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βλαβερός

blaberós

G983 attributive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Adjective indicating the quality of causing harm, injury, or damage; primarily, harmful or injurious in nature or effect. The term encompasses both physical and metaphorical contexts, referring to that which brings detriment, trouble, or negative consequence.

Semantic Range

harmful, injurious, hurtful, causing physical injury, causing damage, leading to disadvantage, detrimental

Root / Etymology

From the verb βλάπτω (to harm, to injure); the adjective-forming suffix -ερός denotes an inherent quality of causing harm.

Historical & Contextual Notes

βλαβερός is rare in surviving Greek literature, appearing primarily in Hellenistic and later periods, including the Septuagint (LXX) and some Hellenistic authors. In the context of the LXX (e.g., Job 9:23 LXX), it describes persons, forces, or actions characterized by being a source of harm or danger. The term is built on the well-attested verb βλάπτω, which is broadly used in classical and Koine Greek for causing literal or figurative injury. English translations such as 'hurtful', 'harmful', or 'injurious' generally capture the basic force, though they may not express the full range of application (physical, circumstantial, or interpersonal detriment). Its use in the New Testament is extremely limited or absent, so its semantic range is reconstructed from the LXX, Hellenistic literature, and later sources. Contrasts with terms like ὠφέλιμος ('beneficial', 'useful'), marking a negative value.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from βλάπτω; injurious:--hurtful.

Root Family

βλαβερός (blaberós) — harmful, injurious, damaging

Root βλαβ- to harm, to injure, to damage

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G983-01 βλαβεράς blaberas ADJ.A ACC F PL harmful harmful harmful 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G983-01 1 Timothy 6:9 βλαβεράς blaberas ADJ.A ACC F PL harmful harmful harmful
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