Greek word · G727

ἅρπαξ

harpax

rapacious

From ἁρπάζω, 'snatch, seize, carry off by force'. As an adjective it means 'snatching, rapacious, predatory'. As a noun it means 'robber, swindler, extortioner'. The central idea is grabbing what belongs to someone else.

Appears 5 times in 5 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 31, 2026

What it means

ἅρπαξ, -αγος, ὁ, ἡ

(ἁρπάζω), [in LXX: Genesis 49:27 (טָרַף) * ;]

rapacious: Matthew 7:15, Luke 18:11; as subst., a swindler, an extortioner (MM, see word), 1 Corinthians 5:10-11 6:10.†

(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 Matthew 7:15

Range of meaning: From ἁρπάζω, 'snatch, seize, carry off by force'. As an adjective it means 'snatching, rapacious, predatory'. As a noun it means 'robber, swindler, extortioner'. The central idea is grabbing what belongs to someone else.
Against the English: KJV/WEB 'ravening' originally meant 'preying, plundering' (from older English 'ravin', meaning rapine or plunder), which is close to the Greek. BSB/ESV/NASB 'ravenous' now mostly means 'starving, extremely hungry'. NIV's 'ferocious' and NLT's 'vicious' stress savagery. Each modern choice pushes toward hunger or violence and drops the idea of greedy taking.
How it drifted: 'Ravening' was once accurate, but English has largely lost 'ravin' (plunder), and 'ravenous' has narrowed to hunger. So the economic, exploitative note of ἅρπαξ, clear in its New Testament uses for swindlers, no longer comes through.
Used elsewhere in the period: Gen 49:27 LXX (λύκος ἅρπαξ). Luke 18:11, where the Pharisee thanks God he is not like 'swindlers' (ἅρπαγες). 1 Cor 5:10–11 and 6:10, where ἅρπαγες are listed with the greedy as 'swindlers/robbers'. The related noun ἁρπαγή, 'plunder, greed', appears in Matt 23:25. The Didache (11.6, 12) says a travelling prophet who asks for money is a false prophet.

From the study of 1 Corinthians 6:10

Range of meaning: From harpazō, 'to snatch, seize, carry off by force'. As an adjective it means 'ravenous, rapacious'. As a noun it means 'robber, plunderer, extortioner': someone who takes others' property openly by violence or coercion. It is used of the strong preying on the weak.
Against the English: KJV 'extortioners' and WEB 'extortionists' keep the element of force and pressure. 'Swindlers' (BSB, ESV, NIV, NASB) suggests trickery and deception, which is nearly the opposite: a harpax does not need to fool you, he simply takes.
How it drifted: Modern translations probably chose 'swindlers' to make the word cover more than physical robbery, such as financial predation. The cost is the picture of open, forceful seizure.
Used elsewhere in the period: LXX Gen 49:27: Benjamin is 'a ravenous (harpax) wolf'. Jesus warns of false prophets who are inwardly 'ravenous (harpages) wolves' (Matt 7:15). In Luke 18:11 the Pharisee thanks God he is not like other people, 'harpages, unjust, adulterers', a list close to Paul's. Paul pairs it with pleonektai again in 1 Cor 5:10.

From the study of 1 Corinthians 5:10

Range of meaning: As an adjective, 'rapacious, ravenous'. As a noun, 'robber, plunderer, extortioner, swindler': anyone who seizes property, whether by violence or by fraud and extortion.
Against the English: BSB 'swindlers', KJV 'extortioners', WEB 'extortionists'. Each English word picks out one method, while the Greek covers grabbing of every kind.
Used elsewhere in the period: LXX Gen 49:27 ('Benjamin is a ravenous wolf', λύκος ἅρπαξ). Matt 7:15 ('ravenous wolves'). Luke 18:11, where the Pharisee thanks God he is not like ἅρπαγες. Also 1 Cor 6:10.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

Matthew 7:15 ἅρπαγες. ravenous.

Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Here: From the verb 'to snatch, seize'. The idea is grabbing and plundering, not just being hungry. Paul uses the same word for swindlers or extortioners (1 Cor 5:10; 6:10), so it hints at people who exploit and take from the flock.

Luke · 1

Luke 18:11 ἅρπαγες, swindlers,

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.

Here: 'Grabbers': people who seize what is not theirs by force, pressure or greed. Ancient hearers associated the word closely with tax and toll collectors (compare Luke 3:12–13; 19:8).

1 Corinthians · 3

1 Corinthians 5:10 ἅρπαξιν with swindlers

I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.

Here: 'Grabbers': people who seize what belongs to others, whether by force, extortion or fraud. The word is used of ravenous wolves elsewhere.
1 Corinthians 5:11 ἅρπαξ· swindler;

But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

Here: One who seizes or snatches what belongs to others, by force or by fraud. It is the same word as the 'ravenous' wolf (Gen 49:27 LXX; Matt 7:15).
1 Corinthians 6:10 ἅρπαγες swindlers

nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Here: 'Snatchers': people who seize what belongs to others openly, by force or pressure. Examples are robbers, extortioners, and powerful people who squeeze the weak. The image is a ravenous wolf more than a con man.

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