Word Study for G2554 (κακοποιέω)

kakopoiéō /kak-op-oy-eh'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom κακοποιός

Meaningto be a bad-doer, i.e. (objectively) to injure, or (genitive) to sin

KJV usagedo(ing) evil.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of kakopoiéō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word kakopoiéō, represented by G2554, means to do evil or to be a bad-doer. It appears 4 times in 4 verses of scripture and is defined as the act of injuring or committing sin.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G2554 is frequently used to create a sharp contrast with the act of doing good. Jesus employs this contrast when questioning the Pharisees about the Sabbath, asking whether it is lawful to do good or to do evil on that day (Mark 3:4, Luke 6:9). This highlights a moral choice between saving a life and destroying it. The apostle Peter also uses this word to frame the nature of suffering, stating it is better to suffer for well doing, if it is the will of God, than for evil doing 1 Peter 3:17.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller context for the concept of doing evil:

G15 agathopoiéō (to do good): This is the direct opposite of G2554 and appears in direct contrast in all four of its occurrences, such as in the choice between doing good or doing evil on the Sabbath Mark 3:4.
G2556 kakós (evil): This is the root adjective from which G2554 is derived. It is used to describe the type of action one should not follow, contrasting with that which is good 3 John 1:11.
G18 agathós (good): As the opposite of evil, this word defines the standard believers are called to imitate. He that doeth good is of God, while he that doeth evil hath not seen God 3 John 1:11.
G3958 páschō (to suffer): This verb is linked to G2554 in the context of consequences, where it is considered better to suffer for well doing than for evil doing 1 Peter 3:17.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G2554 is significant in framing moral and spiritual choices.

Moral and Spiritual Dichotomy: The word establishes a clear division. To do good is to be of God, while to do evil indicates a separation from Him, as he that doeth evil "hath not seen God" 3 John 1:11.
Sabbath and Lawfulness: Jesus' use of the term challenges rigid interpretations of the law. He frames the choice not as one of religious observance but of fundamental morality: the choice to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to destroy it Luke 6:9.
Redemptive Suffering: The concept is presented in the context of suffering. It is preferable to suffer according to the will of God for well doing than to suffer the consequences of evil doing 1 Peter 3:17, which implies a distinction between righteous suffering and deserved punishment.

Summary

In summary, G2554 is a term that defines actions contrary to God's nature and will. It is consistently placed in direct opposition to doing good, framing morality as a clear choice. From Jesus' teachings on the Sabbath to apostolic instruction on godly living, to do evil is presented as an act that signifies a separation from God and stands in contrast to the righteous path of saving life and doing good.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 4 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Infinitive 2×
Present Active Participle Accusative Plural Masculine 1×
Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Accusative: The direct object of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 4 verses across 4 of the 27 books. 4 books tie for most frequent (1 verse each); never once in the other 23.

Mark

Luke

1 Peter

3 John

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.