μεμψίμοιρος
mempsímoiros
G3202 attributive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Disposed to faultfinding or complaining, particularly regarding one's lot or portion in life; given to expressing dissatisfaction or grievance, especially in a manner attributing one's circumstances to fate. Primarily denotes a spirit of discontentment or grumbling about what one perceives as their allotted portion or destiny.
Semantic Range
complaining about one's fate, grumbling against one's lot or destiny, faultfinding regarding circumstances, expressing grievance about one's assigned portion, querulousness about destiny
Root / Etymology
Compound term: from the verb μέμφομαι ('to blame, censure') and the noun μοῖρα ('portion, share, fate'); literally 'one who blames (his) portion/fate.' Related to the root μέμφομαι and the noun μοῖρα.
Historical & Contextual Notes
μεμψίμοιρος is a rare word in Greek literature, with very limited attestation outside of Christian texts and later Hellenistic authors. The term characterizes a specific type of dissatisfaction tied to one's perceived fate or share—someone who responds to life's circumstances with complaint or resentment. Its single New Testament occurrence (Jude 16) is reinforced by broader Greco-Roman literary conventions of blaming fate for misfortune. The English translation 'complainer' or 'grumbler' captures the overt behavior but loses the nuance of blaming fate or one's portion (μοῖρα). The concept is related to, but more specific than, the more general μέμψις ('blame, censure').
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a presumed derivative of μέμφομαι and (fate; akin to the base of μέρος); blaming fate, i.e. querulous (discontented):--complainer.
Root Family
μεμψίμοιρος (mempsimoiros) — to blame, portion, fate, assigned lot
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3202-01 |
μεμψίμοιροι | mempsimoiroi | ADJ.A NOM M PL |
malcontents | fate-blaming complainers | fate-blaming complainers | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3202-01 |
Jude 1:16 | μεμψίμοιροι | mempsimoiroi | ADJ.A NOM M PL |
malcontents | fate-blaming complainers | fate-blaming complainers |