ψευδολόγος
pseudológos
G5573 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
One who speaks falsely; a liar, false speaker. The term primarily denotes someone who utters falsehoods or intentionally deceives through speech. In certain contexts, especially in later Greek and some early Christian texts, it may refer specifically to a person who promulgates false teaching or erroneous doctrine, but its core meaning is that of one who falsifies the truth through spoken words.
Semantic Range
liar, speaker of lies, one who utters falsehoods, one who deceives by speech, propagator of false doctrine (in specific contexts)
Root / Etymology
From the adjective ψευδής ('false, lying') and the verb λέγω ('to say, speak'). The word is a compound meaning literally 'false-speaker'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
ψευδολόγος is rare in classical Greek, with most attestations appearing in later Hellenistic and Christian Greek. The term is used more generally for 'liar' or 'speaker of falsehoods' in non-biblical Greek, without the specific doctrinal connotations it sometimes takes on in ecclesiastical contexts. In certain New Testament and patristic contexts, it denotes an individual who misleads others through intentional deceit in speech, including, but not limited to, the promotion of false teachings. Standard English translations often render this term simply as 'liar,' which conveys the core sense but may miss the nuance of active, intentional speech-based deception. In contrast, the related term ψεύστης (liar) lacks the explicit tie to the act of speaking found in ψευδολόγος, which emphasizes the verbal propagation of falsehoods.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ψευδής and λέγω; mendacious, i.e. promulgating erroneous Christian doctrine:--speaking lies.
Root Family
ψευδολόγος (pseudologos) — lying, speaking falsely, uttering deception
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5573-01 |
ψευδολόγων | pseudologon | ADJ.S GEN M PL |
liars | of false-speakers | of false-speakers | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5573-01 |
1 Timothy 4:2 | ψευδολόγων | pseudologon | ADJ.S GEN M PL |
liars | of false-speakers | of false-speakers |