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κατακρίνω

katakrínō

G2632 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To judge decisively against someone; to pronounce a sentence of guilt or condemnation. The verb primarily refers to issuing a juridical verdict, especially one involving penal consequences. Contextually, it ranges from official or legal condemnation (as in courts or assemblies), to the expression of disapproval or moral judgment by individuals or groups. In later usage, it may broaden to include the sense of criticizing harshly or censuring.

Semantic Range

to judge against, to condemn formally, to pronounce a sentence of guilt, to declare guilty in a judicial sense, to censure, to criticize harshly

Root / Etymology

From the preposition κατά (down, against) and the verb κρίνω (to judge), thus 'to judge against.' The prefix intensifies or specifies the direction of judgment as adversative.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, κατακρίνω is rare but attested with the sense of condemning in a legal or moral sense. In Hellenistic Greek, including the Septuagint and New Testament, it regularly denotes pronouncing someone guilty after due process (e.g., a judge sentencing a criminal); it is also used more broadly for expressions of strong disapproval. In the New Testament, it often refers to judicial or eschatological condemnations but can also be figurative for harsh criticism. English Bible translations usually render it as 'condemn;' however, the nuance of legal verdict and authoritative sentencing may be underemphasized, as opposed to less formal types of censure indicated by related words (e.g., ἐπιτιμάω, one who reproves). Related terms: ἀποκρίνω (to answer, respond), διακρίνω (to differentiate), κρίνω (to judge in general). The 'damn' translation is heavily influenced by post-biblical theological development and is not a primary sense in earlier Koine usage.

Translation Consistency

primary "condemn" 17 occurrences

κατακρίνω most often carries the sense of pronouncing judgment against someone—declaring them guilty or expressing decisive censure. "Condemn" naturally covers both the juridical sentencing and the moral/harsh criticism senses in the SILEX range, is common in English Bible translation, and will produce natural-sounding forms across all inflections.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"declared guilty" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κατά and κρίνω; to judge against, i.e. sentence:--condemn, damn.

Root Family

κατακρίνω (katakrinō) — to judge, to decide, to separate

Root κριν- to judge, to decide, to separate

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2632-06 κατακρινοῦσιν katakrinousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL they will condemn they will condemn they will condemn 4
G2632-11 κατέκρινεν katekrinen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG has condemned pronounced guilty he condemned 3
G2632-02 κατακρινεῖ katakrinei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG will condemn will judge against will condemn 2
G2632-03 κατακρίνεις katakrineis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG you condemn you condemn you condemn 1
G2632-07 κατακριθήσεται katakrithesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG will be condemned will be declared guilty will be declared guilty 1
G2632-04 κατακρίνω katakrino V PRS ACT IND 1P SG condemn I judge against condemn 1
G2632-09 κατέκριναν katekrinan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL condemned they judged against they condemned 1
G2632-10 κατέκρινε katekrine V AOR ACT IND 3P SG condemned he/she condemned he condemned 1
G2632-05 κατακρινῶν katakrinon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG who condemns the one condemning the one condemning 1
G2632-08 κατακριθῶμεν katakrithomen V AOR PASS SUBJ 1P PL we may be condemned we might be condemned we might be condemned 1

Occurrences in Scripture

18 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2632-06 Matthew 12:41 κατακρινοῦσιν katakrinousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL will condemn they will condemn they will condemn
G2632-02 Matthew 12:42 κατακρινεῖ katakrinei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG will condemn will judge against will condemn
G2632-06 Matthew 20:18 κατακρινοῦσιν katakrinousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL they will condemn they will condemn they will condemn
G2632-12 Matthew 27:3 κατεκρίθη katekrithe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG he had been condemned was condemned was condemned
G2632-06 Mark 10:33 κατακρινοῦσιν katakrinousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL they will condemn they will condemn they will condemn
G2632-09 Mark 14:64 κατέκριναν katekrinan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL condemned they judged against they condemned
G2632-07 Mark 16:16 κατακριθήσεται katakrithesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG will be condemned will be declared guilty will be declared guilty
G2632-02 Luke 11:31 κατακρινεῖ katakrinei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG condemn will judge against will condemn
G2632-06 Luke 11:32 κατακρινοῦσιν katakrinousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL will condemn they will condemn they will condemn
G2632-11 John 8:10 κατέκρινεν katekrinen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG has condemned pronounced guilty he condemned
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