φόνος
phónos
G5408 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Intentional killing of a person; the act of homicide, especially murder as a deliberate or unlawful taking of life. The word denotes intentional, often malicious killing, distinguishing premeditated murder from killing more generally. In some contexts, also used for mass killing or slaughter.
Semantic Range
murder, homicide, intentional killing, manslaughter (in some legal contexts), slaughter (with focus on human victims), malicious or unlawful killing
Root / Etymology
From φον- (a Greek root meaning 'to kill' or 'to slay'); related to the obsolete verb φονεύω (to murder, to kill).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, φόνος referred broadly to the act of killing, especially with criminal or illicit connotations (as opposed to lawful killing in war, indicated by other terms such as φόνος ἐν πολέμῳ or φόνος νόμιμος). In legal and philosophical texts of the classical and Hellenistic eras, φόνος is distinguished from forms of justified killing and is often associated with moral condemnation or legal guilt. In the Septuagint (LXX), φόνος frequently translates Hebrew דָּם (dam, blood [shed]) and רָצַח (ratsach, to murder), especially in legal contexts such as the Decalogue (“You shall not murder”). In the New Testament, φόνος is listed among serious transgressions of the law or vices, often paired with other sins to emphasize its gravity, and is frequently presented as distinct from other forms of violence or anger. English translations regularly render φόνος as 'murder', but nuance can depend on context; some traditional translations may obscure the term's legal and moral specificity by rendering it as 'slaughter' or 'killing'. The term is not used to denote accidental manslaughter or deaths in war; other Greek words are preferred for such distinctions.
Translation Consistency
φόνος denotes intentional, unlawful taking of life; the most natural, common English equivalent is “murder.” It matches the typical malicious/premeditated sense in the SILEX range (and covers related senses like homicide/slaughter of people) and is the most frequent rendering in the P2 data, so it ensures clear, consistent translation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an obsolete primary (to slay); murder:--murder, + be slain with, slaughter.
Root Family
φόνος (phonos) — murder, homicide, intentional killing, malicious slaying
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5408-03 |
φόνον | phonon | N ACC M SG |
murder | intentional killing | a murder | 4 |
G5408-04 |
φόνου | phonou | N GEN M SG |
murder | of murder | of murder | 2 |
G5408-02 |
φόνοι | phonoi | N NOM M PL |
murders | intentional killings | intentional killings | 2 |
G5408-01 |
φόνῳ | phono | N DAT M SG |
murder | by murder | murder | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
9 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5408-02 |
Matthew 15:19 | φόνοι | phonoi | N NOM M PL |
murders | intentional killings | intentional killings |
G5408-02 |
Mark 7:21 | φόνοι | phonoi | N NOM M PL |
murders | intentional killings | intentional killings |
G5408-03 |
Mark 15:7 | φόνον | phonon | N ACC M SG |
murder | intentional killing | a murder |
G5408-03 |
Luke 23:19 | φόνον | phonon | N ACC M SG |
murder | intentional killing | a murder |
G5408-03 |
Luke 23:25 | φόνον | phonon | N ACC M SG |
murder | intentional killing | a murder |
G5408-04 |
Acts 9:1 | φόνου | phonou | N GEN M SG |
murder | of murder | of murder |
G5408-04 |
Romans 1:29 | φόνου | phonou | N GEN M SG |
murder | of murder | of murder |
G5408-01 |
Hebrews 11:37 | φόνῳ | phono | N DAT M SG |
murder | by murder | murder |
G5408-03 |
Revelation 9:21 | φόνων | phonon | N GEN M PL |
murders | intentional killing | a murder |