Greek word · G5501

χείρων

cheirōn

worse than

"Worse," in quality or condition. It is the comparative of κακός (bad). It is used of conditions getting worse (Mark 5:26; Matt 12:45 "the last state worse than the first") and of a worse moral state (2 Tim 3:13).

Appears 11 times in 11 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

χείρων, -ον, compar. of κακός

[in LXX: 1 Samuel 17:43 B, Wisdom of Solomon 15:18 17:6, 3Ma.5:20 * ;]

worse: Matthew 9:16 12:45 27:64, Mark 2:21, Luke 11:26, John 5:14, 1 Timothy 5:8, Hebrews 10:29, 2 Peter 2:20; εἰς (ἐπὶ) τὸ χεῖρον, Mark 5:26, 2 Timothy 3:13.†

(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 John 5:14

Range of meaning

"Worse," in quality or condition. It is the comparative of κακός (bad). It is used of conditions getting worse (Mark 5:26; Matt 12:45 "the last state worse than the first") and of a worse moral state (2 Tim 3:13).

Against the English

English versions agree ("something worse," "a worse thing"). NLT's "something even worse" spells out the comparison with the thirty-eight years.

Used elsewhere in the period

Matt 12:45 and Luke 11:26 use it in a warning that a person's later state can become worse than the former. 2 Pet 2:20 uses the related form χείρονα in the same way. Mark 5:26 uses it of an illness getting worse.

From the study of 2 Peter 2:20

Range of meaning

"Worse than the first [things]": a comparison between a person's earlier and later condition.

Against the English

The KJV's "the latter end is worse with them than the beginning" and the WEB's "the last state has become worse for them than the first" both keep the comparison. The BSB's "final condition" might suggest a final verdict at the judgment, which goes slightly beyond the wording.

Used elsewhere in the period

It closely repeats Jesus' saying about the unclean spirit that returns with seven others: "the last state of that man becomes worse than the first" (Matt 12:45, γίνεται τὰ ἔσχατα … χείρονα τῶν πρώτων; Luke 11:26).

From the study of 2 Timothy 3:13

Range of meaning

Worse, the comparative of 'bad' (κακός). With the article and a preposition, (ἐπὶ/εἰς) τὸ χεῖρον, it is a fixed idiom: 'toward the worse', 'to a worse state'.

Against the English

'From bad to worse' and 'worse and worse' are fair idiomatic matches.

Used elsewhere in the period

A common phrase in Greek prose and in the papyri for a patient or situation deteriorating. In the New Testament: Mark 5:26 (the woman who 'rather grew worse'), Matt 12:45 ('the last state of that man is worse'), and 1 Tim 5:8 ('worse than an unbeliever').

Similar words

Where it appears

Matthew · 3

  1. Matthew 9:16 χεῖρον a worse

    No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. For the patch will pull away from the garment, and a worse tear will result.

    Here: "Worse". The repair leaves the cloak in a worse state than the hole it was meant to fix.

  2. Matthew 12:45 χείρονα worse

    Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first. So will it be with this wicked generation.”

    Here: 'Worse.' Matthew uses the same word for the torn cloth that gets 'worse' (9:16) and the deception that will be 'worse than the first' (27:64).

  3. Matthew 27:64 χείρων worse

    So give the order that the tomb be secured until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him away and tell the people He has risen from the dead. And this last deception would be worse than the first.”

Mark · 2

  1. Mark 2:21 χεῖρον worse

    No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, and a worse tear will result.

  2. Mark 5:26 χεῖρον worse

    She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse.

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 11:26 χείρονα worse

    Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first.”

John · 1

  1. John 5:14 χεῖρόν worse

    Afterward, Jesus found the man at the temple and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you.”

    Here: A comparative, "worse." The comparison is with thirty-eight years of disability, which makes the warning startling. The word does not say what the worse thing is.

1 Timothy · 1

  1. 1 Timothy 5:8 χείρων. worse.

    If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

    Here: A comparative word meaning morally worse. Such a person falls below the standard that even outsiders keep, and he has light they do not have.

2 Timothy · 1

  1. 2 Timothy 3:13 χεῖρον worse

    while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

    Here: The comparative of 'bad'. 'Toward the worse' was a stock Greek phrase for decline. Mark 5:26 uses it of the sick woman who 'grew worse'.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 10:29 χείρονος worse

    How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

    Here: 'Worse' — comparing with the death penalty of v. 28. What is worse than death without mercy is left unsaid; v. 27 has already spoken of judgment and consuming fire.

2 Peter · 1

  1. 2 Peter 2:20 χείρονα worse

    If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first.

    Here: Comparative: "worse." Their end is lower than where they started, not simply back where they were.

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