Greek word · G159

αἴτιος

aitios

causer

As an adjective: responsible, culpable. As a noun: the cause, the one responsible for an outcome, good or bad. In the NT it is used as a noun only here; the neuter aition means 'grounds, cause' (Luke 23:4, 14, 22; Acts 19:40).

Appears 5 times in 5 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

αἴτιος, -α, ὁ

(αἰτία), [in LXX: 1 Samuel 22:22 (סבב) Dan LXX Bel 41, TH ib. 42, Su 53, 2Ma.4:47 13:4, 4Ma.1:11 * ;]

1. causative of, responsible for; as subst., ὁ αἰ., the cause, author: Hebrews 5:9; τὸ αἰ., the cause, Acts 19:40.

2. blameworthy, culpable; as subst., ὁ αἰ., the culprit, the accused (Lat. reus); τὸ αἰ. (= αἰτία, 3), the crime, Luke 23:4,14,22.

† (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 Hebrews 5:9

Range of meaning

As an adjective: responsible, culpable. As a noun: the cause, the one responsible for an outcome, good or bad. In the NT it is used as a noun only here; the neuter aition means 'grounds, cause' (Luke 23:4, 14, 22; Acts 19:40).

Against the English

KJV and WEB 'author' meant 'originator, the one who causes' in 1611, but today it suggests a writer. BSB, ESV and NIV 'source' is closer. YLT 'a cause' is the most literal. The KJV also uses 'author' for a different Greek word, archēgos ('pioneer, founder,' Heb 2:10; 12:2), which blurs two distinct terms in Hebrews.

How it drifted

'Author' narrowed in English to mean a writer of books. Its older broad sense of 'originator' survives mainly in phrases like 'the author of the plan.'

Used elsewhere in the period

'Cause of salvation' (aitios sōtērias) was a stock Hellenistic phrase in honorific language for rulers, generals and benefactors who rescued a city or people. Commentators (e.g. Attridge, Lane) cite parallels in Philo (On Agriculture 96, of the bronze serpent), Josephus and Diodorus Siculus.

Where it appears

Luke · 3

  1. Luke 23:4 αἴτιον guilty

    Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

  2. Luke 23:14 αἴτιον guilty

    and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him here in your presence and found Him not guilty of your charges against Him.

  3. Luke 23:22 αἴτιον worthy

    A third time he said to them, “What evil has this man done? I have found in Him no offense worthy of death. So after I punish Him, I will release Him.”

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 19:40 αἰτίου cause

    For we are in jeopardy of being charged with rioting for today’s events, and we have no justification to account for this commotion.”

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 5:9 αἴτιος [the] author

    And having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him

    Here: 'Cause' or 'source,' with no article. It names the person responsible for bringing something about. It was a standard Greek phrase for honoring a benefactor or deliverer as the 'cause of safety.'

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