συκοφαντέω (G4811) — Greek Lexicon

συκοφαντέω

sykophantéō

G4811 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To accuse falsely, slander, or maliciously inform against someone, especially for personal gain or with intent to extort; in Hellenistic and Roman contexts, to exploit legal systems for monetary or social benefit through false accusation or blackmail. The word's primary sense is 'to play the informer' or 'to engage in petty or malicious prosecution,' with the implication of seeking selfish advantage.

Semantic Range

to accuse falsely, to slander, to maliciously inform, to extort, to defraud, to exploit legal systems for personal gain, to blackmail

Root / Etymology

Derived from σῦκον (fig) and φαίνω (to show, reveal), though the precise origin is debated; originally referred to those who reported violations of fig export laws in ancient Athens, but by the Koine period, the term lost any literal connection to figs. It came to denote generally someone who brings false, malicious, or extortionate accusations.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Athens, συκοφαντέω was associated with those who took advantage of the legal system by prosecuting others, often with little cause and for personal profit — hence the English 'sycophant,' though the modern English meaning ('a servile flatterer') is a later semantic development and not present in ancient usage. In the Hellenistic and Roman periods, including in the New Testament and Septuagint, the word primarily retains the sense of 'malicious informer, extortioner, one who accuses falsely.' The term is used in Luke 3:14 with the sense of 'to extort, to blackmail,' directed at tax-collectors and soldiers. In wider Koine usage, συκοφαντέω frequently denotes the seeking of illicit gain through coercion, threats, or legal manipulation. English translations often render the term as 'accuse falsely,' 'defraud,' or 'extort,' but these translations only partially capture the social context and connotation of deliberate exploitation and malicious informing. Related words include συκοφάντης (malicious accuser, informer).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a compound of σῦκον and a derivative of φαίνω; to be a fig-informer (reporter of the law forbidding the exportation of figs from Greece), "sycophant", i.e. (genitive and by extension) to defraud (exact unlawfully, extort):--accuse falsely, take by false accusation.

Root Family

συκοφαντέω (sykophanteō) — to accuse falsely, to slander, to act as an informer, to extort

Root συκοφαντ- to accuse falsely, to slander, to act as an informer, to extort

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4811-02`	συκοφαντήσητε	sukophantesete	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL`	accuse falsely	you might falsely accuse	you may falsely accuse	1
`G4811-01`	ἐσυκοφάντησα	esukophantesa	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	I have defrauded	I falsely accused	I falsely accused	1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4811-02`	Luke 3:14	συκοφαντήσητε	sukophantesete	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL`	accuse falsely	you might falsely accuse	you may falsely accuse
`G4811-01`	Luke 19:8	ἐσυκοφάντησα	esukophantesa	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	I have defrauded	I falsely accused	I falsely accused

← G4810 Greek Lexicon G4812 →