Greek word · G763

ἀσέβεια

asebeia

ungodlinessness

Impiety, irreverence: failing to give the gods, or God, the honor and worship owed to them. In Greek usage it was the opposite of eusebeia ('piety'), and in the Greek Old Testament it is often used for rebellion and transgression (Hebrew pešaʿ).

Appears 6 times in 6 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀσέβεια, -ας, ἡ

(ἀσεβής), [in LXX for פֶּשַׁע, רֶשַׁע, etc. ;]

ungodliness, impiety: Romans 1:18 11:26, 2 Timothy 2:16, Titus 2:12; ἔργα ἀσεβείας, ungodly deeds, Jude 1:15; ἐπιθυηίαι τ. ἀσεβειῶν, desires for ungodly things or deeds, Jude 1:18 (DB, iv, 532; Cremer, 523; MM, see word).†

(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 Romans 11:26

Range of meaning

Impiety, irreverence: failing to give the gods, or God, the honor and worship owed to them. In Greek usage it was the opposite of eusebeia ('piety'), and in the Greek Old Testament it is often used for rebellion and transgression (Hebrew pešaʿ).

Against the English

'Ungodliness' or 'godlessness' can sound like atheism or general wickedness. The Greek is about relationship: dishonoring God.

Used elsewhere in the period

Isaiah 59:20 in Greek, where 'impieties' stands for Hebrew pešaʿ, 'rebellion'. In Romans: 1:18 ('the wrath of God against all asebeia'), 4:5 (God 'justifies the ungodly'), 5:6 ('Christ died for the ungodly').

From the study of Romans 1:18

Range of meaning

The opposite of eusebeia ('piety, reverence'): failing to give the gods or God due honour. That can mean outright sacrilege, irreverent worship, or worshipping the wrong things. In Jewish Greek it is a standard word for idolatry and rebellion against God.

Against the English

KJV/WEB 'ungodliness', BSB/NIV 'godlessness', YLT 'impiety'. 'Godlessness' can suggest atheism or not being religious. Paul's targets are in fact very religious (vv. 23, 25). Their impiety is worshipping the wrong thing and withholding thanks from the true God. YLT's 'impiety' is closest.

How it drifted

Modern English uses 'godless' mainly to mean secular or unbelieving, a category the ancient world barely had.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Greek thought eusebeia (duty toward the gods) and dikaiosynē (justice toward people) were the two main headings of virtue. Philo groups all duties under piety toward God and justice toward humans (Special Laws 2.63). Josephus says John the Baptist urged 'justice toward one another and piety toward God' (Antiquities 18.117). Wisdom of Solomon 14:9 speaks of God hating 'the ungodly and his ungodliness'.

From the study of 2 Timothy 2:16

Range of meaning

The negation of eusebeia: 'impiety, irreverence, ungodliness.' In ordinary Greek usage, failing to give the gods (and by extension parents, the city and the order of things) the reverence and duty owed them. In Jewish and Christian Greek, irreverence toward the one God, which shows itself in conduct.

Against the English

'Ungodliness' is a fair equivalent. In modern use 'ungodly' tends to mean simply 'wicked' or 'immoral,' while the Greek centres on the broken relationship of reverence, from which the conduct flows.

Used elsewhere in the period

Athens tried Socrates on a charge of asebeia. In the Septuagint the word often renders Hebrew peshaʿ ('rebellion'). The Pastorals use eusebeia ten times as their summary term for the life the gospel produces (e.g. 1 Tim 3:16, 'the mystery of godliness'; 2 Tim 3:5). Titus 2:12 pairs renouncing asebeia with living eusebōs.

Where it appears

Romans · 2

  1. Romans 1:18 ἀσέβειαν ungodliness

    The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

    Here: Failing to give God the reverence and worship he is owed. Verses 21–23 spell it out: not honouring him or giving thanks, and swapping his glory for images.

  2. Romans 11:26 ἀσεβείας ungodliness

    And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will remove godlessness from Jacob.

    Here: Plural, 'acts of impiety': irreverence toward God, failing to give him his due. This is the word Paul used in 1:18 for humanity's basic offense, so Israel is rescued from the same condition as everyone else.

2 Timothy · 1

  1. 2 Timothy 2:16 ἀσεβείας, to ungodliness,

    But avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness,

    Here: The opposite of eusebeia ('godliness, true reverence'), the key word of the Pastoral letters. It means losing proper reverence toward God, a loss that then shows in behaviour.

Titus · 1

  1. Titus 2:12 ἀσέβειαν ungodliness

    It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

    Here: The opposite of eusebeia (proper reverence). It is a failure to give God his due, shown in how a person lives, not just in wrong beliefs. It is paired by sound with 'eusebōs' at the end of the list.

Jude · 2

  1. Jude 1:15 ἀσεβείας of ungodliness

    to execute judgment on everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of every ungodly act of wickedness and every harsh word spoken against Him by ungodly sinners.”

    Here: "Works of impiety": deeds marked by refusing God the reverence owed to him. This is the first of three uses of the same root in this one clause.

  2. Jude 1:18 ἀσεβειῶν. of ungodlinesses.

    when they said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow after their own ungodly desires.”

    Here: "Of impieties," in the plural: specific acts of irreverence toward God. It comes last in the sentence for emphasis and repeats the key word of Jude's letter (vv. 4, 15).

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