from ἄδικος; to be unjust, i.e. (actively) do wrong (morally, socially or physically):--hurt, injure, be an offender, be unjust, (do, suffer, take) wrong.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb ἀδικέω (adikéō), Strong's number `{{G91}}`, derives directly from the adjective ἄδικος (adikos, `{{G94}}`), meaning "unjust" or "unrighteous." As a verb, ἀδικέω signifies the active perpetration of injustice or wrongdoing. Its core meaning encompasses the act of being unjust, doing wrong, or causing harm. The semantic range is broad, extending to moral, social, and physical dimensions of wrong. This includes:
1. **Active Wrongdoing:** To commit an act that is contrary to justice, righteousness, or established law (divine or human). This can involve defrauding, cheating, or inflicting injury.
2. **To Harm or Injure:** To cause physical or emotional damage to another person.
3. **To Be Unjust:** To act in a manner that is fundamentally unfair or unrighteous.
4. **To Suffer Wrong (Passive Sense):** Though active in form, ἀδικέω can also be used passively to mean "to be wronged" or "to suffer injustice," as seen in contexts where one is the recipient of another's unjust actions.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb ἀδικέω appears frequently in the New Testament, illustrating various facets of injustice and wrongdoing.
In [[Acts 7:26]], Stephen recounts Moses' attempt to mediate a dispute, asking, "Men, you are brothers; why do you wrong one another?" Here, ἀδικέω refers to interpersonal conflict and harm within the community.
Perhaps one of the most poignant uses is in [[1 Corinthians 6:7-8]], where Paul chastises believers for taking one another to court: "Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!" This passage highlights both the passive sense ("to be wronged") and the active sense ("to wrong") within the Christian community, emphasizing the moral failure of believers to live according to Christ's ethic of self-sacrifice and love.
In [[Revelation 22:11]], the phrase "Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong" (ὁ ἀδικῶν ἀδικησάτω ἔτι) speaks to the final, unchangeable state of those who persist in unrighteousness at the eschaton, underscoring the severe consequences of unrepentant wrongdoing.
Other contexts include:
* Legal injustice: Pilate's question in [[John 18:38]], implying no wrongdoing on Jesus' part.
* Physical harm: As in [[Acts 25:10]], where Paul asserts he has done no wrong to the Jews.
* Moral offense: [[2 Peter 2:13]] speaks of false teachers "suffering wrong as the wages of wrongdoing," where the passive form describes the consequence of their active injustice.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of ἀδικέω is enriched by examining its lexical family and conceptual counterparts:
* **ἄδικος (adikos, `{{G94}}`):** The root adjective, meaning "unjust," "unrighteous," or "wicked." ἀδικέω is the verbal expression of this quality.
* **ἀδικία (adikia, `{{G93}}`):** The noun form, meaning "injustice," "unrighteousness," or "wrongdoing." This term describes the state or quality of being unjust, from which the action of ἀδικέω flows. For instance, those who practice ἀδικία are the ones who ἀδικέω.
* **δίκαιος (dikaios, `{{G1342}}`) and δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosynē, `{{G1343}}`):** These are the direct antonyms, meaning "righteous" or "just" (adjective) and "righteousness" or "justice" (noun), respectively. The concept of ἀδικέω stands in stark contrast to the divine standard of δικαιοσύνη.
* **ἁμαρτία (hamartia, `{{G264}}`):** "Sin." While ἀδικέω specifically denotes an act of injustice or wrong, ἁμαρτία is a broader term for missing the mark or transgression against God's law. All acts of ἀδικέω are forms of ἁμαρτία, but not all ἁμαρτία is necessarily an act of "injustice" in the social or legal sense.
* **παράπτωμα (paraptōma, `{{G3900}}`):** "Trespass" or "transgression." Similar to ἁμαρτία, this term refers to a false step or deviation from the right path.
### Theological Significance
The concept of ἀδικέω carries significant theological weight in the New Testament:
1. **God's Character:** The Scripture unequivocally declares that God cannot ἀδικέω. He is perfectly just and righteous ([[Romans 9:14]]). Any act of injustice or wrong is contrary to His holy nature.
2. **Human Sinfulness:** The prevalence of ἀδικέω among humanity underscores the fallen nature of mankind. It highlights the human propensity to act unjustly, to harm others, and to violate divine and moral standards. This pervasive wrongdoing necessitates divine intervention and redemption.
3. **Christian Ethics:** Believers are called to a life that actively avoids ἀδικέω. This is particularly evident in the exhortations for Christians to live in harmony, to avoid defrauding one another, and to endure suffering rather than perpetrate injustice ([[1 Corinthians 6:7-8]]). The pursuit of righteousness (δικαιοσύνη) means abstaining from all forms of ἀδικία and ἀδικέω.
4. **Divine Judgment:** Those who persist in ἀδικέω, refusing to repent and turn to Christ, face the righteous judgment of God. The eschatological pronouncements in Revelation serve as a solemn warning that continued wrongdoing leads to condemnation.
5. **Redemption and Transformation:** Through Christ, believers are redeemed from the power of sin and injustice. The Holy Spirit empowers them to live lives characterized by righteousness, enabling them to overcome the impulse to ἀδικέω and instead to pursue justice and love.
### Summary
The Greek verb ἀδικέω (adikéō, `{{G91}}`) fundamentally describes the act of being unjust or doing wrong. Its semantic range encompasses active wrongdoing, causing harm, and even the passive experience of suffering injustice. Throughout the New Testament, ἀδικέω illuminates the human capacity for moral, social, and physical transgression, standing in direct opposition to God's perfect righteousness. The theological implications are profound, underscoring God's absolute justice, humanity's pervasive sinfulness, the ethical demands on believers to shun all forms of injustice, and the ultimate judgment awaiting those who persist in wrongdoing. Conversely, it highlights the transformative power of the Gospel to lead believers from a life characterized by ἀδικέω to one of righteousness and love.
TRV