φαῦλος
phaûlos
G5337 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Base, morally worthless, or of poor quality; carrying the sense of being trivial, petty, or bad in character and substance. In moral contexts, it refers to what is low, contemptible, or ethically deficient. The term may also indicate what is ineffective, slight, or unworthy—designating lacking intrinsic value or uprightness.
Semantic Range
base, worthless, trivial, common, inferior, morally bad, ethically deficient, of little account, evil (contextual), slight, ineffective
Root / Etymology
Rooted in φαῦλος, possibly connected with φαύω (to blow, puff up) but etymology is uncertain; some suggest a Pre-Greek origin or derivation from a root meaning 'to be light, worthless.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
φαῦλος first appears in classical Greek with the meaning 'easy to do, slight, trivial,' and comes to carry pejorative senses such as 'bad, trivial, common, base, worthless.' In philosophical and ethical writings (such as Aristotle), it is frequently used in contrast to ἀγαθός ('good'), describing a mean, ignoble, or base person, action, or thing. In the Septuagint and New Testament (e.g., John 3:20; Romans 9:11), φαῦλος describes what is morally questionable, base, or evil, yet often with a shade of 'worthlessness' or failure, rather than overt wickedness. English translations tend to render it 'evil' or 'bad,' but at times the nuance is closer to 'worthless,' 'common,' or 'trivial.' It is distinct from πονηρός, which typically has a stronger sense of active malignancy or wickedness. φαῦλος can describe actions and people that are morally deficient, inferior, or lacking positive value but not always characterized by active malice.
Translation Consistency
"Worthless" is the most natural, broadly applicable English term that captures both the moral and material senses in the SILEX range (base, trivial, inferior, morally bad). It is the predominant rendering in the P2 data and clearly communicates lack of value or worth—covering contemptible, ineffective, and slight senses—while sounding natural in idiomatic English.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
apparently a primary word; "foul" or "flawy", i.e. (figuratively) wicked:--evil.
Root Family
φαυλ- (phaûlos) — base, trivial, worthless, morally deficient, bad
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5337-02 |
φαῦλον | phaulon | ADJ.S ACC N SG |
evil | a worthless thing | worthless | 3 |
G5337-01 |
φαῦλα | phaula | ADJ.S ACC N PL |
evil | worthless things | worthless things | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5337-01 |
John 3:20 | φαῦλα | phaula | ADJ.S ACC N PL |
evil | worthless things | worthless things |
G5337-01 |
John 5:29 | φαῦλα | phaula | ADJ.S ACC N PL |
evil | worthless things | worthless things |
G5337-02 |
Romans 9:11 | φαῦλον | phaulon | ADJ.S ACC N SG |
evil | a worthless thing | worthless |
G5337-02 |
Titus 2:8 | φαῦλον | phaulon | ADJ.S ACC N SG |
bad | a worthless thing | worthless |
G5337-02 |
James 3:16 | φαῦλον | phaulon | ADJ.A NOM N SG |
evil | a worthless thing | worthless |