ἀσχήμων
aschḗmōn
G809 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Lacking external form, appearance, or symmetry; lacking outward shape or fashion; in extended or figurative usage, lacking decorum, dignity, or attractiveness. The term primarily signifies something without proper form or appearance, and by extension, something considered lacking in beauty, nobility, or social propriety.
Semantic Range
without form, shapeless, indecorous, unpresentable, not respectable, unattractive, lacking dignity, indecent
Root / Etymology
From the alpha privative (ἀ-, meaning 'not') and σχῆμα (schema, 'form,' 'shape,' 'figure'). Ἀσχήμων thus means 'not having shape/form.' Cognate with words denoting outward form or fashion, with the negating prefix. No evidence of derivation from non-Greek sources.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Attested in classical Greek (e.g., Herodotus, Plato) with the sense of 'unshapely,' 'disorderly,' or 'indecent.' In Koine and Hellenistic usage, it often conveys a lack of social acceptability, refinement, or decorum, including in ethical and aesthetic contexts. In the New Testament (e.g., 1 Corinthians 12:23), it refers to parts of the body considered less presentable or honorable, highlighting social standards regarding propriety and respectability. Standard English translations (e.g., 'uncomely,' 'less honorable,' 'indecorous') capture only part of the semantic range, often focusing on outward appearance rather than broader notions of social or moral unacceptability. Related to but distinct from ἄτιμος ('without honor') and ἀπρεπής ('improper'), ἀσχήμων emphasizes form or appearance more than abstract dishonor. In the Septuagint and later Jewish Greek literature, the term retains its connotation of outward lack and may also refer to ritual or bodily indecency. Its semantic field overlaps at the margins with discussions about honor and shame in Greco-Roman society but is focused on visible or socially-perceived lack of form or propriety.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from Α (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of ἔχω (in the sense of its congener σχῆμα); properly, shapeless, i.e. (figuratively) inelegant:--uncomely.
Root Family
σχῆμα (euschēmónōs) — to have form, to be well-shaped, to appear in fitting manner
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G809-01 |
ἀσχήμονα | aschemona | ADJ.S NOM N PL |
uncomely | the unpresentable things | unpresentable things | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G809-01 |
1 Corinthians 12:23 | ἀσχήμονα | aschemona | ADJ.S NOM N PL |
uncomely | the unpresentable things | unpresentable things |