### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
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.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
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]].
### Related Words & Concepts
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]].
### Theological Significance
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.
### Summary
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