153. aischunó

Lexical Summary

aischunó: To shame, to dishonor, to disgrace

Original Word: αἰσχύνω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: aischunó
Pronunciation: ahee-skhoo'-no
Phonetic Spelling: (ahee-skhoo'-nom-ahee)
KJV: be ashamed
NASB: ashamed, put to shame, shame, shrink
Word Origin: [from aischos "disfigurement" (i.e. disgrace)]

1. to feel shame (for oneself)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

be ashamed.

From aischos (disfigurement, i.e. Disgrace); to feel shame (for oneself) -- be ashamed.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from aischos (shame, disgrace)
Definition
to dishonor, make ashamed
NASB Translation
ashamed (2), put to shame (2), shame (1), shrink (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 153: αἰσχύνω

αἰσχύνω: (αἶσχος (cf. αἰσχρός));

1. to disfigure: πρόσωπον, Homer, Iliad 18, 24, and many others.

2. to dishonor: the Sept. Proverbs 29:15.

3. to suffuse with shame, make ashamed: Sir. 13:7. In the N. T. only passive, αἰσχύνομαι; future αἰσχυνθήσομαι; 1 aorist ᾐσχύνθην; to be suffused with shame, be made ashamed, be ashamed: 2 Corinthians 10:8; Philippians 1:20; 1 Peter 4:16; μή αἰσχυνθῶμεν ἀπ' αὐτοῦ that we may not in shame shrink from him, 1 John 2:28 (Sir. 21:22 αἰσχυνθήσεται ἀπό προσώπου (Isaiah 1:29; Jeremiah 12:13; cf. Buttmann, § 147, 2)); followed by an infinitive (on which see Winer's Grammar, 346 (325)), Luke 16:3. (Compare: ἐπαισχύνω (ἐπαισχύνομαι, καταισχύνω.)

Topical Lexicon

Summary of Meaning

αἰσχύνομαι expresses the personal experience of disgrace or loss of honor when one’s conduct, associations, or message is exposed to public evaluation. It is not mere embarrassment but a moral and relational diminishment felt before God or people.

Occurrences in the New Testament

• Luke 16:3 – The unjust steward fears, “I am ashamed to beg,” revealing social shame as a powerful motivator for action.
• 2 Corinthians 10:8 – Paul writes, “I will not be ashamed,” grounding apostolic boldness in a divine commission that overrules human opinion.
• Philippians 1:20 – Paul expects “that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness,” tying freedom from shame to magnifying Christ whether by life or death.
• 1 Peter 4:16 – “If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God,” redirecting shame culture against persecutors rather than believers.
• 1 John 2:28 – John urges believers to “remain in Him, so that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming,” linking present abiding with future vindication.

Theological Themes

1. Honor-Shame Reversal: Scripture consistently reassigns honor. Those who cling to Christ may appear disgraced now yet receive glory at His revelation (1 Peter 1:7).
2. Apostolic Integrity: Paul’s refusal to be ashamed (2 Corinthians 10:8; Philippians 1:20) roots Christian courage in the gospel’s objective truth, not personal reputation.
3. Eschatological Accountability: 1 John 2:28 frames shame as a potential reality at the judgment seat of Christ, urging holiness for confident anticipation.
4. Suffering and Witness: Peter transforms social shame associated with persecution into an occasion for glorifying God, exemplifying how Christian identity redefines cultural values.

Historical Background

In the Greco-Roman world, honor was capital; social dishonor threatened livelihood and legacy. Public opinion courts, tribune speeches, and household patronage revolved around honor-shame dynamics. The New Testament writers enter that milieu and declare that ultimate honor belongs to Christ and those aligned with Him, relativizing societal verdicts.

Pastoral Application

• Encourage believers facing ridicule to reinterpret events through divine verdicts rather than cultural metrics.
• Equip the church to bear reproach for ethical stands (Hebrews 13:13) without compromise or bitterness.
• Use Philippians 1:20 in counseling to move saints from reputation-management to Christ-magnification.
• Prepare congregations for eschatological evaluation so present decisions are governed by the desire to stand unashamed before Christ.

