σκολιός

From the study of Acts 2:40

Range of meaning

Literally curved, bent, winding (of a road, a river, a stick). Figuratively crooked, twisted, dishonest, perverse. Of people it can also mean harsh or difficult to deal with (1 Pet 2:18, "harsh masters").

Against the English

BSB "corrupt", NIV "corrupt", ESV and WEB "crooked", NASB and YLT "perverse", KJV "untoward". "Corrupt" gets the moral sense but loses the picture of something bent out of line. "Crooked" keeps both. KJV's "untoward" meant "stubborn, perverse" in 1611, but today it suggests merely "unfortunate" or "improper".

How it drifted

"Untoward" has weakened in English since the 17th century, from "refractory, perverse" to "unexpected and inappropriate". "Corrupt" today often suggests bribery or financial misconduct, which is narrower than the Greek.

Used elsewhere in the period

Deut 32:5 and Ps 78(77):8 in the Greek Old Testament, quoted above. Isaiah 40:4, quoted by Luke himself in Luke 3:5 about John the Baptist: "the crooked (ta skolia) shall become straight." Paul uses Deut 32:5 the same way in Phil 2:15: "in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation." Proverbs uses it for "crooked" paths and speech (Prov 2:15; 21:8).

From the study of Philippians 2:15

Range of meaning

Literally 'bent, curved, winding', used of roads, rivers and warped wood. Figuratively it means devious, dishonest, morally twisted. Its natural opposite is 'straight' or 'upright' (Greek euthys, Hebrew yashar). Here it is paired with diestrammenē, the perfect participle of diastrephō, 'to twist thoroughly, distort'.

Against the English

'Crooked' is an exact match and keeps the physical picture. The partner word is rendered 'perverse' (BSB, KJV, WEB, YLT, NASB), 'twisted' (ESV) or 'warped' (NIV). 'Twisted' or 'warped' keeps the physical image better than 'perverse', which now carries sexual overtones in everyday English.

How it drifted

In older English 'perverse' meant 'turned away from what is right, obstinately wrong'. Modern use has narrowed it toward sexual deviance, which the Greek does not specifically mean.

Used elsewhere in the period

The pair is lifted word for word from the Greek of Deuteronomy 32:5, genea skolia kai diestrammenē, in the Song of Moses. Echoes appear in Peter's 'save yourselves from this crooked generation' (Acts 2:40) and in Jesus' 'faithless and twisted generation' (Matthew 17:17; Luke 9:41). Luke 3:5 (quoting Isaiah 40:4) uses skolia for crooked roads made straight.

From the study of Luke 3:5

Range of meaning

Curved, winding, crooked (of roads, rivers, wood); figuratively twisted, perverse, dishonest, unjust (BDAG, LSJ).

Against the English

English "crooked" has the same double sense (a crooked road / a crooked dealer), so the English carries the overtone well.

Used elsewhere in the period

Deut 32:5 LXX: "a crooked (σκολιά) and perverse generation"; Prov 28:18 LXX; Acts 2:40, Peter: "save yourselves from this crooked (σκολιᾶς) generation"; Phil 2:15.