Word Study for G4189 (πονηρία)

ponēría /pon-ay-ree'-ah/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom πονηρός

Meaningdepravity, i.e. (specially), malice; plural (concretely) plots, sins

KJV usageiniquity, wickedness.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ponēría — 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 ponēría, represented by G4189, denotes depravity, malice, and wickedness. Derived from πονηρός (ponērós), it is used to describe not just sinful actions but the malicious intent behind them. It appears 7 times across 7 unique verses, highlighting specific instances of active evil and corrupt character.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the Gospels, G4189 is used to expose the inner state of the heart. Jesus perceived the wickedness of the Pharisees when they tried to tempt him Matthew 22:18. He also taught that while the Pharisees cleaned the outside of the cup, their inward part was "full of ravening and wickedness" Luke 11:39. This concept is further detailed in a list of sins that come from within, where wickedness is mentioned alongside thefts, covetousness, and deceit Mark 7:22. The epistles expand this to a spiritual dimension, identifying a struggle "against spiritual wickedness in high places" Ephesians 6:12.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the scope of G4189:

G2549 kakía: This word for badness or malignity is often used in tandem with G4189. In 1 Corinthians 5:8, believers are warned against celebrating with "the leaven of malice and wickedness."
G4190 ponērós: As the root word, it means hurtful or evil. It describes the source of corruption, such as when it is listed as an "evil eye" in the catalogue of sins found in Mark 7:22.
G4124 pleonexía: This term for avarice or greediness is consistently listed with G4189 as a sin that stems from a depraved heart (Romans 1:29, Mark 7:22).
G1388 dólos: Meaning deceit or guile, it appears alongside wickedness in the list of evils that defile a person from within Mark 7:22.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G4189 is significant, pointing to the nature of sin and the need for redemption.

The Source of Sin: The term emphasizes that sin is not merely an external act but originates from an internal state of depravity. Jesus identifies the heart as the source of ravening and wickedness Luke 11:39.
Spiritual Antagonism: It is used to describe the cosmic opposition to God and his people. The Christian life is a wrestle against "spiritual wickedness" Ephesians 6:12.
The Object of Redemption: Deliverance from ponēría is a key aspect of salvation. God sent his Son Jesus to turn people away from their iniquities Acts 3:26.

Summary

In summary, G4189 defines a specific type of evil characterized by active malice and depravity. It is not a passive flaw but a corrupt force that originates in the heart, manifests in various sins, and represents a spiritual power at odds with God. Its usage in scripture highlights the depth of human sinfulness and the necessity of the salvation offered through Christ, which turns people away from such wickedness.

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 noun across 7 occurrences, inflected in 5 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Genitive Singular Feminine 3×
Accusative Singular Feminine 1×
Dative Singular Feminine 1×
Genitive Plural Feminine 1×
Nominative Plural Feminine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Genitive: Possession or source — often "of".
Dative: The indirect object — often "to" or "for".
Accusative: The direct object of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Feminine: Feminine grammatical gender.

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 7 verses across 7 of the 27 books. 7 books tie for most frequent (1 verse each); never once in the other 20.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

Acts

Romans

1 Corinthians

Ephesians

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.