μωμάομαι

From the study of 2 Corinthians 6:3

Range of meaning

To find fault with, blame, censure, criticise, or ridicule. It comes from μῶμος, 'blame, reproach', which in the Greek Old Testament also means a physical 'blemish' (translating Hebrew מוּם, mum, the flaw that disqualified a sacrificial animal). The verb itself normally means 'to blame' or 'to mock', not 'to blemish'.

Against the English

KJV and WEB have 'be blamed'. BSB and NIV have 'discredit', which captures the effect on reputation well. ESV's 'no fault may be found' is accurate.

Used elsewhere in the period

Classical and Hellenistic Greek use it for 'censure, find fault' (LSJ). In the Greek Old Testament it occurs at Prov 9:7 and Wis 10:14. In the New Testament it appears only here and in 2 Cor 8:20, where Paul arranges for travelling companions to oversee the collection money 'so that no one should blame us'.

From the study of 2 Corinthians 8:20

Range of meaning

'To find fault with, blame, censure, cast a slur on'. It comes from μῶμος, 'blame, reproach' and also 'blemish'. In Greek poetry Momos was the personified spirit of fault-finding and mockery.

Against the English

'Blame' (KJV, WEB, YLT, ESV), 'criticism' (BSB, NIV), 'discredit' (NASB). 'Criticism' can sound mild, like a complaint about method. The Greek word covers fault-finding that sticks and damages a reputation.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint the related noun μῶμος regularly stands for the Hebrew mum, the physical 'blemish' that disqualified a priest or a sacrificial animal (e.g. Leviticus 21–22). The adjective ἄμωμος, 'without blemish', comes from the same root. Paul uses the verb once more, in 2 Cor 6:3: 'giving no offense in anything, so that the ministry may not be blamed (μὴ μωμηθῇ)'.