ἀδικέω
adikéō
G91 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To do wrong, treat unjustly, or act in violation of fairness or laws; to commit an act of injustice. In Koine usage, ἀδικέω primarily signifies actively inflicting wrong or injustice upon another (morally, socially, or legally), but may also indicate general wrongdoing or acting contrary to what is just.
Semantic Range
to act unjustly, to wrong (someone), to injure, to violate legal or moral rights, to harm, to behave improperly in a legal or social sense, to offend against justice
Root / Etymology
Formed from the adjective ἄδικος ('unjust, wrong-doer') and the verbal ending -έω, indicating the action of acting unjustly. Ultimately from the negative prefix ἀ- (not) and δίκη (justice, right, penalty).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek literature, ἀδικέω often means to act unjustly, violate rights, or inflict a wrong, especially with legal and social connotations. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek (including the New Testament and Septuagint), the verb most often refers to active wrongdoing, whether legal (injuring someone’s rights), social, or moral. The nuance can range from breaking civil law to moral injustice. In the LXX, it regularly translates Hebrew words such as עָוַל (to do wrong) and refers to both human and divine actors. In the New Testament, it is frequently used in the context of legal disputes (e.g., 1 Corinthians 6:7–8), but also in broader ethical contexts. English translations, such as 'to wrong, do wrong, act unjustly, injure,' often capture the range of the word but sometimes obscure its connections to established legal or ethical concepts in Greek. Distinct from ποιέω κακόν ('to do evil'), which emphasizes moral evil, ἀδικέω centers on injustice or violation of right—though there is overlap in usage.
Translation Consistency
‘Wrong’ is a single, natural English verb that directly captures the primary sense of ἀδικέω—to treat unjustly or do harm/ injustice to someone. It is common, transitive (to wrong someone / to be wronged), and fits the typical Koine usage better than more formal alternatives like ‘injure’ or multi-word options like ‘do wrong.’ This choice supports consistent, natural renderings across all forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἄδικος; to be unjust, i.e. (actively) do wrong (morally, socially or physically):--hurt, injure, be an offender, be unjust, (do, suffer, take) wrong.
Root Family
ἀδικέω (adikéō) — to wrong, to act unjustly, to injure, to violate rights
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G94 | ἄδικος | I am acting unjustly |
Word Forms
20 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G91-03 |
ἀδικῆσαι | adikesai | V AOR ACT INF |
to harm | to act unjustly | to wrong | 4 |
G91-13 |
ἀδικῶν | adikon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
doing wrong | one acting unjustly | one wronging | 3 |
G91-20 |
ἠδίκησεν | edikesen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
he has done | he wronged | he wronged | 2 |
G91-12 |
ἀδικῶ | adiko | V PRS ACT IND 1P SG |
I am wronging | I am acting unjustly | I am acting unjustly | 2 |
G91-02 |
ἀδικεῖτε | adikeite | V PRS ACT IND 2P PL |
do you wrong | you are acting unjustly | you (plural) are wronging | 2 |
G91-07 |
ἀδικήσῃς | adikeses | V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P SG |
damage | you might wrong | do wrong | 1 |
G91-11 |
ἀδικηθέντος | adikethentos | V AOR PASS PTCP GEN M SG |
who suffered wrong | having been wronged | one who was wronged | 1 |
G91-09 |
ἀδικήσουσιν | adikesousin | V FUT ACT IND 3P PL |
they should hurt | they will act unjustly | they will act unjustly | 1 |
G91-19 |
ἠδικήσατε | edikesate | V AOR ACT IND 2P PL |
wronged | You acted unjustly | you acted unjustly | 1 |
G91-08 |
ἀδικήσητε | adikesete | V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL |
harm | you might wrong | you might wrong | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
28 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G91-12 |
Matthew 20:13 | ἀδικῶ | adiko | V PRS ACT IND 1P SG |
I wrong | I am acting unjustly | I am acting unjustly |
G91-06 |
Luke 10:19 | ἀδικήσῃ | adikese | V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG |
shall hurt | may wrong | may wrong |
G91-15 |
Acts 7:24 | ἀδικούμενον | adikoumenon | V PRS PASS PTCP ACC M SG |
being wronged | being wronged | being wronged |
G91-02 |
Acts 7:26 | ἀδικεῖτε | adikeite | V PRS ACT IND 2P PL |
do you wrong | you are acting unjustly | you (plural) are wronging |
G91-13 |
Acts 7:27 | ἀδικῶν | adikon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
one wronging | one acting unjustly | one wronging |
G91-17 |
Acts 25:10 | ἠδίκησα | edikesa | V AOR ACT IND 1P SG |
I have done wrong | I acted unjustly | I have done wrong |
G91-12 |
Acts 25:11 | ἀδικῶ | adiko | V PRS ACT IND 1P SG |
I am wronging | I am acting unjustly | I am acting unjustly |
G91-01 |
1 Corinthians 6:7 | ἀδικεῖσθε | adikeisthe | V PRS PASS IND 2P PL |
are wronged | you were being wronged | you are wronged |
G91-02 |
1 Corinthians 6:8 | ἀδικεῖτε | adikeite | V PRS ACT IND 2P PL |
wrong | you are acting unjustly | you (plural) are wronging |
G91-18 |
2 Corinthians 7:2 | ἠδικήσαμεν | edikesamen | V AOR ACT IND 1P PL |
we have wronged | we acted unjustly | we acted unjustly |