The Greek word phoneúō, represented by G5407, is a direct and forceful term for the act of murder. Its base definition is to be a murderer, to kill, do murder, or slay. It appears 18 times across 10 unique verses, primarily serving as a key term in moral and legal commandments and in accusations of grave sin.
In biblical usage, G5407 is most frequently found within the list of core prohibitions from the law. The command, "Thou shalt not kill," is repeated in several gospels and epistles, establishing it as a foundational principle of righteousness (Matthew 5:21; Mark 10:19; Romans 13:9). Beyond a simple command, the word is used to describe the ultimate consequence of unchecked desire, as when James states, "Ye lust, and have not: ye kill" James 4:2. It is also used to level charges of extreme wickedness, such as the accusation that the audience's ancestors killed the prophets G4396 Matthew 23:31 and slew righteous men from Abel G6 to Zacharias G2197 Matthew 23:35.
Several related words help define the context and consequences surrounding the act of murder:
- G1342 díkaios (just, righteous): This word often describes the victims of murder. Scripture speaks of the shedding of righteous blood and the act of condemning and killing the just James 5:6, highlighting murder as an attack on innocence.
- G1632 ekchéō (to pour forth, shed): This word is directly linked to the physical result of murder. The guilt for all the righteous blood shed upon the earth is laid upon those who kill God's messengers Matthew 23:35.
- G1937 epithyméō (lust after, covet): This term points to the internal motivation that can lead to murder. James connects the outward act of killing directly to the inward sin of lust James 4:2.
- G2613 katadikázō (to adjudge against, condemn): This word is used in conjunction with G5407 to show a process of unrighteous judgment leading to death. The audience in James is accused, "Ye have condemned and killed the just" James 5:6.
The theological weight of G5407 is significant, framing murder as a violation of divine law and a sign of spiritual corruption.
- A Foundational Prohibition: The command "Thou shalt not kill" is a pillar of the moral law cited by both Jesus and the apostles. To break this commandment is to become a "transgressor of the law" James 2:11.
- The Fruit of Sinful Desire: The act of killing is not presented in isolation but as the culmination of internal sin. It is the physical expression of lust, fighting, and warring within the human heart James 4:2.
- Rebellion Against God: Murder is frequently characterized as an act against God's representatives. The killing of the prophets Matthew 23:31 and the righteous Matthew 23:35 is treated as a historical pattern of rejecting God's authority.
In summary, G5407 is more than a legal term; it is a word with profound moral and theological implications. It functions as a clear line in God's law, the violation of which has severe consequences. As seen in scripture, the act to kill or murder is the terrible outcome of a heart given over to lust and rebellion, often directed at the very people who are righteous and just.
TRV