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ἄτοπος

átopos

G824 substantive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Out of place, improper; primarily conveying the sense of something not fitting its appropriate location or situation—whether literally (not in a geometric or physical location) or, more commonly, figuratively (inappropriate, improper, absurd, or even outrageous). Contextually, can denote behavior or reasoning that deviates from what is expected, understood as 'unreasonable,' 'perverse,' or 'illogical.' In some instances, it carries connotations of 'harmful' or 'injurious,' especially when describing speech or acts considered socially or morally deviant.

Semantic Range

out of place, unfitting, improper, strange, odd, absurd, illogical, unreasonable, perverse, harmful, injurious

Root / Etymology

From the alpha privative (ἀ-, a negative prefix) and τόπος (place, location): ἄτοπος literally means 'out of place' or 'without place.' This is a standard formation in Greek for the negation of a concept.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἄτοπος is used both literally and figuratively. Literally, it means 'not in the right place' or 'out of place.' Its figurative sense was prominent in philosophical and rhetorical contexts, often describing arguments, behaviors, or phenomena as 'absurd,' 'illogical,' 'strange,' or 'perverse.' In medical writers, ἄτοπος can refer to physical abnormalities ('unnatural'). In the Koine and New Testament era, usage is rare but appears in contexts such as Acts 25:5 and 2 Thessalonians 3:2, where it carries meanings like 'unreasonable' or 'wicked.' English translations often render it narrowly (e.g., 'harm,' 'unreasonable men'), but the Greek term encompasses a broad sense of deviation from what is appropriate, expected, or socially acceptable, not always implying intentional harm or moral wickedness. The semantic field overlaps with terms such as παράδοξος (paradoxical, strange) and ἄλογος (irrational), but ἄτοπος stresses the element of not belonging or not fitting a given context. No direct association with later theological concepts of evil or sin should be assumed; meaning is contextual.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from Α (as a negative particle) and τόπος; out of place, i.e. (figuratively) improper, injurious, wicked:--amiss, harm, unreasonable.

Root Family

ἄτοπος (atopos) — not fitting, out of place, improper

Root ἀ- + τόπος not fitting, out of place, improper

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G824-01 ἄτοπον atopon ADJ.S ACC N SG wrong something out of place improper ones 4

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G824-01 Luke 23:41 ἄτοπον atopon ADJ.S ACC N SG wrong something out of place wrong
G824-01 Acts 25:5 ἄτοπον atopon ADJ.S NOM N SG wrong something out of place something improper
G824-01 Acts 28:6 ἄτοπον atopon ADJ.S ACC N SG harm something out of place something out of place
G824-01 2 Thessalonians 3:2 ἀτόπων atopon ADJ.A GEN M PL unreasonable something out of place improper ones
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