ἀνόμως
anómōs
G460 adverb
SILEX Entry
Definition
In a manner contrary to law; without regard for law, lawlessly. In specific contexts, acting apart from or in violation of established legal, social, or religious norms. The term can denote absence of legal norms in general, not limited to any one specific legal code, or, contextually, conduct outside the requirements of the Torah or Judean law.
Semantic Range
lawlessly, in disregard of law, without legal norms, acting without the Mosaic law, behaving outside established custom or legal framework
Root / Etymology
Adverbial form of the adjective ἄνομος (anomos), meaning 'lawless' or 'without law,' derived from ἀ- (a-, privative prefix) + νόμος (nomos), ‘law’. Thus, ἀνόμως literally means 'without law' or 'in a lawless manner.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἀνόμως pertains broadly to acting without law or custom, or with disregard for social/legal norms. During the Hellenistic and Second Temple periods, this term retained a general sense of 'lawlessly,' but in Judean contexts, 'law' could refer specifically to the Torah. In New Testament usage, particularly in Paul (e.g. Romans 2:12), the term can refer to acting outside the Mosaic law, but does not, by itself, specify which law or code is in view; context determines whether it means generic illegality or nonconformity to the Torah/Judean law. English translations often render the term as 'without law,' but this can obscure the connotation of intentional disregard or violation. The adverb is rare and occurs primarily in contexts discussing the relation of groups (e.g., Judeans and non-Judeans/Gentiles) to legal or covenantal expectations. It should not be automatically equated with the absence of morality, but rather an absence of statutory authority or determined legal framework. In the LXX, forms of the root are used for those acting outside the law of Israel; in broader Greek usage, the term would not be limited to Judean law.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
adverb from ἄνομος; lawlessly, i.e. (specially) not amenable to (the Jewish) law:--without law.
Root Family
ἀνόμως (anomōs) — law, custom, norm; without law
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G460-01 |
ἀνόμως | anomos | ADV |
without law | lawlessly | lawlessly | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G460-01 |
Romans 2:12 | ἀνόμως | anomos | ADV |
without law | lawlessly | lawlessly |
G460-01 |
Romans 2:12 | ἀνόμως | anomos-2 | ADV |
without law | lawlessly | lawlessly |