ἀτιμόω
atimóō
G821
SILEX Entry
Definition
To dishonor or treat with disrespect; to shame, degrade, or subject to indignity. The primary meaning is to act in a manner that diminishes another's status, honor, or reputation; contextually, it also encompasses mistreating or humiliating someone through contemptuous or shameful actions. In some contexts, it can specifically refer to public mockery, abuse, or maltreatment, particularly actions that result in loss of respect or standing.
Semantic Range
to dishonor, to degrade, to insult, to humiliate, to treat with contempt, to handle shamefully, to subject to indignity, to abuse (with loss of honor)
Root / Etymology
Derived from ἄτιμος (without honor; dishonored) with the verbal ending -όω, forming a causative verb: 'to cause to be without honor.' Related to the more frequent verb ἀτιμάζω, which also means 'to dishonor' or 'to treat shamefully.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb ἀτιμόω is used sparingly in Koine Greek, with more common usage found in the related ἀτιμάζω. Both stem from the core idea of withholding or removing honor. In the Septuagint and other Hellenistic works, these terms can denote social degradation, public shaming, or violation of expected respect (especially in legal or familial contexts). In the New Testament, usage is rare and primarily indicates harsh, insulting, or abusive treatment. English translations often render ἀτιμόω as 'to shame' or 'to treat shamefully,' but these do not always convey the nuance of public loss of status or honor intrinsic in Greco-Roman social frameworks. The lexical field overlaps with verbs such as ὑβρίζω ('to insult, outrage') but with a focus on honor-based relationships rather than physical violence.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἄτιμος; used like ἀτιμάζω, to maltreat:--handle shamefully.
Word Forms
0 distinct forms
No word forms found for this Strong's number.
Occurrences in Scripture
0 occurrences
No occurrences found.