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καταισχύνω

kataischýnō

G2617 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To cause someone to experience shame, humiliation, or disgrace; to bring someone into dishonor or public embarrassment. In passive constructions, to be put to shame, to feel shame or humiliation as a consequence of actions or circumstances. The term often carries the nuance of social or public disgrace, sometimes implying the frustration of hope or expectation, especially in the context of trust or confidence being disappointed.

Semantic Range

to cause shame, to disgrace publicly, to put to shame, to confound, to dishonor, to frustrate hope or expectation, to experience shame (pass.), to be humiliated

Root / Etymology

Compound of κατά (down, against, intensifying) and αἰσχύνω (to shame, dishonor). καταισχύνω intensifies the action, conveying active infliction of shame or disgrace.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, αἰσχύνω and its compounds refer broadly to shaming, both internally and externally. καταισχύνω appears in later Greek (LXX, NT), often in contexts involving the disappointment of hope (especially in Septuagint renderings of Hebrew בּוּשׁ, bôsh, "to be ashamed" or "disappointed"). In the LXX and New Testament, passive forms ("not be put to shame") frequently denote a state of vindication, particularly in religious or legal contexts—thus extending the meaning beyond emotional shame into status before others. English translations such as "confound," "disgrace," or "be ashamed" do not always convey this range: the concept may involve public standing, social expectations, or the failure of trust. Occasionally, καταισχύνω stands in opposition to δικαιόω (to justify, vindicate), highlighting the contrast between vindication and shame. The common translation "confound" in older English Bibles reflects the sense of frustrated hopes or expectations.

Translation Consistency

primary "shame" 12 occurrences

'Shame' is the most natural, commonly used verb that captures the primary sense of causing public disgrace or humiliation (and in passive use, being put to shame). It fits the typical biblical usage and is easily inflected across persons and tenses for consistent rendering.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"disgraced" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κατά and αἰσχύνομαι; to shame down, i.e. disgrace or (by implication) put to the blush:--confound, dishonour, (be a-, make a-)shame(-d).

Root Family

καταισχύνω (kataischynō) — to shame, to dishonor, to disgrace

Root αἰσχυν- to shame, to dishonor, to disgrace

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2617-02 καταισχύνει kataischunei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG dishonors he/she/it shames he/she/it shames 3
G2617-01 καταισχύνῃ kataischune V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG shame may put to shame may put to shame 2
G2617-05 καταισχυνθήσεται kataischunthesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG shall be ashamed he/she/it will be put to shame he/she/it will be put to shame 2
G2617-04 καταισχυνθῇ kataischunthe V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG be put to shame may be put to shame may be put to shame 1
G2617-03 καταισχύνετε kataischunete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL shame you are shaming you are shaming 1
G2617-09 κατῃσχύνθην kateschunthen V AOR PASS IND 1P SG I was put to shame I was disgraced I was disgraced 1
G2617-08 κατῃσχύνοντο kateschunonto V IMPF PASS IND 3P PL were being put to shame they were being shamed they were being put to shame 1
G2617-07 καταισχυνθῶσιν kataischunthosin V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P PL they may be put to shame they might be disgraced they may be put to shame 1
G2617-06 καταισχυνθῶμεν kataischunthomen V AOR PASS SUBJ 1P PL we should be ashamed we might be put to shame we might be put to shame 1

Occurrences in Scripture

13 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2617-08 Luke 13:17 κατῃσχύνοντο kateschunonto V IMPF PASS IND 3P PL were being put to shame they were being shamed they were being put to shame
G2617-02 Romans 5:5 καταισχύνει kataischunei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG puts to shame he/she/it shames he/she/it shames
G2617-05 Romans 9:33 καταισχυνθήσεται kataischunthesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG shall be ashamed he/she/it will be put to shame he/she/it will be put to shame
G2617-05 Romans 10:11 καταισχυνθήσεται kataischunthesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG will be disappointed he/she/it will be put to shame he/she/it will be put to shame
G2617-01 1 Corinthians 1:27 καταισχύνῃ kataischune V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG shame may put to shame may put to shame
G2617-01 1 Corinthians 1:27 καταισχύνῃ kataischune-2 V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG shame may put to shame may put to shame
G2617-02 1 Corinthians 11:4 καταισχύνει kataischunei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG dishonors he/she/it shames he/she/it shames
G2617-02 1 Corinthians 11:5 καταισχύνει kataischunei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG dishonors he/she/it shames he/she/it shames
G2617-03 1 Corinthians 11:22 καταισχύνετε kataischunete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL shame you are shaming you are shaming
G2617-09 2 Corinthians 7:14 κατῃσχύνθην kateschunthen V AOR PASS IND 1P SG I was put to shame I was disgraced I was disgraced
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