Greek word · G2920

κρίσις

krisis

judgment

A decision or verdict; a legal process or trial; judgment as an act of a judge. Depending on context it can be positive (justice, vindication) or negative (condemnation). In Jewish and early Christian writing it often means God's final judgment.

Appears 47 times in 46 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

κρίσις, -εως, ἡ

(κρίνω), [in LXX chiefly for מִשְׁפָּט, also for רִיב, etc. ;]

1. a seperating, selection (Arist., al.)

2. a decision, judgment (cl.): John 8:16, 1 Timothy 5:24, 2 Peter 2:11, Jude 1:9; κ. κρίνειν, John 7:24; in forensic sense, Acts 8:33 (LXX) (see Page, in l); esp. of the Divine judgment, John 3:19 5:24, 27 5:29-30 12:31 16:8, 11, 2 Thessalonians 1:5, Hebrews 10:27, James 2:13 5:12, 2 Peter 2:4, Revelation 18:10; pl., Revelation 16:7 19:2; of the last judgment, Matthew 10:15 11:22, 24 12:36, 41-42 Luke 10:14 11:31-32, Hebrews 9:27, 2 Peter 2:9 3:7, 1 John 4:17, Jude 1:6; τῆς γεέννης, Matthew 23:33.

3. By meton. (as in LXX for מִשְׁפָּט, Isaiah 5:7, al.; דִּישׁוֹן, Daniel 7:10), of the standard of judgment, right, justice: Matthew 12:18, 20 (LXX, Isa 42:43) Isa 23:23, Luke 11:42; of the tribunal (a local court), Matthew 5:21-22†

(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 9:27

Range of meaning

A decision or verdict; a legal process or trial; judgment as an act of a judge. Depending on context it can be positive (justice, vindication) or negative (condemnation). In Jewish and early Christian writing it often means God's final judgment.

Against the English

'Judgment' is the right word. A modern reader may hear only 'punishment' or 'condemnation', but krisis is the verdict itself, and the outcome depends on the context. KJV adds 'the' ('the judgment'), which suggests one known event, though the Greek has no article. BSB and NIV add 'to face', which is a fair way to supply the missing verb.

How it drifted

Over centuries of preaching, 'judgment' has come to mean almost only damnation. The Greek word is broader: it is the moment of being judged.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Hebrews, judgment is a serious matter: 'a fearful expectation of judgment' for those who deliberately reject Christ (10:27); 'the Lord will judge his people… It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God' (10:30–31); 'God, the judge of all' (12:23); 'eternal judgment' listed among the first teachings (6:2, though with the related word krima). The Greek Old Testament often uses krisis to translate Hebrew mishpat (justice, verdict).

From the study of James 5:12

Range of meaning

Judging, a judicial decision, a verdict, a court. Often, especially in Jewish texts about the end, God’s final judgment. Depending on context it can mean an adverse verdict, condemnation.

Against the English

KJV and ESV give “condemnation,” which states the bad outcome outright. “Judgment” (BSB, NASB, YLT) keeps the courtroom picture: you are brought under the Judge’s verdict. WEB’s “hypocrisy” follows a different Greek reading.

Used elsewhere in the period

James uses it in 2:13 (“judgment without mercy… mercy triumphs over judgment”). The related verb appears in 5:9 (“so that you will not be judged; the Judge is standing at the door”). The Septuagint and Second Temple writings use it for God’s judging of the world.

From the study of 2 Peter 2:4

Range of meaning

A legal decision or process: trial, judgment, verdict, and sometimes the condemnation that results. In Jewish end-time texts it means the great Judgment at the end of the age.

Against the English

'Judgment' is right. The thing to notice is that the judgment is still in the future for these angels.

Used elsewhere in the period

1 Enoch 10:6 and 10:12 ('the day of the great judgment'); Jude 6 ('the judgment of the great day'); 2 Peter 2:9 and 3:7 ('the day of judgment').

Where it appears

Matthew · 12
  1. Matthew 5:21 κρίσει· judgment;’

    You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’

    Here: Here mainly the judicial process: being tried before a court, most likely the local town court that Deuteronomy 16:18 required. In the next verse it begins a ladder that ends in Gehenna.

  2. Matthew 5:22 κρίσει· judgment;

    But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.

    Here: Repeats v. 21 word for word. There it meant the court that tried killers, probably the local town court. Anger is now taken to that court.

  3. Matthew 10:15 κρίσεως of judgment

    Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

    Here: The act of judging, with a verdict and a sentence. Here it is God's final public hearing at the end of the age, where whole communities, ancient and recent, are judged.

  4. Matthew 11:22 κρίσεως of judgment

    But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.

    Here: A courtroom word for judging and the verdict that results. Here it is God's final hearing and sentence at the end of the age, which in context means condemnation for those who are found guilty.

