Greek word · G4189

πονηρία

ponēria

evil

Wickedness, malice, evil disposition. In the plural: evil deeds, acts of wickedness.

Appears 7 times in 7 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

πονηρία, -ας, ἡ

(πονηρός), [in LXX chiefly for רַע ;]

iniquity, wickedness: Matthew 22:18, Luke 11:39, Romans 1:29, Ephesians 6:12; pl. (see Bl., § 32, 6; WM, 220; Swete, Mk., 153), Mark 7:22, Acts 3:26; κακία καὶ π., 1 Corinthians 5:8.†

SYN.: see: κακία. (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 Acts 3:26

Range of meaning

Wickedness, malice, evil disposition. In the plural: evil deeds, acts of wickedness.

Against the English

BSB, NIV and NASB 'wicked ways' and KJV 'iniquities' capture the plural well. ESV and WEB 'wickedness' turn it into a general condition.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used in the plural in the Greek Bible for concrete wrongdoings (e.g. Jer 32:32 LXX [39:32 Eng.], Hos 7:2–3). Elsewhere in the NT see Mark 7:22 and Luke 11:39.

From the study of Luke 11:39

Range of meaning

Wickedness, malice, depravity: active badness and ill will, as opposed to mere weakness. Related to ponēros, 'bad, evil, harmful'.

Against the English

'Wickedness' (BSB, KJV, WEB and most others) is accurate. Matthew's parallel has akrasia, 'lack of self-control, self-indulgence'. Luke's word is broader and more hostile.

Used elsewhere in the period

It appears in vice lists (Mark 7:22; Rom 1:29) and in Jesus seeing through the questioners' 'malice' (Matt 22:18). In this same chapter Luke uses the adjective twice: 'an evil generation' (11:29) and the 'bad' eye that darkens the body (11:34). In Jewish idiom a 'bad eye' meant stinginess.

From the study of Matthew 22:18

Range of meaning

Badness, wickedness, malice, ill will. In ordinary Greek it could also mean knavery or roguishness. In the New Testament it describes a disposition or intent to harm (Luke 11:39; Rom 1:29; 1 Cor 5:8). It is the noun from πονηρός, "bad, evil," the word Matthew uses for "the evil one" (5:37; 6:13; 13:19, 38).

Against the English

KJV and WEB have "wickedness," BSB and NIV "evil intent," ESV and NASB "malice," NLT "evil motives." All are defensible. "Malice" or "evil intent" fits the context best: what Jesus perceives is a specific hostile purpose behind a specific question, not wickedness in the abstract.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in the LXX for Hebrew raʿ/rāʿâ (evil, harm). The parallels describe the same thing in different words: Mark 12:15 "hypocrisy," Luke 20:23 πανουργία, "craftiness, cunning." Together the three Gospels describe a hostile intent, disguised and cleverly built.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 22:18 πονηρίαν malice

    But Jesus knew their evil intent and said, “You hypocrites, why are you testing Me?

    Here: Their bad intent: the wish to harm him that lies behind the courteous words. It means active ill will, not monstrous evil in general. This is the only time Matthew uses this noun.

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 7:22 πονηρίαι, wickednesses,

    greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness.

    Here: Plural: wicked deeds, acts of malice. The word suggests evil that actively harms others, not only a general moral failing.

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 11:39 πονηρίας. wickedness.

    Then the Lord said, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

    Here: Active badness, ill will. It echoes the 'bad eye' (v. 34) and the 'evil generation' (v. 29) earlier in the same chapter.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 3:26 πονηριῶν wickednesses

    When God raised up His Servant, He sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

    Here: Plural: 'wickednesses', meaning concrete evil acts rather than an abstract state. Hence 'wicked ways'.

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 1:29 πονηρίᾳ, wickedness,

    They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips,

    Here: Active evil, a disposition that does harm. It is related to ho ponēros, 'the evil one.' It is more aggressive than plain 'badness.'

1 Corinthians · 1

  1. 1 Corinthians 5:8 πονηρίας wickedness

    Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old bread, leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and of truth.

    Here: 'Wickedness': evil that is active and harmful. Together with kakia it describes a whole character gone sour.

Ephesians · 1

  1. Ephesians 6:12 πονηρίας of evil

    For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

    Here: Describes what these spirit-forces are: wickedness is their defining character. The word suggests active, harmful malice.

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