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μωραίνω

mōraínō

G3471 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To make foolish, to render senseless or without discernment; to cause someone or something to be deprived of practical understanding or rationality. In some contexts, to lose effectiveness or value, such as something becoming tasteless or insipid (often applied metaphorically to salt, losing its distinctive quality).

Semantic Range

to make foolish, to render senseless or lacking discernment; to act or become foolish; to make ineffective or futile; to become tasteless or insipid (especially of salt); to lose effectiveness or value

Root / Etymology

From the adjective μωρός (mōrós, 'foolish, dull, insipid, tasteless'). The verb μωραίνω is derived with the verbal suffix -αίνω, indicating causation or becoming, thus 'to make foolish' or 'to become foolish.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, μωραίνω had a broad sense, ranging from 'to act foolishly', 'to make foolish', to 'to become tasteless or insipid.' In the Septuagint, it commonly translates Hebrew terms relating to a loss of understanding or wisdom, and is infrequent but always negative in connotation. In the New Testament (cf. Matthew 5:13), it is used both literally ('to lose savour', with reference to salt) and more often figuratively ('to render foolish', as in 1 Corinthians 1:20, where God frustrates human wisdom). The metaphorical sense dominates in Hellenistic-Jewish and Christian literature, where it expresses a divestment of insight or divine wisdom. Later translations sometimes render the word as 'to become foolish' or 'to make foolish', but standard English uses like 'lose savour' are tied to idiomatic or extended metaphorical use, often not conveying the nuance of the Greek. Related to μωρός, the meaning should not be overlapped with terms for moral evil or ignorance, but instead focuses on senselessness or a lack of discernment.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from μωρός; to become insipid; figuratively, to make (passively, act) as a simpleton:--become fool, make foolish, lose savour.

Root Family

μωρ- (mōraínō) — to be foolish, to lack sense, to be dull-witted

Root μωρ- to make foolish, to become foolish, to make insipid, to become tasteless
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G3472 μωρία foolishness
G3474 μωρός senseless things

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3471-03 μωρανθῇ moranthe V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG loses-its-saltiness may be made foolish may become tasteless 2
G3471-01 ἐμώρανεν emoranen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG made foolish made foolish made foolish 1
G3471-02 ἐμωράνθησαν emoranthesan V AOR PASS IND 3P PL they became fools they were rendered foolish they were rendered foolish 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3471-03 Matthew 5:13 μωρανθῇ moranthe V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG loses_its_taste may be made foolish may become tasteless
G3471-03 Luke 14:34 μωρανθῇ moranthe V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG loses-its-saltiness may be made foolish may become tasteless
G3471-02 Romans 1:22 ἐμωράνθησαν emoranthesan V AOR PASS IND 3P PL they became fools they were rendered foolish they were rendered foolish
G3471-01 1 Corinthians 1:20 ἐμώρανεν emoranen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG made foolish made foolish made foolish
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