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κακία

kakía

G2549 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

The quality or condition of being bad, wicked, or evil in character or action; fundamental badness or moral corruption. It encompasses inner moral corruption, intentional malice, ill will toward others, and actions or attitudes characterized by a willful tendency to harm, subvert, or act contrary to what is right or beneficial. In philosophical and ethical contexts, can refer to the opposite of ἀρετή (virtue), i.e., vice. In some contexts, may also denote a general state of trouble or adversity resulting from such wickedness.

Semantic Range

badness, wickedness, moral corruption, vice, malignity, ill will, malice, inner viciousness, general evil, trouble (resulting from evil)

Root / Etymology

From the root κακ-, related to κακός ('bad, evil'). The suffix -ία forms a feminine abstract noun, indicating a quality or condition.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, κακία denotes the quality of being κακός, encompassing all forms of vice or lack of virtue, opposed to ἀρετή (virtue). In philosophical texts (e.g., Plato, Aristotle), frequently used for general moral deficiency or the opposite of excellence/virtue. In the Hellenistic period, and especially in the Septuagint and New Testament, κακία takes on increasingly ethical and interpersonal dimensions, emphasizing intentional malice, spite, or ill will toward others (maliciousness), not merely badness as a state but as an active affront against social and moral order. In New Testament usage, particularly refers to a disposition or intent toward evil actions—malice, evil-mindedness, or the desire to harm. Often set in parallel with other vices such as πονηρία (wickedness, depravity) and φθόνος (envy), highlighting its character as an inner disposition rather than specific acts. Standard English translations such as 'wickedness,' 'malice,' or 'evil' each capture part of its semantic range, but may fail to convey its full scope, especially its role as a broad term for the opposite of moral or ethical excellence.

Translation Consistency

primary "wickedness" 11 occurrences

Kakía most commonly denotes moral badness, malice, and vice; “wickedness” is the natural, idiomatic English noun that captures that typical sense (and matches the majority of existing renderings), while remaining broad enough to cover related senses such as inner corruption and harmful intent.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κακός; badness, i.e. (subjectively) depravity, or (actively) malignity, or (passively) trouble:--evil, malice(-iousness), naughtiness, wickedness.

Root Family

κακία (kakia) — badness, wickedness, malice

Root κακ- badness, wickedness, malice

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2549-01 κακία kakia N NOM F SG evil wickedness wickedness 5
G2549-03 κακίας kakias N GEN F SG evil of wickedness of wickedness 4
G2549-02 κακίαν kakian N ACC F SG malice wickedness wickedness 2

Occurrences in Scripture

11 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2549-01 Matthew 6:34 κακία kakia N NOM F SG evil wickedness wickedness
G2549-03 Acts 8:22 κακίας kakias N GEN F SG wickedness of wickedness of wickedness
G2549-01 Romans 1:29 κακίᾳ kakia N DAT F SG evil wickedness wickedness
G2549-03 1 Corinthians 5:8 κακίας kakias N GEN F SG of malice of wickedness of wickedness
G2549-01 1 Corinthians 14:20 κακίᾳ kakia N DAT F SG evil wickedness wickedness
G2549-01 Ephesians 4:31 κακίᾳ kakia N DAT F SG malice wickedness wickedness
G2549-02 Colossians 3:8 κακίαν kakian N ACC F SG malice wickedness wickedness
G2549-01 Titus 3:3 κακίᾳ kakia N DAT F SG malice wickedness wickedness
G2549-03 James 1:21 κακίας kakias N GEN F SG of wickedness of wickedness of wickedness
G2549-02 1 Peter 2:1 κακίαν kakian N ACC F SG malice wickedness wickedness
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