Greek word · G5283
ὑπόνοια
hyponoia
suspicion
Suspicion, conjecture, supposition. In Greek literary interpretation it also meant an "underlying sense," the hidden meaning that allegorists found beneath a text.
Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
ὑπόνοια, -ας, ἡ
(ὑπονοέω), [in LXX: Dan LXX 4:16, 32 5:6 (רַעְיוֹן), Sir 3:34* ;]
a suspicion: 1 Timothy 6:4.†
(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 1 Timothy 6:4
- Range of meaning
Suspicion, conjecture, supposition. In Greek literary interpretation it also meant an "underlying sense," the hidden meaning that allegorists found beneath a text.
- Against the English
"Evil suspicions" (BSB, WEB) is accurate. KJV/YLT "evil surmisings" is accurate but archaic.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Its only New Testament occurrence. In Plato, Plutarch and Philo it can mean an allegorical hidden meaning, but with ponērai ("evil") the ordinary sense, "malicious suspicions," is clearly meant. The allegorical sense is a curiosity of the word's range, not the meaning here.
Similar words
Where it appears
1 Timothy · 1
-
1 Timothy 6:4 ὑπόνοιαι suspicions
he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and disputes about words, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions,
Here: "Suspicions": imputing hidden bad motives to others. The quarrel poisons how people read one another.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.