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ἀδίκως

adíkōs

G95 adverb

SILEX Entry

Definition

In an unjust or wrongful manner; acting contrary to what is right, fair, or in accordance with justice. The adverb denotes the way an action is performed, indicating a lack of justice, fairness, or equity. In various contexts, this can refer to a legal, ethical, or general sense of unfairness or moral impropriety.

Semantic Range

unjustly, wrongfully, without justification, unfairly, in a manner contrary to justice or equity

Root / Etymology

Derived from ἄδικος (adikos, 'unjust, unjust one') with the adverbial suffix -ως, forming an adverb meaning 'unjustly'. The base root is δίκ-, meaning 'justice' or 'right', with the privative prefix ἀ- indicating negation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἀδίκως is used to describe actions that are contrary to accepted standards of justice, often in legal or ethical discourse. In the Septuagint, it occurs in translating Hebrew words for 'unjustly', usually describing wrongful treatment, judgement, or accusation. In the New Testament, its handful of occurrences (e.g., Acts 25:11; 1 Peter 3:17) highlight suffering or accusation without just cause, stressing the deficiency or absence of justice in the way someone is treated or judged. English translations often render ἀδίκως as 'unjustly', 'wrongfully', or 'without justice', but nuances including a moral or ethical dimension can be present beyond strict legal contexts. The word directly contrasts with δικαίως ('justly', 'righteously'), clarifying a perceived absence or violation of equity or fairness.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

adverb from ἄδικος; unjustly:--wrongfully.

Root Family

ἀδίκως (adikōs) — justice, rightness, lawful conduct (negated)

Root δικ- to be just, to do right, to act lawfully

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G95-01 ἀδίκως adikos ADV unjustly unjustly unjustly 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G95-01 1 Peter 2:19 ἀδίκως adikos ADV unjustly unjustly unjustly
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