κακολογέω (G2551) — Greek Lexicon

κακολογέω

kakologéō

G2551 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To speak ill of, slander, or verbally abuse; to utter defamatory or abusive words against someone. The verb primarily denotes the act of expressing malignity or contempt through hostile speech, whether by direct insult, verbal disparagement, or cursing. In various contexts, it may also denote the act of issuing curses or imprecations against someone.

Semantic Range

to insult, to revile, to curse, to slander, to speak abusively, to defame, to speak evil of

Root / Etymology

From the compounds κακός ('bad, evil') and λέγω ('to speak, say'), thus literally 'to speak evil' or 'to say something bad.' The formation parallels other Greek compounds with -λογέω deriving verbal senses from speech-related nouns.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb κακολογέω appears in Hellenistic and Koine Greek sources, including New Testament texts, where it denotes both personal verbal abuse ('to insult' or 'revile') and the invocation of a curse upon someone ('to curse'). In the Septuagint (LXX), it frequently translates Hebrew verbs relating to blasphemy, cursing, or speaking ill. In non-biblical Greek texts, κακολογέω covers the full range from abusive language to public slander. Standard English translations ('curse,' 'speak evil of,' 'revile') capture segments of this word's scope, but none convey the full spectrum, which ranges from private abuse to public defamation or religiously significant cursing. The verb stands in contrast to εὐλογέω ('to bless, to speak well of'). The core notion is harmful or abusive speech, not restricted to religious contexts. Usage remained consistent across the Hellenistic and early Roman periods.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a compound of κακός and λόγος; to revile:--curse, speak evil of.

Root Family

κακολογέω (kakologeō) — to speak evil, to abuse verbally, to slander

Root κακολογ- to speak evil, to abuse verbally, to slander

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2551-02`	κακολογῶν	kakologon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	speaks evil of	one speaking evil	one speaking evil	2
`G2551-03`	κακολογοῦντες	kakologountes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	speaking evil	those speaking evil	speaking evil	1
`G2551-01`	κακολογῆσαί	kakologesai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to speak evil	to speak evil of	to speak evil of	1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2551-02`	Matthew 15:4	κακολογῶν	kakologon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	speaks evil of	one speaking evil	one speaking evil
`G2551-02`	Mark 7:10	κακολογῶν	kakologon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	speaks-evil-of	one speaking evil	speaking evil
`G2551-01`	Mark 9:39	κακολογῆσαί	kakologesai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to speak evil	to speak evil of	to speak evil of
`G2551-03`	Acts 19:9	κακολογοῦντες	kakologountes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	speaking evil	those speaking evil	speaking evil

← G2550 Greek Lexicon G2552 →