Greek word · G1384

δόκιμος

dokimos

tested

Tested and found genuine; approved after examination; esteemed, reputable. Used of metals and coins that passed the assay, and of people proven by trial.

Appears 7 times in 7 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 31, 2026

What it means

δοκίμιος, -α, -ον

(δοκιμή), [in LXX: ἀργύριον δ. (עֲלִיל), Psalms 12:6; and as seel. for δόκιμος (B), ἀργυρίου δ. (זָקַק pual.), 1 Chronicles 29:4 (Bab); εἰ δ .ίστιν (יְקָר), Zechariah 11:13 א with a vid, Q *)* ;]

= δόκιμος,

tested, approved: τὸ δ. ὑμῶν τ. πίστεως, that which is approved in your faith, 1 Peter 1:7 (where Hort suggests the seel. δόκιμος, found in some cursives), James 1:3 (but see Mayor, in l For full discussion of this word, not hitherto found in a Gk. Lexicon, and for exx. of its use in π., see Deiss. (to whom is due the credit of its discovery), BS, 259 ff.; MM, Exp., xi; cf. also Milligan, NTD, 76).†

δόκιμος, -ον

(δέκομαι = δέχομαι) [in LXX for זָקַק pual., etc. ;]

primarily of metals, tested, accepted, approved: of persons, Romans 14:18 16:10, 1 Corinthians 11:19, 2 Corinthians 10:18 13:7, 2 Timothy 2:15, James 1:12 (Cremer, 212, 697).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 2 Timothy 2:15

Range of meaning: Tested and found genuine; approved after examination; esteemed, reputable. Used of metals and coins that passed the assay, and of people proven by trial.
Against the English: 'Approved' is accurate, but English loses the picture of testing. This is approval earned by passing an inspection, not simply being liked or accepted.
Used elsewhere in the period: Used of tested, genuine coinage and metal in Greek writers and in the Septuagint (e.g. Genesis 23:16, 'silver current with the merchant'). In Paul: Romans 16:10 ('Apelles, approved in Christ'), 1 Corinthians 11:19, 2 Corinthians 10:18 ('not the one who commends himself is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends'). The opposite, adokimos ('failing the test'), describes the false teachers in 2 Timothy 3:8.

From the study of James 1:12

Range of meaning: 'Tested and found genuine', 'accepted after examination'. Used of coins and metals that pass assay, and of people approved for office or esteemed.
Against the English: BSB, ESV and NIV ('when he has stood the test', 'having stood the test') convey the result well. NASB and WEB 'approved' and YLT 'becoming approved' are closer to the word. KJV's 'when he is tried' loses the outcome: being tried is not the same as being approved.
Used elsewhere in the period: Papyri use dokimos of money accepted as good currency. LXX Gen 23:16 has 'approved silver' and Zech 13:9 'I will test them as gold is tested'. Wisdom 3:5–6 says God 'tested them and found them worthy of himself; like gold in the furnace he tried them'. Compare 1 Pet 1:7 and James's own dokimion in 1:3.

From the study of 1 Corinthians 11:19

Range of meaning: "Tested and found genuine, approved, of proven worth." Used for coins and metals that passed assaying, for people whose character has been proved, and for people of good standing in public opinion. Its opposite is adokimos, "failing the test, rejected" (1 Cor 9:27).
Against the English: "Approved" (KJV, NASB, WEB, BSB) keeps the idea of passing a test. ESV's "genuine" catches the coin image. NIV and NLT add "God's" approval. That is one reading, but the Greek does not name who does the approving.
Used elsewhere in the period: In the LXX and in Greek papyri it is used of refined, standard-weight silver (Gen 23:16 LXX: "silver dokimon for merchants"). Paul uses it for Christians who have proved themselves (Rom 16:10; 2 Cor 10:18; 13:7). Athens had a formal dokimasia, a scrutiny of candidates before they took public office. Roman Corinth valued public honours, and people of rank were openly marked out as respectable.

Where it appears

Romans · 2

Romans 14:18 δόκιμος approved

For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

Here: The word describes something that has been put to the test and found genuine, like a coin that passes an assay (a test of whether the metal is pure). The point is that people looking on can recognise the real thing. It does not mean being popular.
Romans 16:10 δόκιμον approved

Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.

1 Corinthians · 1

1 Corinthians 11:19 δόκιμοι approved

And indeed, there must be differences among you to show which of you are approved.

Here: Those who have been tested and passed, like a coin proved to be real metal. In context this ties to the testing language that follows ("let a person test himself," v.28).

2 Corinthians · 2

2 Corinthians 10:18 δόκιμος, approved,

For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

Here: Used of metal or coins that have passed the test and are shown to be real, not counterfeit. The question is not who gets a sign-off but who has been shown to be the real thing.
2 Corinthians 13:7 δόκιμοι approved

Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what is right, even if we appear to have failed.

Here: Shown to be genuine after testing, like a coin or a metal that passes the assay. Here it means Paul proved to be a true apostle by a visible display of power.

2 Timothy · 1

2 Timothy 2:15 δόκιμον approved

Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.

Here: Approved because tested, the way metal or coins were assayed and found genuine. The opposite of the 'disqualified' (adokimoi) false teachers of 3:8.

James · 1

James 1:12 δόκιμος approved

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

Here: A word from assaying metals and coins: something that has gone through the test and been accepted as genuine. It echoes 'the testing (dokimion) of your faith' in 1:3. The person is not only tested but certified real.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.