Greek word · G3680

ὀνειδισμός

oneidismos

reproach

Reproach, insult, verbal abuse, the public disgrace that comes from being scorned. It covers both the insults themselves and the shamed state they produce. It is a social word: it happens in front of others and costs a person their honor.

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

What it means

ὀνειδισμός, -οῦ, ὁ

(ὀνειδίζω) [in LXX chiefly for חֶרְפָּה ;]

a reproach: Romans 15:3, Hebrews 10:33; εἰς ὀ. ἐμπεαεῖν, 1 Timothy 3:7; ὁ ὀ. τοῦ Χριστοῦ Hebrews 11:26 13:13.†

(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 11:26

Range of meaning

Reproach, insult, verbal abuse, the public disgrace that comes from being scorned. It covers both the insults themselves and the shamed state they produce. It is a social word: it happens in front of others and costs a person their honor.

Against the English

KJV, ESV, NASB and WEB use "reproach," which is accurate but now sounds old-fashioned and mild, as if it meant gentle disapproval. BSB and NIV use "disgrace," which is closer to how it feels. NLT turns it into "suffer," which keeps the cost but loses the specific idea of public shame.

How it drifted

"Reproach" has weakened in modern English toward "mild criticism" ("beyond reproach"). The Greek is stronger: open contempt and loss of standing.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in the Greek Old Testament (LXX) for the scorn heaped on God's faithful: Ps 68:10 LXX (69:9), "the reproaches of those who reproach you fell on me" (applied to Christ in Rom 15:3); Ps 88:51–52 LXX (89:50–51), "remember, Lord, the reproach of your servants… with which your enemies reproached… your anointed (christos)." Within Hebrews: 10:33, the readers were "publicly exposed to reproaches and afflictions"; 13:13, "let us go out to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach."

From the study of 1 Timothy 3:7

Range of meaning

Reproach, reviling, insult, public scorn: verbal abuse and disgrace in the eyes of others. In an honor-and-shame society this is the opposite of having a good name.

Against the English

KJV, WEB and NASB have "reproach"; BSB, NIV and ESV have "disgrace"; NLT has "be disgraced". All are acceptable. "Disgrace" can sound like a quiet loss of standing, but the Greek word is louder: open insult and mockery.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Greek Old Testament (LXX) Ps 68:10 (69:9 in English Bibles): "the reproaches (ὀνειδισμοί) of those who reproach you fell on me", quoted in Rom 15:3. Heb 10:33; 11:26; 13:13 speak of "bearing his reproach". The word is common in the LXX Psalms and Prophets for the mockery of enemies.

From the study of Hebrews 10:33

Range of meaning

Insult, taunt, verbal abuse, disgrace. Speech or treatment aimed at lowering someone's honour publicly, and also the resulting state of disgrace.

Against the English

KJV, WEB and ESV have 'reproach(es)', which today sounds like a mild rebuke or disapproval. BSB 'ridicule' and NIV 'insult' are closer to how it felt.

How it drifted

In older English 'reproach' meant shame and disgrace (as in 'a reproach among the nations'). It has since weakened to 'criticism, disapproval'.

Used elsewhere in the period

The LXX uses it often for Hebrew ḥerpâ, 'scorn, disgrace'. Psalm 69:9 (68:10 LXX), 'the insults of those who insult you fell on me', is quoted of Christ in Rom 15:3. Hebrews itself uses the word for Moses choosing 'the reproach of Christ' (11:26) and for believers going 'outside the camp, bearing his reproach' (13:13).

Similar words

Where it appears

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 15:3 ὀνειδισμοὶ reproaches

    For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.”

    Here: Plural: repeated taunts and acts of public shaming. In an honour-and-shame culture these damaged a person's standing, not just their feelings.

1 Timothy · 1

  1. 1 Timothy 3:7 ὀνειδισμὸν reproach

    Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.

    Here: Public scorn: being openly mocked, denounced and insulted. It is outward and spoken, more than an inner sense of shame.

Hebrews · 3

  1. Hebrews 10:33 ὀνειδισμοῖς by revilings

    Sometimes you were publicly exposed to ridicule and persecution; at other times you were partners with those who were so treated.

    Here: Public verbal abuse meant to strip someone of honour: taunts, slander, open contempt. The plural suggests repeated incidents. It is far stronger than a modern 'reproach'.

  2. Hebrews 11:26 ὀνειδισμὸν reproach

    He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.

    Here: Public abuse and loss of standing: being sneered at and shamed in front of others. It is the same word the author uses of his readers' own experience (10:33) and of what they must now carry (13:13).

  3. Hebrews 13:13 ὀνειδισμὸν reproach

    Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore.

    Here: Not mild disapproval but public insult and loss of honour: the mockery and shame of a man crucified as a criminal. Believers are to carry this same shame.

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