← G93 G95 →

ἄδικος

ádikos

G94 substantive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Unjust; not conforming to what is right, just, or fair; departing from justice, equity, or righteousness. The term primarily describes a person, action, or decision that is contrary to accepted norms of justice or fairness. In some contexts, it can extend to mean 'wrongdoer,' 'in the wrong,' or 'immoral.' In certain legal or forensic settings, it signifies one who acts contrary to law or custom; in ethical discourse, one who fails to meet moral obligations.

Semantic Range

unjust, unrighteous, not conforming to justice, in the wrong, lawbreaker, corrupt, wrongdoer, wicked (contextually), not in accord with divine or communal norms

Root / Etymology

Derived from the alpha privative (ἀ-, negative prefix) and δίκαιος (just, righteous), ultimately from δίκη (justice, right, custom). Hence, ἄδικος literally means 'not just' or 'not righteous.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἄδικος regularly describes someone violating standards of justice, whether in legal, social, or interpersonal relationships. The term is used throughout the Septuagint for those who defy God's commands or act unjustly in human affairs. In the New Testament, it often carries a forensic or ethical sense, describing those who stand in the wrong before God or society. The connotation may vary from a legal 'culprit' or 'lawbreaker' (as in court verdicts) to a general 'unrighteous person.' English translations frequently use 'unjust' or 'unrighteous,' but these may not reflect the breadth of the term, which can include breaches of civil, ritual, or moral expectations. The word is contrasted with δίκαιος (just, righteous) and sometimes carries the nuance of being outside the boundaries of communal or divine approval, not necessarily indicating flagrant wickedness but a lack of alignment with justice or right order. The term is applied both to individuals and actions. Its usage does not inherently denote 'heathen' or outsider status, though such associations may occur contextually where non-observance of divine or communal rules is implied. In Jewish Hellenistic literature, ἄδικος can describe those who violate Torah standards but is equally rooted in broader Greek ethical and legal discourse.

Translation Consistency

primary "unjust" 10 occurrences

ἄδικος primarily means ‘not conforming to justice’—i.e., unjust. ‘Unjust’ is the most common, natural English rendering in the attested P2 forms, fits legal, ethical, and adjectival/substantive uses (e.g. ‘the unjust’), and best covers the typical semantic range more naturally than rarer alternatives like ‘unrighteous.’

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"unrighteous" (1x) "ones acting unjustly" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from Α (as a negative particle) and δίκη; unjust; by extension wicked; by implication, treacherous; specially, heathen:--unjust, unrighteous.

Root Family

δικ- (díkaios) — just, upright, in accordance with justice

Root δικ- justice, right, law, custom (negated: not just, not right)
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G1342 δίκαιος upright
G1345 δικαίωμα righteous decree
G1346 δικαίως justly
G1348 δικαστής a judge
G1556 ἐκδικέω you are exacting justice

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G94-04 ἄδικος adikos ADJ.P NOM M SG unrighteous unjust one unjust one 4
G94-03 ἀδίκων adikon ADJ.S GEN M PL the unrighteous one acting unjustly the unjust ones 3
G94-02 ἄδικοι adikoi ADJ.S NOM M PL unjust unjust ones unjust ones 2
G94-05 ἀδίκους adikous ADJ.S ACC M PL the unrighteous unjust ones unjust ones 2
G94-01 ἀδίκῳ adiko ADJ.A DAT M SG unrighteous I am acting unjustly unrighteous 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G94-05 Matthew 5:45 ἀδίκους adikous ADJ.S ACC M PL unrighteous unjust ones unjust ones
G94-04 Luke 16:10 ἄδικος adikos ADJ.P NOM M SG is unrighteous unjust one unjust one
G94-04 Luke 16:10 ἄδικός adikos-2 ADJ.P NOM M SG unrighteous unjust one unjust one
G94-01 Luke 16:11 ἀδίκῳ adiko ADJ.A DAT M SG unrighteous I am acting unjustly unrighteous
G94-02 Luke 18:11 ἄδικοι adikoi ADJ.S NOM M PL unjust unjust ones unjust ones
G94-03 Acts 24:15 ἀδίκων adikon ADJ.S GEN M PL unrighteous one acting unjustly ones acting unjustly
G94-04 Romans 3:5 ἄδικος adikos ADJ.P NOM M SG unrighteous unjust one unjust one
G94-03 1 Corinthians 6:1 ἀδίκων adikon ADJ.S GEN M PL unjust one acting unjustly the unjust ones
G94-02 1 Corinthians 6:9 ἄδικοι adikoi ADJ.S NOM M PL unrighteous unjust ones unjust ones
G94-04 Hebrews 6:10 ἄδικος adikos ADJ.P NOM M SG unjust unjust one unjust one
G94-03 1 Peter 3:18 ἀδίκων adikon ADJ.S GEN M PL the unrighteous one acting unjustly the unjust ones
G94-05 2 Peter 2:9 ἀδίκους adikous ADJ.S ACC M PL the unrighteous unjust ones unjust ones
← G93 Greek Lexicon G95 →