Greek word · G4659

σκυθρωπός

skythrōpos

be sad

Having a dark, sullen, gloomy or scowling face. It describes a visible expression, often of grief, worry or displeasure.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated November 14, 2026

What it means

σκυθρωπός, -όν (also -ή, -όν)

(σκυθρός, sullen, + ὤψ), [in LXX: Genesis 40:7 (רַע), etc. ;]

of a gloomy countenance: Matthew 6:16, Luke 24:17.†

(AS)

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

Range of meaning: Having a dark, sullen, gloomy or scowling face. It describes a visible expression, often of grief, worry or displeasure.
Against the English: KJV 'of a sad countenance' and BSB 'somber' are fair. YLT 'sour countenances' catches the scowl. NASB's 'put on a gloomy face' brings out that it is put on, which matches the verb 'become'.
Used elsewhere in the period: Septuagint Genesis 40:7: Joseph asks the cupbearer and baker, 'Why are your faces gloomy (skythrōpa) today?' Also Sirach 25:23. Luke 24:17 uses it of the two disciples on the Emmaus road, 'they stood still, looking sad.'

Range of meaning: Of sad, gloomy or sullen countenance; scowling or downcast in look.
Against the English: 'Sadness of countenance' (WEB), 'heavy countenance' (Brenton), 'gloomy face' (NRSV). All are accurate.
Used elsewhere in the period: Gen 40:7 LXX (the prisoners' faces); Matt 6:16 (those who look gloomy when fasting); Luke 24:17 (the Emmaus disciples).

Range of meaning: "Gloomy-faced, sullen, dark-looking". It comes from skythros ("angry, sullen") + ōps ("face, look"). It names a visible facial expression of sorrow, worry or displeasure.
Against the English: "Sad" (KJV, WEB, YLT) is right as far as it goes, but the Greek points to the face: "looking sad" (ESV/NASB), "faces downcast" (NIV), "sadness on their faces" (BSB). The English adjective alone can hide that this is something the stranger could see.
Used elsewhere in the period: Matthew 6:16: hypocrites who fast "put on a gloomy face". Greek Genesis 40:7: Joseph sees the imprisoned cupbearer and baker and asks, "Why are your faces gloomy (skythrōpa) today?". They then tell him their troubling dreams and he interprets them. Daniel 1:10 (Greek) uses it of faces looking worse for wear. Sirach 25:23 uses it of a downcast face.

Matthew · 1

Matthew 6:16 σκυθρωποί· gloomy;

When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.

Here: An adjective for a dark, downcast, sour face (the supplied gloss 'be sad' is loose: it describes a look, not a verb). They wear a visibly miserable expression as part of the act.

Luke · 1

Luke 24:17 σκυθρωποί. looking sad.

He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” They stood still, with sadness on their faces.

Here: An adjective describing their faces: dark, heavy, gloomy. It names visible grief written on the face, not just an inner feeling.

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