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ἀτιμία

atimía

G819 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Loss of standing, lack of respect, or dishonor; the state of being deprived of honor or value. The term encompasses both subjective experiences of indignity (how one feels or is treated) and the objective state of disgrace (how one is regarded by others or by the community). It can also refer to social or moral shame, often as a result of disgraceful behavior or circumstances, and more rarely to things considered degrading or base.

Semantic Range

dishonor, disgrace, shame, humiliation, infamy, lack of respect or esteem, ignominy, base or degrading condition

Root / Etymology

From ἄτιμος (atimos, 'without honor'), which itself derives from the privative prefix ἀ- ('not') and τιμή ('honor, value, worth'). Thus, ἀτιμία literally means 'lack of honor' or 'dishonor.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἀτιμία described the loss or deprivation of civic rights, often as a legal penalty (such as disenfranchisement). By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, including the Septuagint and New Testament, the term's usage broadened to encompass general disgrace, social humiliation, or moral dishonor. It could describe both a state (being in disgrace) and an act (treating someone dishonorably). In Jewish-Greek sources, it often denoted social or communal shame, particularly in opposition to τιμή (honor, esteem). The term appears in moral exhortations (such as in Paul’s letters) and vice/virtue lists, signifying behaviors or conditions considered shameful by the community or in light of religious expectations. English translations often render it as 'dishonor,' 'shame,' or 'disgrace,' but nuance regarding the communal or subjective dimensions may be lost.

Translation Consistency

primary "dishonor" 6 occurrences

Dishonor best matches the typical semantic range of ἀτιμία (loss of standing, lack of respect, disgrace, shame) and is the most common existing rendering in the P2 data. It is natural English, covers both the objective state and subjective experience, and works smoothly as a single consistent headword for all forms.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἄτιμος; infamy, i.e. (subjectively) comparative indignity, (objectively) disgrace:--dishonour, reproach, shame, vile.

Root Family

ἀτιμία (atimía) — lack of honor, disgrace, shame, indignity

Root ἄτιμ- lack of honor, disgrace, shame, indignity

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G819-02 ἀτιμίαν atimian N ACC F SG dishonor dishonor dishonor 3
G819-03 ἀτιμίας atimias N GEN F SG dishonor of dishonor of dishonor 2
G819-01 ἀτιμία atimia N NOM F SG a disgrace dishonor dishonor 2

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G819-03 Romans 1:26 ἀτιμίας atimias N GEN F SG of dishonor of dishonor of dishonor
G819-02 Romans 9:21 ἀτιμίαν atimian N ACC F SG dishonor dishonor dishonor
G819-01 1 Corinthians 11:14 ἀτιμία atimia N NOM F SG a disgrace dishonor dishonor
G819-01 1 Corinthians 15:43 ἀτιμίᾳ atimia N DAT F SG dishonor dishonor
G819-03 2 Corinthians 6:8 ἀτιμίας atimias N GEN F SG dishonor of dishonor of dishonor
G819-02 2 Corinthians 11:21 ἀτιμίαν atimian N ACC F SG reproach dishonor dishonor
G819-02 2 Timothy 2:20 ἀτιμίαν atimian N ACC F SG dishonor dishonor dishonor
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