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ψεῦσμα

pseûsma

G5582 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A false statement or fabrication; something uttered or presented with the intent to deceive. The term emphasizes the deliberate nature of a deception—an assertion contrary to fact, an intentional lie, or a false claim. May refer to verbal untruths, written falsehoods, or even acts intended to deceive.

Semantic Range

lie, falsehood, fabrication, deceitful statement, product of deception, slanderous report

Root / Etymology

From the verb ψεύδομαι (pseúdomai, 'to lie, to speak falsely'); formed by addition of the neuter noun suffix -μα (-ma), denoting the result or product of an action.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ψεῦσμα is a rare word but does appear in literary sources (e.g., medical or rhetorical works) to denote a lie, fiction, or false claim. By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, its usage is attested in Jewish Greek writings, including the Septuagint (e.g., Psalm 119:69 LXX), where it is closely associated with moral condemnation—deliberate lying or slander. In the New Testament (cf. Revelation 14:5), the term continues to denote an intentional falsehood, with strong ethical overtones, sometimes contrasted with truthfulness (ἀλήθεια). Standard English translations typically render ψεῦσμα as 'lie' or 'falsehood,' but the Greek can encompass a broader semantic field, including public or legal fabrication, and extends to accusations of slander or defamation. Unlike cognates such as ψεύστης ('liar', one who lies), ψεῦσμα focuses on the lie itself—the result or product of deception—rather than the person who lies. Greek rhetoric and philosophy often use ψεῦσμα in discussions of ethics and the nature of truth versus falsehood. The semantic field overlaps with ψεῦδος ('falsehood') but is more concrete, denoting a specific instance or act of lying rather than the abstract concept of falsehood as a category.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ψεύδομαι; a fabrication, i.e. falsehood:--lie.

Root Family

ψεῦσμα (pseusma) — lie, falsehood, fabrication, deceitful statement

Root ψευδ- to lie, to deceive, to speak falsely

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5582-01 ψεύσματι pseusmati N DAT N SG lie to a fabrication lie 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5582-01 Romans 3:7 ψεύσματι pseusmati N DAT N SG lie to a fabrication lie
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