The Greek word stygnētós, represented by G4767, means hateful. It is derived from a root word meaning "to hate" and describes something that is odious. This term is rare, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible.
The single use of G4767 is found in a list describing the former way of life for believers. In Titus 3:3, the author writes that "we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another." In this context, the word signifies a state of being odious or repulsive, a direct consequence of a life enslaved to sin and marked by hostility toward others.
Several related words in the surrounding text of Titus 3:3 help clarify the meaning of G4767:
- G453 anóētos (foolish): This word means "unintelligent; by implication, sensual." It sets the stage by describing the unwise nature of the life being remembered Titus 3:3.
- G1398 douleúō (serving): Defined as "to be a slave to," this term highlights the bondage to "divers lusts and pleasures" that characterizes this state Titus 3:3. Believers are called to no longer serve sin Romans 6:6.
- G2549 kakía (malice): Meaning "badness, i.e. (subjectively) depravity, or (actively) malignity," this word is a companion to hateful, describing the evil disposition of the heart Titus 3:3.
- G3404 miséō (hating): This word, meaning "to detest," is the active counterpart to the passive state of being hateful. The passage presents both sides: being odious and actively hating one another Titus 3:3.
The theological significance of G4767 is tied to its role in describing the unregenerate state of humanity.
- A Portrait of Sin: The term hateful is part of a broader biblical description of life apart from God's grace. It is listed among other traits such as being "disobedient" G545, "deceived" G4105, and enslaved to "lusts" G1939 and "pleasures" G2237 Titus 3:3.
- Comprehensive Corruption: The word's inclusion alongside "malice" G2549 and "envy" G5355 paints a picture of a condition that is both internally corrupt and externally repulsive. It shows that a life of sin makes one odious.
- The Condition Left Behind: The use of "were sometimes" Titus 3:3 frames this hateful condition as the past from which believers have been saved. This state of being odious is contrasted with the mercy of God, who saves not by works of righteousness but by His own mercy Titus 3:5.
In summary, while G4767 appears only once, its placement in scripture is powerful. As stygnētós, it defines the state of being hateful or odious that results from a life of sin. Its use in Titus 3:3 provides a stark depiction of the spiritual condition—marked by foolishness, malice, and mutual hatred—that stands in direct contrast to the life of a believer saved by grace.
TRV