Connections to Other Biblical Teachings

• Isaiah 28:16 (LXX: “will not be put to shame”) undergirds New Testament appeals (Romans 9:33; 1 Peter 2:6).
• Jesus endures the cross “despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2), providing both model and means for believers.
• Romans 1:16 contrasts gospel confidence with shame, reinforcing that divine power eclipses societal scorn.

Christological Implications

Christ bears ultimate shame on the cross, reversing Edenic disgrace and clothing believers with righteousness (Genesis 3:10; Revelation 3:18). Union with Him transfers honor to those once alienated, enabling fearless witness.

Eschatological Perspective

Final judgment will expose true worth. Present courage ensures future acclaim; present compromise courts eternal regret. 1 John 2:28 establishes abiding in Christ as the only safeguard against future shame.

Practical Ministry Insights

• Catechize converts on honor-shame dynamics to fortify them against peer pressure.
• Frame evangelism as inviting others out of impending shame into Christ’s honor.
• Foster testimonies of believers who suffered loss yet gained gospel credibility, reinforcing 1 Peter 4:16.

Forms and Transliterations

αισχύνει αισχυνεσθω αισχυνέσθω αἰσχυνέσθω αισχύνεται αισχυνθείησαν αισχυνθέντες αισχυνθήναι αισχυνθής αισχυνθήσεσθε αισχυνθήσεται αισχυνθήση αισχυνθησομαι αισχυνθήσομαι αἰσχυνθήσομαι αισχυνθήσονται αισχύνθητε αισχύνθητι αισχυνθήτωσαν αισχυνθώ αίσχυνθω αισχυνθωμεν αισχυνθώμεν αἰσχυνθῶμεν αισχυνθώσι αισχυνομαι αισχύνομαι αἰσχύνομαι αισχυνόμενοι αισχυνόμενοί αισχυνόμενος ήσχυναν ησχύνετο ησχύνθη ησχύνθημεν ησχύνθην ησχύνθησαν ησχυνόμην ησχύνοντο ήσχυνται aischunestho aischunesthō aischunomai aischunthesomai aischunthēsomai aischunthomen aischunthōmen aischynestho aischynesthō aischynéstho aischynésthō aischynomai aischýnomai aischynthesomai aischynthēsomai aischynthḗsomai aischynthomen aischynthômen aischynthōmen aischynthō̂men

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 16:3 V-PIM/P-1S
GRK: ἰσχύω ἐπαιτεῖν αἰσχύνομαι
NAS: to dig; I am ashamed to beg.
KJV: dig; to beg I am ashamed.
INT: I am able to beg I am ashamed

2 Corinthians 10:8 V-FIP-1S
GRK: ὑμῶν οὐκ αἰσχυνθήσομαι
NAS: you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame,
KJV: I should not be ashamed:
INT: you not I will be ashamed

Philippians 1:20 V-FIP-1S
GRK: ἐν οὐδενὶ αἰσχυνθήσομαι ἀλλ' ἐν
NAS: and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything,
KJV: nothing I shall be ashamed, but
INT: in nothing I will be ashamed but in

1 Peter 4:16 V-PMM/P-3S
GRK: Χριστιανός μὴ αἰσχυνέσθω δοξαζέτω δὲ
NAS: [anyone suffers] as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify
KJV: not be ashamed; but
INT: a Christian not let him be ashamed let him glorify however

1 John 2:28 V-ASP-1P
GRK: καὶ μὴ αἰσχυνθῶμεν ἀπ' αὐτοῦ
NAS: confidence and not shrink away
KJV: and not be ashamed before him
INT: and not be ashamed from him

Strong's Greek 153
5 Occurrences

αἰσχυνέσθω — 1 Occ.
αἰσχύνομαι — 1 Occ.
αἰσχυνθήσομαι — 2 Occ.
αἰσχυνθῶμεν — 1 Occ.