Greek word · G172

ἄκακος

akakos

innocent

Literally "without kakos (badness)." It means free from evil, malice or guile; innocent. In some contexts it means naive, unsuspecting (Prov 1:4 LXX; Rom 16:18).

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἄκακος, -ον,

[in LXX for פְּתִי, תָּם, etc. ;]

(a) as in cl. (Æsch., Plat., al.), of persons, simple, guileless: Romans 16:18, Hebrews 7:26 (cf. Cremer, 327);

(b) of things, undamaged (? MM, VGT, see word).

† (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 7:26

Range of meaning

Literally "without kakos (badness)." It means free from evil, malice or guile; innocent. In some contexts it means naive, unsuspecting (Prov 1:4 LXX; Rom 16:18).

Against the English

KJV and YLT "harmless" now suggests "not dangerous, inoffensive." BSB, ESV and NASB "innocent" and WEB "guiltless" are closer. NIV "blameless" is acceptable but leans toward reputation more than inner character.

How it drifted

In 1611 "harmless" could mean "free from wrongdoing, innocent" (compare Matt 10:16 KJV "harmless as doves"). Today it mostly means "posing no threat."

Used elsewhere in the period

Jeremiah 11:19 LXX: "I was like an innocent lamb (arnion akakon) led to slaughter." The Greek Job uses it among Job's virtues. It is used for the upright in the Greek Psalms and Proverbs.

From the study of Romans 16:18

Range of meaning

Literally 'without evil'. It covers innocent, guileless and harmless, and also unsuspecting, naive and easily misled. Context decides whether the word is praise or a warning.

Against the English

KJV 'the simple', BSB/ESV/NIV 'the naive', NASB 'the unsuspecting', WEB 'the innocent', YLT 'the harmless'. 'Naive' brings out the weakness. 'Innocent' brings out the virtue. The Greek holds both.

How it drifted

In modern English, KJV's 'simple' can sound like 'unintelligent'. In the KJV's day, as in Proverbs, 'the simple' meant the inexperienced and open-minded, not the stupid.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament, akakos often translates Hebrew petî, 'the simple or open one' of Proverbs: Proverbs 1:4 and 8:5, and 14:15, 'the akakos believes every word'. Hebrews 7:26 uses it as praise of Christ: 'holy, innocent'.

Where it appears

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 16:18 ἀκάκων. naive.

    For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

    Here: Literally 'without-evil'. These are people who have no crooked intent themselves and so do not expect it in others. That guilelessness is a virtue, but it also leaves them open to being exploited.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 7:26 ἄκακος, innocent,

    Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

    Here: Literally "without badness." It means free of malice and wrongdoing. The same word describes the "innocent lamb led to slaughter" in the Greek Jeremiah 11:19.

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