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κάκωσις

kákōsis

G2561 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Act of causing suffering or abuse, specifically the experience of mistreatment, oppression, or suffering imposed by others. The term denotes active infliction of hardship, pain, or degradation, whether physical, emotional, or social. In various contexts, it conveys inflicted distress or persecution by an external agent, not voluntary endurance of suffering.

Semantic Range

mistreatment, oppression, inflicted suffering, abuse, affliction, persecution

Root / Etymology

From κακόω ('to treat badly, injure, harm'), which is derived from κακός ('bad, evil'). The suffix -σις forms an abstract noun indicating the action or process related to the root verb. Thus, κάκωσις means 'the process or act of mistreating.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, κάκωσις is rare but bears its expected meaning of mistreatment or the act of making things worse for someone. In the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), it is often used to render Hebrew words describing the oppression or affliction of the Israelites, especially in Egypt (cf. Exod 1:11-12; 3:7). In Hellenistic and Koine use, particularly the Septuagint and the New Testament, it commonly describes enforced suffering, especially when imposed by a more powerful group on a vulnerable population. In the New Testament (Acts 7:34), κάκωσις refers specifically to the affliction endured by the Israelites in Egypt. English translations often render it as "affliction" or "oppression," but such terms may not fully reflect the active sense of imposed maltreatment. Related terms with overlapping but distinct meanings include θλῖψις (pressure, tribulation: more general distress or hardship) and πειρασμός (testing, trial: focus on experience rather than the act of mistreating).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κακόω; maltreatment:--affliction.

Root Family

κάκωσις (kákōsis) — mistreatment, oppression, inflicted suffering, abuse

Root κακω- to treat badly, to harm, to oppress

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2561-01 κάκωσιν kakosin N ACC F SG affliction mistreatment mistreatment 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2561-01 Acts 7:34 κάκωσιν kakosin N ACC F SG affliction mistreatment mistreatment
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