  5. Matthew 11:24 κρίσεως of judgment

    But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

    Here: The act of judging and the verdict it produces. Together with 'day' it names the final court of God that Jewish hope expected.

  6. Matthew 12:18 κρίσιν justice

    “Here is My Servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.

    Here: It renders Hebrew mishpat: a ruler's rightful decision and the right order it sets up. It means justice as putting things right, not only a sentence of condemnation. It is placed before the verb for emphasis.

  7. Matthew 12:20 κρίσιν. justice.

    A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory.

    Here: Stands for Isaiah's mishpat: God's right ruling and the right order it sets up, justice in the full sense. Elsewhere in this chapter (12:36, 41–42) the same word means the final Judgment, so both ideas are present.

  8. Matthew 12:36 κρίσεως. of judgment.

    But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.

    Here: The final judicial hearing before God, where a verdict is passed. Verse 37 spells out the two possible verdicts: acquitted or condemned.

  9. Matthew 12:41 κρίσει judgment

    The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.

    Here: The last judgment, imagined as a courtroom trial at the end of the age.

  10. Matthew 12:42 κρίσει judgment

    The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.

    Here: The last judgment, pictured as a courtroom hearing where cases are heard and verdicts given.

  11. Matthew 23:23 κρίσιν justice

    Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

    Here: Here it stands for the Hebrew mishpat: doing right by people and setting things right, especially for the weak. It does not mean condemning others.

  12. Matthew 23:33 κρίσεως sentence

    You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape the sentence of hell?

    Here: The court's decision. Linked to Gehenna, it means the verdict that sends someone to Gehenna, so 'sentence' (BSB) or 'being condemned' fits.

Luke · 4
  1. Luke 10:14 κρίσει judgment

    But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

  2. Luke 11:31 κρίσει judgment

    The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.

  3. Luke 11:32 κρίσει judgment

    The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.

    Here: The final judgment, pictured as a court session in which God hears cases and gives verdicts.

  4. Luke 11:42 κρίσιν justice

    Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.

    Here: Here it means justice in the Hebrew sense of mishpat: fair dealing, and protecting the weak and the wronged. It does not mean 'judging others' or the final judgment.

John · 11
  1. John 3:19 κρίσις judgement

    And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.

    Here: The act of judging and the decision that comes out of it. In context (v.18 'already judged') it is an adverse verdict, but the word itself names the deciding and dividing, not only the punishment.

  2. John 5:22 κρίσιν judgment

    Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son,

    Here: The whole office and act of judging: deciding, ruling and delivering verdicts, including condemnation. In the next verses κρίσις means condemnation (5:24, 5:29), so the condemning side is clearly included.

  3. John 5:24 κρίσιν judgment

    Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life.

    Here: Judgment. Here it means the adverse verdict, as 5:29 shows ('resurrection of judgment' opposed to 'resurrection of life'). That is why the KJV renders it 'condemnation'.

  4. John 5:27 κρίσιν judgment

    And He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.

    Here: The act of judging and handing down a verdict. In this chapter it leans toward the verdict against someone: compare 'will not come into judgment' (v. 24) and 'the resurrection of judgment' (v. 29).

  5. John 5:29 κρίσεως. of judgment.

    and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

    Here: 'Of judgment': set against 'life', it means the judgment that goes against them, a condemning verdict. In verse 24 the one who believes 'does not come into judgment', so here krisis is the adverse outcome, not a neutral review.

  6. John 5:30 κρίσις judgment

    I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

    Here: "Judgment" here means his act of judging and the verdicts it produces. It is the same word as "resurrection of judgment" in 5:29, so the verdicts of the last day are in view.

  7. John 7:24 κρίσιν judgment

    Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”

    Here: The verdict itself, or the act of judging. It is paired with the verb from the same root ("judge the judgment"), the wording the Greek Old Testament uses for what judges are charged to do.

  8. John 8:16 κρίσις judgment

    But even if I do judge, My judgment is true, because I am not alone; I am with the Father who sent Me.

    Here: The act or result of judging. Here it is the verdict Jesus reaches. In this sentence it does not mean condemnation as such.

  9. John 12:31 κρίσις [the] judgment

    Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out.

    Here: The verdict is being handed down. There is no article ("a judgment", as YLT has it), so the stress falls on the kind of thing that is happening: a judicial decision. In John this word carries both separating and condemning (3:19).

  10. John 16:8 κρίσεως. judgment.

    And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:

    Here: The third charge. Verse 11 explains it: "because the ruler of this world has been judged." This is a verdict already given at the cross, not only a future one. The judgment the world passed on Jesus is turned back on the power behind the world.

  11. John 16:11 κρίσεως, judgment,

    and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world has been condemned.

    Here: The act of judging and the verdict that results. In John it often means a judgment that has already been passed, not only the Last Day. Here it is the verdict on who was really in the wrong when Jesus was condemned.

