Greek word · G96

ἀδόκιμος

adokimos

failing

The negative of dokimos, "tested and approved". It was used of metals and coins that failed the assay, of candidates disqualified after examination, and of anything that, once tested, is found unfit and so rejected. The word always carries the idea of a test that was failed.

Appears 8 times in 8 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀ-δόκιμος, -ον,

[in LXX: Proverbs 25:4, Isaiah 1:22 (סִיג) * ;]

1. of things (prop. of metals: LXX, ll. with), not standing the test, rejected: γῆ, Hebrews 6:8.

2. Of persons, rejected after testing, reprobate: Romans 1:28, 1 Corinthians 9:27, 2 Corinthians 13:5-7, 2 Timothy 3:8, Titus 1:16 (Cremer, 212).

† (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 Hebrews 6:8

Range of meaning

The negative of dokimos, "tested and approved". It was used of metals and coins that failed the assay, of candidates disqualified after examination, and of anything that, once tested, is found unfit and so rejected. The word always carries the idea of a test that was failed.

Against the English

KJV "rejected" and YLT "disapproved of" keep the idea of a verdict. BSB, NIV, ESV and NASB say "worthless" and NLT says "useless"; these describe the quality of the land but lose the image of a trial that it failed.

How it drifted

"Worthless" is a reasonable result of the word, but it turns a judgment reached after testing into a flat description. KJV "rejected" (from the Vulgate's reproba) can sound like personal, emotional rejection to a modern ear.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul uses it for being "disqualified" (1 Corinthians 9:27), for failing the test of faith (2 Corinthians 13:5–7), for a "debased" mind (Romans 1:28), and for people "unfit for any good work" (Titus 1:16). In the Greek Old Testament it describes silver dross (Proverbs 25:4; Isaiah 1:22). BDAG gives "not standing the test, unqualified, worthless, base".

From the study of Titus 1:16

Range of meaning

Not standing the test, rejected after testing, counterfeit, unqualified, worthless. It is the negative of dokimos ('tested, approved, genuine'), from dokimazō, 'to assay, test, prove'. It was used of metal or coins that failed the assayer, of candidates rejected for office, and of land that produces only thorns.

Against the English

'Unfit' (BSB, WEB, ESV, NIV) and 'worthless' (NASB, NLT) give the result but drop the picture of a test. YLT's 'disapproved' keeps it. KJV's 'reprobate' (from Vulgate reprobi) originally meant exactly 'rejected on testing'. Today it sounds like 'a depraved person' or calls up the theological idea of 'reprobation'.

How it drifted

Latin reprobus meant 'rejected after trial' (of coins and metal). In later Western theology 'reprobate' came to mean those not chosen for salvation, and in everyday English a morally depraved scoundrel. Neither is what adokimos means here.

Used elsewhere in the period

Isa 1:22 LXX: 'your silver is adokimon', impure. Prov 25:4 LXX: impure silver. Paul's usage: 1 Cor 9:27 (Paul fears being 'disqualified'); 2 Cor 13:5–7 ('unless you fail the test'); Rom 1:28 (an 'adokimos mind', after they 'did not approve' (edokimasan) of knowing God). Also 2 Tim 3:8 ('disqualified regarding the faith') and Heb 6:8 (land bearing thorns).

From the study of 1 Corinthians 9:27

Range of meaning

The negative of δόκιμος (dokimos), 'tested and approved, genuine'. Related to δοκιμάζω (dokimazō), 'to test, assay'. It means: failing the test, not genuine, rejected after examination, worthless. It was used of debased coins and impure metal. In Athens the related word δοκιμασία (dokimasia) was the official scrutiny of candidates for office.

Against the English

KJV 'castaway' now suggests a shipwrecked person on a desert island. YLT 'disapproved' is close to the root. BSB, WEB and ESV 'disqualified' fits the games. NIV adds 'for the prize', which narrows it to an interpretation.

How it drifted

The Vulgate's reprobus ('rejected after testing') later gave English 'reprobate'. In theological debate that word took on the sense of someone eternally condemned by divine decree, which is narrower and later than Paul's word. 'Castaway' (Tyndale tradition, kept by KJV) originally meant 'something thrown away as useless'. Modern ears hear Robinson Crusoe.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Isa 1:22: 'your silver is ἀδόκιμον' (dross). LXX Prov 25:4: impure silver. Elsewhere in Paul: Rom 1:28 (an 'unapproved mind'); 2 Cor 13:5–7 ('unless you fail the test'); Titus 1:16. Also 2 Tim 3:8 and Heb 6:8, where land that bears thorns is 'rejected and near a curse' (Grundmann, TDNT s.v. δόκιμος; BDAG s.v.).

Where it appears

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 1:28 ἀδόκιμον a depraved

    Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.

    Here: The same root as edokimasan with 'un-' added: they found God 'not approved', so God gave them a 'not-approved' mind. It is like a counterfeit coin that fails the assay. The mind can no longer test and judge rightly.

1 Corinthians · 1

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:27 ἀδόκιμος disqualified

    No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

    Here: Something tested and found not genuine, like a counterfeit coin or impure silver, and so rejected. Here it means failing to pass the final examination and being ruled out of the prize Paul has just described (vv. 24–25).

2 Corinthians · 3

  1. 2 Corinthians 13:5 ἀδόκιμοί failing

    Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you fail the test?

    Here: "Un-approved": what fails the assay, like counterfeit coin or debased silver. It is the negative of dokimazō earlier in the verse and the word Paul uses of himself in verse 6.

  2. 2 Corinthians 13:6 ἀδόκιμοι. unapproved.

    And I hope you will realize that we have not failed the test.

  3. 2 Corinthians 13:7 ἀδόκιμοι unapproved

    Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what is right, even if we appear to have failed.

    Here: Not standing up to testing, unproven, like a coin rejected at the assay. Paul accepts looking like this if their reform means he never has to show his disciplinary power.

2 Timothy · 1

  1. 2 Timothy 3:8 ἀδόκιμοι disqualified

    Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith.

    Here: "Having failed the test". The word was used of metal or coin that did not pass an assay and was thrown out as counterfeit. These teachers have been put to the test on the faith and shown to be not genuine.

Titus · 1

  1. Titus 1:16 ἀδόκιμοι.¶ unfit.

    They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.

    Here: The opposite of dokimos, 'tested and approved', a word used for assayed metal and genuine coin. Put to the test, they turn out to be counterfeit, so they are disqualified for any good work.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 6:8 ἀδόκιμος [is] worthless

    But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.

    Here: The land has been tested by its harvest and has failed. It is a verdict after examination, like a coin assayed and found false, not simply a statement that it is "worthless".

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