighteousness' often reflect contextual decisions; 'iniquity' implies moral depravity, while 'lawlessness' emphasizes disregard for law. The term does not necessarily specify which law (Mosaic, Roman, universal), and so translation and interpretation must be sensitive to context. Unlike ἁμαρτία ('sin'), which may include unintentional transgression, ἀνομία often carries the connotation of deliberate opposition to law or order.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἄνομος; illegality, i.e. violation of law or (genitive case) wickedness:--iniquity, X transgress(-ion of) the law, unrighteousness.

Root Family

ἀνομία (anomia) — lawlessness, absence of law, violation of law, disregard for law

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G458-03 ἀνομίαν anomian N ACC F SG lawlessness lawlessness 6
G458-04 ἀνομίας anomias N GEN F SG lawlessness of lawlessness 4
G458-01 ἀνομίᾳ anomia N DAT F SG lawlessness to/for lawlessness 3
G458-02 ἀνομίαι anomiai N NOM F PL lawless acts 1
G458-05 ἀνομιῶν anomion N GEN F PL of lawless acts 1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G458-03 Matthew 7:23 ἀνομίαν anomian N ACC F SG lawlessness
G458-03 Matthew 13:41 ἀνομίαν anomian N ACC F SG lawlessness
G458-04 Matthew 23:28 ἀνομίας anomias N GEN F SG of lawlessness
G458-03 Matthew 24:12 ἀνομίαν anomian N ACC F SG lawlessness
G458-02 Romans 4:7 ἀνομίαι anomiai N NOM F PL lawless acts
G458-01 Romans 6:19 ἀνομίᾳ anomia N DAT F SG to/for lawlessness
G458-03 Romans 6:19 ἀνομίαν anomian N ACC F SG lawlessness
G458-01 2 Corinthians 6:14 ἀνομίᾳ anomia N DAT F SG to/for lawlessness
G458-04 2 Thessalonians 2:3 ἀνομίας anomias N GEN F SG lawlessness of lawlessness
G458-04 2 Thessalonians 2:7 ἀνομίας anomias N GEN F SG lawlessness of lawlessness
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