Acts · 1
  1. Acts 8:33 κρίσις justice

    In His humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth.”

    Here: Courtroom language: his trial, his right to a fair hearing, or the verdict passed on him. Which one is meant decides whether the line means 'justice was denied him' or 'his sentence was lifted'.

2 Thessalonians · 1
  1. 2 Thessalonians 1:5 κρίσεως judgment

    All this is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment. And so you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.

    Here: God's act of judging. It goes both ways: vindication for the persecuted and repayment for those who persecute (vv. 6–10). It does not only mean condemnation.

1 Timothy · 1
  1. 1 Timothy 5:24 κρίσιν· judgment;

    The sins of some men are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later.

Hebrews · 2
  1. Hebrews 9:27 κρίσις, [to face] judgment,

    Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,

    Here: 'Judgment': a verdict given by God as judge. The Greek has no verb and no article here, just 'after this, judgment'. The bluntness makes the word land hard.

  2. Hebrews 10:27 κρίσεως of judgment

    but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries.

    Here: God's final verdict, the judgment that follows death (9:27). Here it clearly means an unfavourable verdict, a sentence passed.

James · 3
  1. James 2:13 κρίσις κρίσεως.¶ judgment, judgment.

    For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

    Here: The act of judging and the verdict that results, pictured as a court hearing before God. The first line has no verb ("the judgment [is] merciless"). Its timing comes from 2:12 ("about to be judged"), which is why translations add "will be".

  2. James 5:12 κρίσιν judgment

    Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.

    Here: “Judgment”: God’s verdict, the same judgment James has just said is near, with “the Judge standing at the door” (5:9). Here it points toward an unfavourable verdict.

2 Peter · 4
  1. 2 Peter 2:4 κρίσιν judgment

    For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;

    Here: The coming judgment itself, the trial and sentencing still ahead. Verse 9 calls it 'the day of judgment'. Their present imprisonment is not yet their final sentence.

  2. 2 Peter 2:9 κρίσεως of judgment

    if all this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.

    Here: The judicial verdict and sentencing. Together with 'day', it names the final assize (the last great court hearing) of Jewish and early Christian hope (cf. 2 Pet 3:7).

  3. 2 Peter 2:11 κρίσιν. judgment.

    Yet not even angels, though greater in strength and power, dare to bring such slanderous charges against them before the Lord.

  4. 2 Peter 3:7 κρίσεως of judgment

    And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

    Here: Judgment as a court ruling. God decides between the godly and the ungodly and acts on the decision. 'Day of judgment' was a standard Jewish phrase (2 Pet 2:9; Matt 10:15; Judith 16:17).

1 John · 1
  1. 1 John 4:17 κρίσεως, of judgment,

    In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him.

    Here: God's verdict on human lives at the end. 'Day of judgment' is a fixed Jewish phrase, and this is its only use in John's letters.

Jude · 3
  1. Jude 1:6 κρίσιν [the] judgment

    And the angels who did not stay within their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling—these He has kept in eternal chains under darkness, bound for judgment on that great day.

    Here: The court verdict and sentence that is still to come. In Jude it means condemnation (compare vv. 9, 15).

  2. Jude 1:9 κρίσιν a judgment

    But even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, did not presume to bring a slanderous charge against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

    Here: A judicial verdict or sentence. In Jude, krisis belongs to God (v. 6 'the judgment of the great day'; v. 15 'to execute judgment on all'). Michael would not pass sentence himself.

  3. Jude 1:15 κρίσιν judgment

    to execute judgment on everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of every ungodly act of wickedness and every harsh word spoken against Him by ungodly sinners.”

    Here: A judicial act: hearing the case and passing sentence. Joined to "against", it points to an adverse verdict.

Revelation · 4
  1. Revelation 14:7 κρίσεως judgment

    And he said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship the One who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and the springs of waters.”

    Here: God's decisive act of judging, which both condemns the oppressor and vindicates the oppressed. Elsewhere Revelation calls these judgments "true and just" (16:7; 19:2).

  2. Revelation 16:7 κρίσεις judgments

    And I heard the altar reply: “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are Your judgments.”

    Here: 'Judgments': the plural takes in both God's verdicts and the acts that carry them out. Each bowl is one of these judgments. For the wronged it also means justice finally done on their behalf.

  3. Revelation 18:10 κρίσις judgment

    In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”

    Here: God's verdict against her together with its execution. Here it is the condemnation and punishment itself, not a hearing or an assessment.

  4. Revelation 19:2 κρίσεις judgments

    For His judgments are true and just. He has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the blood of His servants that was poured out by her hand.”

    Here: Plural: the acts of judgment God has carried out, especially the bowl plagues and Babylon's fall in chapters 16–18. These are verdicts that have been enforced, not just opinions.

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