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κακῶς

kakōs

G2560 adverb

SILEX Entry

Definition

In a bad manner; adversely, unfavorably, or harmfully. Used to describe actions performed poorly, things done with negative or damaging effects, or the state of being in unfortunate or miserable circumstances. Can denote physical adversity (such as illness or suffering), moral failing, or simply things being done wrongly or inadequately. Its primary sense is the manner of something being wrong, harmful, or unfortunate, whether physically, morally, or circumstantially.

Semantic Range

badly, wrongly, harmfully, in a bad condition, with evil intent, miserably, grievously, amiss, severely (of illness or affliction)

Root / Etymology

From the adjective κακός (bad, evil) with the adverbial ending -ως, forming an adverb denoting manner ('badly').

Historical & Contextual Notes

First attested in classical Greek, where κακῶς retains its adverbial meaning 'badly,' 'wrongly,' or 'evilly,' often contrasted with καλῶς ('well'). In Hellenistic and Koine usage, including the Septuagint and New Testament, κακῶς extends to describe a broad spectrum of negative circumstances: physical illness or suffering (especially when describing persons tormented by disease, e.g. Mt 4:24), unfortunate situations (e.g. being treated badly or unjustly), or moral failure (doing wrong, committing evil acts). In Septuagint use, κακῶς often translates Hebrew terms for injury or affliction as well as moral badness. The standard translation as 'amiss,' 'grievously,' or 'evil' in English versions sometimes obscures the adverbial nuance, which highlights how something is done or the condition in which one finds oneself, not an intrinsic quality of a thing or person. Distinct from the related adjective κακός, which describes the character or quality rather than the manner or condition.

Translation Consistency

primary "badly" 16 occurrences

"Badly" is the most common, natural English rendering across occurrences and best captures the primary manner sense of κακῶς — in a bad, harmful, or unfavorable way. It fits physical, moral, and circumstantial senses (badly ill, badly done, badly behaved) while remaining simple and idiomatic for consistent rendering.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κακός; badly (physically or morally):--amiss, diseased, evil, grievously, miserably, sick, sore.

Root Family

κακῶς (kakōs) — badly, wrongly, harmfully, adversely

Root κακ- to be bad, to do wrongly, to cause harm
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G2556 κακός badly

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2560-01 κακῶς kakos ADV sick badly badly 16

Occurrences in Scripture

16 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2560-01 Matthew 4:24 κακῶς kakos ADV sick badly badly
G2560-01 Matthew 8:16 κακῶς kakos ADV sick badly badly
G2560-01 Matthew 9:12 κακῶς kakos ADV badly badly badly
G2560-01 Matthew 14:35 κακῶς kakos ADV sick badly badly
G2560-01 Matthew 15:22 κακῶς kakos ADV grievously badly badly
G2560-01 Matthew 17:15 κακῶς kakos ADV sorely badly badly
G2560-01 Matthew 21:41 κακῶς kakos ADV miserably badly badly
G2560-01 Mark 1:32 κακῶς kakos ADV ill badly badly
G2560-01 Mark 1:34 κακῶς kakos ADV ill badly badly
G2560-01 Mark 2:17 κακῶς kakos ADV sick badly badly
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