Berean Strong's Lexicon akakos: Innocent, guileless, harmless Original Word: ἀκάκος Word Origin: Derived from the Greek prefix "a-" (meaning "not" or "without") and "kakos" (meaning "evil" or "bad"). Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H5355 (נָקִי, naqiy) - meaning innocent or free from guilt. - H8535 (תָּם, tam) - meaning complete, blameless, or innocent. Usage: The Greek word "akakos" is used to describe someone who is innocent or free from guile and malice. It conveys a sense of purity and simplicity, often associated with a childlike innocence or a lack of harmful intent. In the New Testament, it is used to describe individuals who are untainted by evil and who possess a sincere and straightforward character. Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, virtues such as innocence and simplicity were often admired, though sometimes viewed with skepticism in a society that valued cunning and strategic thinking. The early Christian community, however, upheld innocence as a virtue, reflecting the teachings of Jesus, who emphasized purity of heart and sincerity. The concept of being "akakos" aligns with the Christian ideal of being "wise as serpents and innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16, BSB). HELPS Word-studies 172 ákakos (an adjective, derived from 1 /A "not" and 2556 /kakós, "malignant") – properly, not harmful, describing someone innocent, down to their very intentions (motives), i.e. a person without any desire to hurt (harm). 172/akakos ("a character without guile") means being constitutionally harmless, free from the desire to inflict harm (grief, hurt). [It is ultimately the negated form of 2556 /kakós ("a rotten disposition, bent on inflicting harm").] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom alpha (as a neg. prefix) and kakos Definition guileless NASB Translation innocent (1), unsuspecting (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 172: ἄκακοςἄκακος, (κακός); a. without guile or fraud, harmless; free from guilt: Hebrews 7:26; (cf. Clement, fragment 8, Jacobson edition (Lightfoot S. Clement of Rome etc., p. 219): ἄκακος ὁ πατήρ πνεῦμα ἔδωκεν ἄκακον). b. fearing no evil from others, distrusting no one, (cf. English guileless): Romans 16:18. ((Aeschylus) Plato, Demosthenes, Polybius, others; the Sept.) (Cf. Trench, § lvi.; Tittmann i., p. 27f.) From a (as a negative particle) and kakos; not bad, i.e. (objectively) innocent or (subjectively) unsuspecting -- harmless, simple. see GREEK a see GREEK kakos Englishman's Concordance Romans 16:18 Adj-GMPGRK: καρδίας τῶν ἀκάκων NAS: the hearts of the unsuspecting. KJV: deceive the hearts of the simple. INT: hearts of the naïve Hebrews 7:26 Adj-NMS Strong's Greek 172 |
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