Greek word · G3856

παραδειγματίζω

paradeigmatizō

to disgrace

To make a public example of; to expose to public disgrace, often as a warning punishment. Closely linked to displaying the bodies of the executed.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament.

What it means

παρα-δειγματίζω

(δείκνυμι), [in LXX: Numbers 25:4 (יָקַע hi.), Jeremiah 13:22 (חָמַס ni.), Ezekiel 28:17 (רַאֲוָה), Esther 4:17, Dan LXX 2:5 * ;]

to set forth as an example; in bad sense, to put to open shame: Hebrews 6:6 (Polyb., Plut., al.).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

Range of meaning: To make a public example of; to expose to public disgrace, often as a warning punishment. Closely linked to displaying the bodies of the executed.
Against the English: KJV/NASB/BSB 'put to open shame', ESV 'holding him up to contempt', NIV 'subjecting him to public disgrace'. All are accurate. 'Open shame' keeps the sense of exposure best.
Used elsewhere in the period: Septuagint Num 25:4: 'expose them to the Lord before the sun', the public display of the executed leaders after Baal-Peor (Hebrew hoqa'). Jer 13:22 and Ezek 28:17 ('I made you a spectacle before kings'). Some later manuscripts of Matt 1:19 use it for Joseph not wanting to 'make a public example' of Mary. Polybius uses it for exemplary punishment.

Hebrews · 1

Hebrews 6:6 παραδειγματίζοντας.¶ subjecting [Him] to open shame.

and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.

Here: To display someone publicly as a warning and a disgrace, the way bodies were exposed after execution (Num 25:4 in the Greek OT). Present tense: by renouncing him in public they keep holding Jesus up as a shamed criminal before onlookers.

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