αὐθάδης
authádēs
G829 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Primarily, 'self-willed'—pertaining to someone who acts according to their own desires, ignoring the views, advice, or welfare of others. More broadly, describes a person characterized by stubbornness, arrogance, or obstinate insistence on their own way, often to the detriment of communal harmony or wise counsel. Can also imply insolence or egotism in social or ethical contexts.
Semantic Range
self-willed, stubborn, obstinate, arrogant, self-pleasing, self-centered, headstrong, insolent
Root / Etymology
Compound of αὐτός ('self') and likely the base of ἡδονή ('pleasure, satisfaction'). Thus, literally, 'pleasing oneself,' i.e., acting according to one's own pleasure or will rather than considering others.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Attested in Hellenistic and later Greek, αὐθάδης appears both in secular ethical-philosophical literature and in the New Testament (e.g., Titus 1:7; 2 Peter 2:10). In philosophical texts (such as Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics), it describes a vice in opposition to communal virtues—contrasted with those who are receptive to reason or correction. The term encompasses not mere independence, but a willful, headstrong disregard for others' perspectives or norms, often overlapping with notions of stubborn arrogance. The sense of self-pleasing or self-enjoyment is present but typically emphasizes the negative social/ethical outcome rather than simple enjoyment. Standard English translations, such as 'self-willed' or 'arrogant,' capture much but do not always convey the nuance of willful opposition or egotism against community standards. Related terms: ὑπερήφανος ('arrogant'), ἐπίκαιρος ('opportunist'). The semantic emphasis shifts depending on context—from simply opinionated to dangerously obstinate or insolent in contexts of leadership or authority.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from αὐτός and the base of ἡδονή; self-pleasing, i.e. arrogant:--self-willed.
Root Family
αὐθάδ- (authádēs) — to please oneself, to act according to one's own will, to be self-willed
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G829-01 |
αὐθάδη | authade | ADJ.S ACC M SG |
self-willed | a self-willed man | self-willed man | 1 |
G829-02 |
αὐθάδεις | authadeis | ADJ.A NOM M PL |
self-willed | self-willed ones | self-willed ones | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G829-01 |
Titus 1:7 | αὐθάδη | authade | ADJ.S ACC M SG |
self-willed | a self-willed man | self-willed man |
G829-02 |
2 Peter 2:10 | αὐθάδεις | authadeis | ADJ.A NOM M PL |
self-willed | self-willed ones | self-willed ones |