ἅρπαξ
hárpax
G727 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Violently greedy, living by or given to seizing or plundering; used of persons or things that seize by force or act with predatory greed. In specific contexts, describes someone who takes what does not belong to them by force, or behavior characterized by extortion, robbery, or rapacity. The term can also refer to animals or people as 'rapacious' or 'predatory.'
Semantic Range
rapacious, predatory, violently greedy, extortionate, robber, literally grasping or plundering; figuratively aggressive in greed or exploitation
Root / Etymology
From the verb ἁρπάζω (to seize, snatch, carry off by force). The word is an adjective form (ἅρπαξ: -αγος), built from the same stem.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἅρπαξ described anything or anyone with a tendency to seize or carry off by force—used for predatory animals, pirates, or violent robbers. By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, its range extends to persons who are greedy or extortionate, especially those abusing a social or official position for unlawful financial gain. In the New Testament (e.g. Matt 7:15; Luke 18:11; 1 Cor 5:10–11, 6:10), it designates persons whose behavior is rapacious or greedy, often in the sense of economic exploitation or extortion, but without limiting the sense to monetary greed. LXX usage is less common but may parallel legal or moral descriptions of predators or oppressors. English translations as 'extortioner' or 'robber' partially convey the meaning, but the term's scope in Greek is broader, encompassing general predatory or violently greedy disposition, not strictly illegal theft. Distinguished from kleptēs (κλέπτης, 'thief'), which generally indicates a stealthier manner of taking; ἅρπαξ focuses on forceful or aggressive taking. Sometimes used figuratively of corrupt religious or political figures.
Translation Consistency
'Robber' is a natural, common English word that captures the core sense of ἅρπαξ — someone who seizes or plunders by force, violently greedy or extortionate. It works well both as a substantive and adjectival sense (rapacious/plundering person) and matches the typical NT usage better than more formal options like 'rapacious' or 'extortioner.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἁρπάζω; rapacious:--extortion, ravening.
Root Family
ἅρπαξ (harpax) — seizing, snatching, robbing by force, predatory greed
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G727-01 |
ἅρπαγες | arpages | ADJ.A NOM M PL |
extortioners | rapacious ones | rapacious ones | 3 |
G727-02 |
ἅρπαξ | arpax | ADJ.S NOM M SG |
swindler | rapacious plunderer | rapacious plunderer | 1 |
G727-03 |
ἅρπαξιν | arpaxin | ADJ.S DAT M PL |
extortioners | to rapacious ones | rapacious ones | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G727-01 |
Matthew 7:15 | ἅρπαγες | arpages | ADJ.A NOM M PL |
ravenous | rapacious ones | rapacious ones |
G727-01 |
Luke 18:11 | ἅρπαγες | arpages | ADJ.S NOM M PL |
extortioners | rapacious ones | rapacious ones |
G727-03 |
1 Corinthians 5:10 | ἅρπαξιν | arpaxin | ADJ.S DAT M PL |
extortioners | to rapacious ones | rapacious ones |
G727-02 |
1 Corinthians 5:11 | ἅρπαξ | arpax | ADJ.S NOM M SG |
swindler | rapacious plunderer | rapacious plunderer |
G727-01 |
1 Corinthians 6:10 | ἅρπαγες | arpages | ADJ.S NOM M PL |
extortioners | rapacious ones | rapacious ones |