from κακός; badness, i.e. (subjectively) depravity, or (actively) malignity, or (passively) trouble:--evil, malice(-iousness), naughtiness, wickedness.
Transliteration:kakía
Pronunciation:kak-ee'-ah
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun κακία (kakía), Strong's `{{G2549}}`, derives from the adjective `{{G2556}}` (kakos), meaning "bad," "evil," or "worthless." As a noun, κακία denotes the inherent quality of badness or evil. Its semantic range encompasses several key aspects:
1. **Moral Depravity/Baseness (Subjective):** This refers to an intrinsic corruption of character, a state of moral vice or wickedness. It describes the internal disposition or nature that is fundamentally bad, rather than merely an outward action.
2. **Malignity/Maliciousness (Active):** In this sense, κακία signifies ill-will, malevolence, or the desire to inflict harm upon others. It is the active principle of evil intention, often leading to harmful words or deeds.
3. **Trouble/Affliction (Passive):** While less common in the New Testament usage of κακία itself, the broader semantic field of `{{G2556}}` (kakos) can denote suffering or calamity that results from evil. However, κακία primarily focuses on the *quality* of badness rather than the *experience* of it. In many contexts, it points to the root evil from which troubles might spring.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
κακία appears in the New Testament primarily to describe moral corruption and malevolent intent, often listed among other vices to be shunned by believers.
* **[[Romans 1:29]]**: In Paul's scathing indictment of human sinfulness, κακία is listed among a comprehensive catalogue of depravities (e.g., unrighteousness, covetousness, envy, murder, strife). Here, it signifies a pervasive moral badness that characterizes humanity apart from God.
* **[[1 Corinthians 5:8]]**: Paul exhorts the Corinthian church to "celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of κακία and `{{G4189}}` (ponēria), but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." Here, κακία represents the moral corruption or malice that defiles the community, contrasting sharply with the purity expected of God's people.
* **[[Ephesians 4:31]]**: Believers are commanded, "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all κακία." This passage emphasizes κακία as an active, malevolent disposition that must be removed from Christian conduct, often manifesting in destructive interpersonal relationships.
* **[[Colossians 3:8]]**: Similar to Ephesians, Paul instructs believers to "put them all away: anger, wrath, κακία, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth." This reinforces κακία as an internal vice that needs to be shed as part of putting on the new self in Christ.
* **[[Titus 3:3]]**: Describing the former state of believers before their conversion, Paul writes, "For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in κακία and envy, hated by others and hating one another." Here, κακία clearly denotes a life characterized by malevolence and moral depravity.
* **[[James 1:21]]**: James urges his readers to "put away all filthiness and rampant κακία and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." This highlights κακία as a pervasive, overflowing wickedness that hinders one's reception of God's truth.
* **[[1 Peter 2:1]]**: "So put away all κακία and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander." Peter's exhortation underscores κακία as a fundamental inner disposition of ill-will that must be actively renounced by those who have tasted the Lord's goodness.
Across these occurrences, κακία consistently refers to an inherent moral badness, often manifesting as active malevolence or ill-will, which is incompatible with the life of a believer.
### Related Words & Concepts
κακία stands within a semantic field of words related to evil and sin.
* **`{{G2556}}` (kakos):** The root adjective, meaning "bad" or "evil." κακία is the abstract noun form, signifying the quality of being kakos.
* **`{{G4189}}` (ponēria):** Often translated "wickedness" or "evil." While κακία can denote the internal disposition of evil, ponēria often emphasizes the active, mischievous, or harmful manifestation of evil. They are frequently paired, with κακία representing the inherent badness and ponēria its outward expression.
* **`{{G76}}` (adikia):** "Unrighteousness" or "injustice." While related to sin, adikia specifically refers to a violation of what is right or just, whereas κακία is more about the intrinsic moral quality.
* **`{{G266}}` (hamartia):** The general term for "sin," often referring to a missing of the mark or transgression. κακία can be seen as a specific type or characteristic of hamartia.
* **Antonyms:** Concepts like `{{G535}}` (agathōsynē - goodness, benevolence), `{{G1343}}` (dikaiosynē - righteousness), and `{{G4240}}` (praÿtēs - meekness/gentleness) stand in direct opposition to κακία, representing the virtues that believers are called to cultivate.
Thematically, κακία is closely linked to the fallen human condition, the works of the flesh (sarx), and the vices that characterize life apart from Christ.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of κακία is profound, illuminating aspects of human sinfulness and divine transformation.
* **The Pervasiveness of Sin:** κακία underscores that sin is not merely a collection of isolated acts but an intrinsic moral depravity of the human heart. It points to a fundamental "badness" that permeates the unregenerate human condition ([[Romans 1:29]], [[Titus 3:3]]).
* **The Nature of Malice:** The active sense of κακία as malignity highlights the destructive power of ill-will and hostile intent in human relationships. It is a vice that actively works against love, unity, and peace within the community of faith and society at large.
* **The Necessity of Transformation:** The repeated exhortation to "put away" or "rid yourselves of" κακία ([[Ephesians 4:31]], [[Colossians 3:8]], [[1 Peter 2:1]], [[James 1:21]]) emphasizes that it is incompatible with the new life in Christ. Conversion and ongoing sanctification involve a deliberate renunciation of this core moral evil, reflecting a profound change of heart and disposition.
* **Contrast with God's Character:** κακία stands in stark opposition to the perfect goodness and holiness of God. The call to abandon κακία is an invitation to conform to the character of God, who is inherently good and benevolent.
* **Ethical Implications:** For the Christian, understanding κακία necessitates a vigilant self-examination and a conscious effort, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to root out internal malice and moral corruption, fostering instead attitudes of love, kindness, and purity.
### Summary
κακία (`{{G2549}}`) is a significant Greek term in the New Testament, denoting fundamental badness, moral depravity, and active ill-will or malice. It describes an internal disposition of evil that leads to unrighteous thoughts, words, and actions. Biblical occurrences consistently portray κακία as a characteristic of the unredeemed human heart and a vice that believers are explicitly commanded to "put away" or "rid themselves of" as part of their new life in Christ. Its theological importance lies in highlighting the pervasive nature of sin as an internal corruption, the destructive force of malevolence, and the transformative power of the Gospel in enabling believers to renounce evil and pursue righteousness.
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