παρανομέω
paranoméō
G3891 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
to act contrary to law; to commit an act that opposes an established law or norm. The primary meaning is to violate or transgress a law, ordinance, or accepted custom. In contextual use, it can also mean to act in defiance of a recognized standard or to behave unlawfully.
Semantic Range
to act contrary to law, to transgress, to violate or break a law or custom, to behave unlawfully, to defy a legal or moral standard, to act in violation of prescribed norms
Root / Etymology
Derived from the compound of παρά ('beside, contrary to, against') and νόμος ('law, custom, norm'). Thus, παρανομέω literally denotes 'to act against law/norm.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek literature, παρανομέω is used to refer to the act of violating civil or customary law, often in the context of political or social order. In Hellenistic and Koine usage, including the Septuagint and the New Testament, it typically refers to transgression of divine law (as communicated in the Torah or other sacred ordinance), or of prescribed legal or moral codes. The term is less frequent than the more common ἀνομέω ('to act lawlessly'), but emphasizes an active opposition or deliberate contravention of law rather than general lawlessness. In New Testament usage (e.g., Acts 23:3), παρανομέω specifically describes behavior that is at odds with religious law. English translations often render it as 'transgress,' 'act contrary to the law,' or 'break the law,' which capture the main sense, but can miss the nuance of acting in opposition to a recognized norm rather than merely failing to observe a law. The distinction between παρανομέω and other cognates—such as ἀνομέω and παραβαίνω—can shed light on the particular focus of intentional or oppositional violation inherent in παρανομέω.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a compound of παρά and νόμος; to be opposed to law, i.e. to transgress:--contrary to law.
Root Family
παρανομ- (paranoméō) — to oppose law, to transgress
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3891-01 |
παρανομῶν | paranomon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
violating it | law-opposing (one) | law-opposing (one) | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3891-01 |
Acts 23:3 | παρανομῶν | paranomon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
violating it | law-opposing (one) | law-opposing (one) |