κατηγορέω (G2723) — Greek Lexicon

κατηγορέω

katēgoréō

G2723 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To publicly assert, charge, or bring a formal accusation against someone, especially in a legal or judicial setting. The term is used primarily for making statements of wrongdoing before authorities or in a court context, but can also refer more broadly to speaking against or denouncing someone in a formal capacity.

Semantic Range

to accuse formally (in court or before authorities), to charge with an offense, to denounce publicly, to act as prosecutor, to bring a legal claim

Root / Etymology

From κατήγορος (prosecutor, accuser), which itself comes from κατά (against) and ἀγορά (assembly, marketplace), referring to someone who speaks against another, especially in public or judicial contexts.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, κατηγορέω regularly appears in forensic or rhetorical contexts, meaning to make or present an accusation in a legal assembly or public setting. The term is closely associated with official or public charges, typically in front of authorities or an audience, rather than informal or private slander. In Hellenistic Greek and the New Testament, the word usually refers to formal accusations, often before governors, councils, or synagogues. The semantic nuance of publicly charging with wrongdoing is contrasted with διαβάλλω, which can carry the connotation of slander or maligning. In the Septuagint and New Testament, κατηγορέω is consistently used of those making formal, legal accusations against individuals, as seen in trial narratives. English translations often render the word as 'accuse' or 'make accusations,' but the term may lose the formality and public/legal aspect in such renderings. Its focus is on the act of charging, not necessarily its truth or fairness.

Translation Consistency

primary "accuse" 22 occurrences

κατηγορέω primarily means to bring a formal or public accusation, denounce, or act as prosecutor. “Accuse” is the most natural, common English verb that captures the judicial/formal sense and fits typical New Testament usage better than alternatives like “charge” or “denounce.” It is clear, concise, and will produce natural-sounding inflected forms across contexts.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κατήγορος; to be a plaintiff, i.e. to charge with some offence:--accuse, object.

Root Family

κατηγορ- (katēgoréō) — to publicly speak against, to accuse, to make an accusation

Root κατηγορ- to publicly speak against, to accuse, to make an accusation

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G2724	κατηγορία	to a formal accusation

Word Forms

14 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2723-01`	κατηγορεῖν	kategorein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to accuse	to publicly accuse	to publicly accuse	5
`G2723-14`	κατηγοροῦσιν	kategorousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	they accuse	they are formally accusing	they are formally accusing	3
`G2723-07`	κατηγορήσωσιν	kategoresosin	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL`	they might accuse	they might formally accuse	they might formally accuse	2
`G2723-08`	κατηγορῶν	kategoron	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	who accuses	one formally accusing	one formally accusing	2
`G2723-02`	κατηγορεῖσθαι	kategoreisthai	`V PRS PASS INF`	being accused	to be formally accused	to be formally accused	1
`G2723-03`	κατηγορεῖται	kategoreitai	`V PRS PASS IND 3P SG`	he was accused	is being publicly accused	he is being accused	1
`G2723-04`	κατηγορεῖτε	kategoreite	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	you accuse	you publicly accuse	you accuse	1
`G2723-05`	κατηγορείτωσαν	kategoreitosan	`V PRS ACT IMP 3P PL`	let them accuse	let them publicly accuse	let them accuse	1
`G2723-06`	κατηγορήσω	kategoreso	`V FUT ACT IND 1P SG`	will accuse	I will formally accuse	will formally accuse	1
`G2723-09`	κατηγοροῦμεν	kategoroumen	`V PRS ACT IND 1P PL`	accuse	we formally accuse	we formally accuse	1
`G2723-10`	κατηγορούμενος	kategoroumenos	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M SG`	accused	being publicly accused	being publicly accused	1
`G2723-11`	κατηγόρουν	kategoroun	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	were accusing	they were bringing charges	they were accusing	1
`G2723-12`	κατηγοροῦντες	kategorountes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	accusing	formally accusing	formally accusing	1
`G2723-13`	κατηγορούντων	kategorounton	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL`	accusing	of those formally accusing	formally accusing	1

Occurrences in Scripture

22 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2723-07`	Matthew 12:10	κατηγορήσωσιν	kategoresosin	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL`	they might accuse	they might formally accuse	they might formally accuse
`G2723-02`	Matthew 27:12	κατηγορεῖσθαι	kategoreisthai	`V PRS PASS INF`	being accused	to be formally accused	to be formally accused
`G2723-07`	Mark 3:2	κατηγορήσωσιν	kategoresosin	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL`	they might accuse	they might formally accuse	they might formally accuse
`G2723-11`	Mark 15:3	κατηγόρουν	kategoroun	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	were accusing	they were bringing charges	they were accusing
`G2723-14`	Mark 15:4	κατηγοροῦσιν	kategorousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	they accuse	they are formally accusing	they are formally accusing
`G2723-01`	Luke 6:7	κατηγορεῖν	kategorein	`V PRS ACT INF`	accuse	to publicly accuse	to publicly accuse
`G2723-01`	Luke 23:2	κατηγορεῖν	kategorein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to accuse	to publicly accuse	to publicly accuse
`G2723-12`	Luke 23:10	κατηγοροῦντες	kategorountes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	accusing	formally accusing	formally accusing
`G2723-04`	Luke 23:14	κατηγορεῖτε	kategoreite	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	you accuse	you publicly accuse	you accuse
`G2723-06`	John 5:45	κατηγορήσω	kategoreso	`V FUT ACT IND 1P SG`	will accuse	I will formally accuse	will formally accuse
`G2723-08`	John 5:45	κατηγορῶν	kategoron	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	who accuses	one formally accusing	one formally accusing
`G2723-03`	Acts 22:30	κατηγορεῖται	kategoreitai	`V PRS PASS IND 3P SG`	he was accused	is being publicly accused	he is being accused
`G2723-01`	Acts 24:2	κατηγορεῖν	kategorein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to accuse	to publicly accuse	to publicly accuse
`G2723-09`	Acts 24:8	κατηγοροῦμεν	kategoroumen	`V PRS ACT IND 1P PL`	accuse	we formally accuse	we formally accuse
`G2723-14`	Acts 24:13	κατηγοροῦσίν	kategorousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	they accuse	they are formally accusing	they are formally accusing
`G2723-01`	Acts 24:19	κατηγορεῖν	kategorein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to accuse	to publicly accuse	to publicly accuse
`G2723-05`	Acts 25:5	κατηγορείτωσαν	kategoreitosan	`V PRS ACT IMP 3P PL`	let them accuse	let them publicly accuse	let them accuse
`G2723-14`	Acts 25:11	κατηγοροῦσίν	kategorousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	accuse	they are formally accusing	they are formally accusing
`G2723-10`	Acts 25:16	κατηγορούμενος	kategoroumenos	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M SG`	accused	being publicly accused	being publicly accused
`G2723-01`	Acts 28:19	κατηγορεῖν	kategorein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to accuse	to publicly accuse	to publicly accuse
`G2723-13`	Romans 2:15	κατηγορούντων	kategorounton	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL`	accusing	of those formally accusing	formally accusing
`G2723-08`	Revelation 12:10	κατηγορῶν	kategoron	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	who accuses	one formally accusing	one formally accusing

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