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κρίνω

krínō

G2919 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To separate by distinguishing, to make a choice or judgment; in extended usage, to decide a dispute, to render a verdict (judicially or otherwise), to pass judgment (positively or negatively), or to form an opinion or evaluation. Also used for appointing or making a determination about events or persons, and for passing sentence or condemnation in legal and ethical contexts.

Semantic Range

to distinguish, to separate, to decide between, to judge in a court, to render a verdict, to evaluate, to form an opinion, to condemn, to appoint, to pass sentence, to resolve a dispute

Root / Etymology

From the root κριν-, a verb of uncertain earlier Indo-European derivation but frequently attested in classical Greek. The root meaning is 'to separate' or 'to distinguish.' Related to Latin 'cernere' (to sift, separate, discern), suggesting a shared Indo-European ancestry.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, κρίνω primarily means to separate, divide, or distinguish, extending to making choices, deciding disputes, or forming opinions. By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, it widely encompassed both judicial and non-judicial judgment: to judge in court, to assess or form an opinion, to resolve disagreements, or to condemn. In the Septuagint, it frequently translates Hebrew שָׁפַט (shaphat), carrying strong legal and judicial connotations. In the New Testament, κρίνω can mean rendering a legal judgment, deciding internally, or, by implication, to pass a sentence of condemnation—sometimes carrying the nuance of eschatological (final) judgment. The term does not automatically imply a negative verdict; it can refer to evaluation without condemnation, and context determines the positive or negative direction. Standard English translations often shift between 'judge,' 'condemn,' 'determine,' or 'decide,' but may not capture the full semantic range, especially the original sense of making distinctions or setting things apart.

Translation Consistency

primary "judge" 102 occurrences

‘Judge’ best covers the primary, most frequent uses of κρίνω: rendering verdicts, evaluating or forming an opinion, deciding disputes, and pronouncing condemnation or sentence. It is the most common, natural English equivalent in the data and can be inflected to handle judicial, evaluative, and decision senses consistently; rarer senses (e.g., appoint) can be handled contextually.

Alternatives (13 occurrences):
"judge, all of" (5x) "decided" (3x) "rendered judgment" (2x) "decide" (1x) "things having been decided" (1x) "render judgment" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

properly, to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); by implication, to try, condemn, punish:--avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.

Root Family

κρίνω (krinō) — to separate, to distinguish, to decide, to judge

Root κριν- to separate, to distinguish, to decide, to judge

Word Forms

43 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2919-20 κρίνει krinei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG will judge he/she decides he/she judges 13
G2919-25 κρίνετε krinete V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL judge be judging be judging 10
G2919-32 κρίνων krinon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG judging the one judging the one judging 9
G2919-27 κρίνω krino V FUT ACT IND 1P SG judge I will judge I judge 8
G2919-21 κρίνειν krinein V PRS ACT INF to judge to judge to judge 5
G2919-23 κρίνεσθαι krinesthai V PRS PASS INF judged to be judged to be judged 5
G2919-18 κρίνατε krinate V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL judge Decide Judge, all of you 5
G2919-24 κρίνεται krinetai V PRS PASS IND 3P SG is judged is being judged is being judged 5
G2919-22 κρίνεις krineis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG you judge you are judging you are judging 4
G2919-38 κριθῆναι krithenai V AOR PASS INF to be judged to be judged to be judged 3

Occurrences in Scripture

115 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2919-38 Matthew 5:40 κριθῆναι krithenai V AOR PASS INF to sue to be judged to be judged
G2919-25 Matthew 7:1 κρίνετε krinete V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL judge be judging be judging
G2919-41 Matthew 7:1 κριθῆτε krithete V AOR PASS SUBJ 2P PL be judged you may be judged you may be judged
G2919-25 Matthew 7:2 κρίνετε krinete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL you judge be judging be judging
G2919-39 Matthew 7:2 κριθήσεσθε krithesesthe V FUT PASS IND 2P PL you will be judged you will be judged you will be judged
G2919-34 Matthew 19:28 κρίνοντες krinontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL judging those distinguishing judging
G2919-25 Luke 6:37 κρίνετε krinete V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL judge be judging be judging
G2919-41 Luke 6:37 κριθῆτε krithete V AOR PASS SUBJ 2P PL be judged you may be judged you may be judged
G2919-02 Luke 7:43 ἔκρινας ekrinas V AOR ACT IND 2P SG you judged you decided you judged
G2919-25 Luke 12:57 κρίνετε krinete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL judge be judging be judging
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