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ψεύστης

pseústēs

G5583 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

One who lies, a person who intentionally makes false statements or deceives; a deceiver, falsifier. In primary usage, refers to an individual who knowingly communicates untruth. In various contexts, extends to someone who distorts facts or deceives others, not limited to outright verbal lying but encompassing fraudulent behavior.

Semantic Range

liar, deceiver, falsifier, one who utters or lives by falsehood, perjurer, fabricator of lies

Root / Etymology

From the verb ψεύδομαι ('to lie, to speak falsely'). Formed with the agentive suffix -στης, indicating a person who performs the action of the root verb ('one who lies').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ψεύστης is attested with the meaning of 'liar' or 'deceiver,' often with a strong moral or legal connotation (e.g., in courts, a ψεύστης is contrasted with a trustworthy witnes). In the Hellenistic period, including the Septuagint and other Koine sources, ψεύστης continues to denote not only someone who utters falsehoods, but also, more broadly, a person characterized by deceit. In the New Testament, the term appears in moral or polemical contexts (e.g., John, Revelation), sometimes applied generically to a person whose testimony or claims are untrustworthy, and sometimes specifically to someone opposing truth as defined in a given community. English translations commonly use 'liar,' but the force of the term ranges from legal accusation to condemnation of false religious or ethical claims. The term contrasts with ἀληθής ('truthful'), and is sometimes placed in antithesis to terms for truthful testimony or veracity. Not a technical legal term, but carries significant negative moral judgment.

Translation Consistency

primary "liar" 10 occurrences

ψευστής primarily denotes a person who intentionally utters falsehoods. “Liar” is the natural, common English noun that best captures the typical sense (deceiver/falsifier) and will render idiomatically in singular and plural forms when inflected across contexts.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ψεύδομαι; a falsifier:--liar.

Root Family

ψεύστης (pseustēs) — to lie, to speak falsely, to deceive

Root ψευδ- to lie, to speak falsely, to deceive

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5583-04 ψεύστης pseustes N NOM M SG liar liar liar 6
G5583-03 ψεύστην pseusten N ACC M SG liar a deceiver a liar 2
G5583-02 ψεύσταις pseustais ADJ.S DAT M PL for liars to deceivers to liars 1
G5583-01 ψεῦσται pseustai N NOM M PL liars liars liars 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5583-04 John 8:44 ψεύστης pseustes N NOM M SG liar liar liar
G5583-04 John 8:55 ψεύστης pseustes N NOM M SG liar liar liar
G5583-04 Romans 3:4 ψεύστης pseustes N NOM M SG a liar liar liar
G5583-02 1 Timothy 1:10 ψεύσταις pseustais ADJ.S DAT M PL for liars to deceivers to liars
G5583-01 Titus 1:12 ψεῦσται pseustai N NOM M PL liars liars liars
G5583-03 1 John 1:10 ψεύστην pseusten N ACC M SG liar a deceiver a liar
G5583-04 1 John 2:4 ψεύστης pseustes N NOM M SG liar liar liar
G5583-04 1 John 2:22 ψεύστης pseustes N NOM M SG liar liar liar
G5583-04 1 John 4:20 ψεύστης pseustes N NOM M SG liar liar liar
G5583-03 1 John 5:10 ψεύστην pseusten N ACC M SG liar a deceiver a liar
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