from μωρός; to become insipid; figuratively, to make (passively, act) as a simpleton:--become fool, make foolish, lose savour.
Transliteration:mōraínō
Pronunciation:mo-rah'-ee-no
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb mōraínō (μωραίνω, `{{G3471}}`) is derived from the adjective μωρός (moros, `{{G3474}}`), meaning "foolish," "dull," or "stupid." As a verb, mōraínō carries a dual semantic range:
1. **To make or become foolish:** This refers to an intellectual or moral deterioration, where one's reasoning or judgment is corrupted, leading to folly or absurdity.
2. **To make or become insipid; to lose savor:** This is a more literal or metaphorical sense, particularly applied to substances like salt. It denotes a loss of essential quality, flavor, or effectiveness, rendering something useless.
Both aspects point to a deterioration or a nullification of inherent value or function, whether intellectual, moral, or practical.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Mōraínō appears four times in the New Testament, each instance offering significant insight:
* **[[Matthew 5:13]]**: "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor (μωρανθῇ), how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." Here, the verb is in the passive voice, describing salt that has become insipid. This serves as a stark warning to disciples: if they lose their distinctive, preserving, and purifying influence in the world, they become spiritually ineffective and useless for God's purposes.
* **[[Luke 14:34-35]]**: "Salt is good; but if the salt loses its flavor (μωρανθῇ), how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" This parallel passage reinforces the message from Matthew, emphasizing the utter uselessness and ultimate rejection of that which has lost its essential quality. The imagery underscores the irreversible nature of this spiritual deterioration.
* **[[Romans 1:22]]**: "Professing to be wise, they became fools (ἐμωράνθησαν)." In this context, Paul uses mōraínō to describe the moral and intellectual consequence of humanity's rejection of God. Despite claiming wisdom, their minds became darkened and their reasoning corrupted, leading to idolatry and depravity. This is presented as a divine judgment or consequence, where human wisdom, apart from God, inevitably descends into folly.
* **[[1 Corinthians 1:20]]**: "Has not God made foolish (ἐμώρανεν) the wisdom of this world?" Here, God is the active agent who "makes foolish" the world's wisdom. This does not imply that God makes worldly wisdom literally stupid, but rather that He exposes its inadequacy, impotence, and ultimate absurdity when contrasted with His own wisdom, particularly as revealed in the "foolishness" of the cross. The world's intellectual and philosophical systems are incapable of comprehending or achieving true salvation, and God demonstrates their nullity.
### Related Words & Concepts
* μωρός (moros, `{{G3474}}`): The root adjective, meaning "foolish" or "stupid," directly informs the meaning of mōraínō.
* μωρία (mōria, `{{G3472}}`): The abstract noun meaning "foolishness" or "folly," which often appears in contexts related to mōraínō, especially in Paul's discussions of worldly wisdom versus divine wisdom.
* ἀφροσύνη (aphrosynē, `{{G879}}`): Another term for "foolishness" or "senselessness," often used in contrast to wisdom or prudence.
* σοφία (sophia, `{{G4678}}`): "Wisdom." Mōraínō frequently stands in direct opposition to wisdom, particularly divine wisdom, highlighting the contrast between human intellectual pursuits and God's sovereign truth.
* Concepts of spiritual effectiveness, discernment, preservation, and the consequences of apostasy or rebellion against God.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of mōraínō is profound, touching upon the nature of discipleship, divine judgment, and God's sovereignty over human intellect:
* **The Responsibility of Discipleship:** In the Synoptic Gospels, mōraínō serves as a potent warning to believers. To "lose savor" is to forfeit one's distinct identity and purpose as a follower of Christ. It implies a spiritual compromise or a lack of spiritual vitality that renders one ineffective in influencing the world for good, leading to spiritual uselessness and rejection. It underscores the call to maintain purity, distinctiveness, and active witness.
* **The Folly of Human Autonomy:** In Romans, mōraínō reveals the inherent futility of human intellect when it rejects the Creator. Humanity's self-proclaimed wisdom, divorced from divine truth, inevitably spirals into moral and intellectual absurdity. This is not merely an intellectual mistake but a profound spiritual blindness and a consequence of suppressing the truth about God.
* **God's Subversion of Worldly Wisdom:** In 1 Corinthians, mōraínō highlights God's active role in exposing and nullifying the "wisdom of the world." The cross, which appears as "foolishness" to human reasoning, is God's chosen means of salvation. Through this "foolishness," God demonstrates the inadequacy and ultimate impotence of human philosophy, power, and wisdom to comprehend or achieve true spiritual understanding and redemption. God's wisdom triumphs over and renders foolish all human wisdom that opposes Him.
### Summary
The Greek verb mōraínō (μωραίνω, `{{G3471}}`) carries the dual meaning of "to become foolish" and "to lose savor or become insipid." Its New Testament occurrences offer critical theological insights. In [[Matthew 5:13]] and [[Luke 14:34-35]], it metaphorically describes salt losing its flavor, serving as a solemn warning to disciples regarding the peril of spiritual ineffectiveness and the loss of their distinctive influence in the world. In [[Romans 1:22]], it depicts the consequence of humanity's rebellion against God, where those who claim wisdom ultimately "become fools" in their rejection of divine truth. Finally, in [[1 Corinthians 1:20]], mōraínō illustrates God's sovereign act of "making foolish" the wisdom of the world, demonstrating its inadequacy and impotence when confronted with the divine wisdom revealed in the cross of Christ. Thus, mōraínō encapsulates both the imperative for believers to maintain their spiritual vitality and the divine judgment upon and nullification of human systems that oppose God's truth.
TRV