ὑβριστής (G5197) — Greek Lexicon

ὑβριστής

hybristḗs

G5197 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

One who acts with violence or outrageous arrogance toward others; a person who mistreats, insults, or abuses others, characterized by insolent or wanton behavior. The core meaning refers to a person whose actions arise from hubris—overbearing pride or insolence—resulting in contemptuous or injurious treatment of others. The word can encompass verbal abuse (insults, slanders) as well as physical mistreatment, depending on context.

Semantic Range

insolent person, violent person, abusive person, one who insults, one who mistreats others out of pride or arrogance, wanton aggressor, person guilty of hubris

Root / Etymology

From the verb ὑβρίζω (to act with hubris, commit violence, insult, abuse), itself derived from the noun ὕβρις, denoting prideful insolence or outrageous behavior. The suffix -τής indicates an agent or person performing said action. Thus, ὑβριστής is the doer of ὕβρις.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ὑβριστής refers broadly to someone guilty of ὕβρις, meaning not only pride but specifically actions that violate social norms through contempt for others—often combining elements of violence, insult, and arrogance. The term is rare in the Septuagint but appears in Hellenistic and Roman-period literature to describe those who act with egregious insolence against individuals or gods. In the New Testament (e.g., 1 Tim 1:13), ὑβριστής designates those who are abusive, injurious, or show contempt through their actions. Standard English translations like 'insolent man' or 'violent person' may capture part of the sense but underplay the term’s emphasis on prideful, contemptuous behavior underlying the acts of abuse. The term contrasts with other words: where βλάπτης refers to a doer of harm (more general), ὑβριστής carries the connotation of insult and arrogance. Usage reflects social and moral norms about how pride leads to the abusive treatment of others.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ὑβρίζω; an insulter, i.e. maltreater:--despiteful, injurious.

Root Family

ὑβριστής (hybristēs) — to insult, to abuse, to act violently, to display insolence

Root ὑβρισ- to insult, to abuse, to act violently, to display insolence

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G5197-01`	ὑβριστάς	ubristas	`N ACC M PL`	insolent	insolent abusers	insolent abusers	1
`G5197-02`	ὑβριστήν	ubristen	`N ACC M SG`	an insolent man	an insolent abuser	an insolent abuser	1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G5197-01`	Romans 1:30	ὑβριστάς	ubristas	`N ACC M PL`	insolent	insolent abusers	insolent abusers
`G5197-02`	1 Timothy 1:13	ὑβριστήν	ubristen	`N ACC M SG`	an insolent man	an insolent abuser	an insolent abuser

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