175. akarpos

Lexicon

akarpos: Unfruitful, barren

Original Word: ἄκαρπος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: akarpos
Pronunciation: ah-KAR-pos
Phonetic Spelling: (ak'-ar-pos)
Definition: Unfruitful, barren
Meaning: unfruitful, barren, profitless.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

without fruit, unfruitful.

From a (as a negative particle) and karpos; barren (literally or figuratively) -- without fruit, unfruitful.

see GREEK a

see GREEK karpos

HELPS Word-studies

175 ákarpos (an adjective, from 1 /A "not" and 2590 /karpós, "fruit") – properly, unfruitful.

175 /ákarpos ("unfruitful") refers to any thought (action) not originated and empowered by the Lord, i.e. not born of faith (birthed and empowered by God).

By definition, all decisions that are not born "of faith are sin" (Ro 14:23) – which automatically renders them eternally fruitless ("a waste"). This is the case regardless of how impressive or acceptable they are in the eyes of the world.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from alpha (as a neg. prefix) and karpos
Definition
unfruitful
NASB Translation
unfruitful (6), without fruit (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 175: ἄκαρπος

ἄκαρπος, (καρπός) (from Aeschylus down), without fruit, barren;

1. properly: δένδρα, Jude 1:12.

2. metaphorically, not yielding what it ought to yield, (A. V. unfruitful): Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19; destitute of good deeds, Titus 3:14; 2 Peter 1:8; contributing nothing to the instruction, improvement, comfort, of others, 1 Corinthians 14:14; by litotes pernicious, Ephesians 5:11 (Wis. 15:4; cf. Grimm on Wis. 1:11).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek prefix ἀ- (a-, "not" or "without") and καρπός (karpos, "fruit").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ἄκαρπος, the concept of fruitfulness and barrenness is present in the Hebrew Scriptures. Related Hebrew terms include:

• H7387 רָקָב (raqab): Meaning "rottenness" or "decay," often used metaphorically for moral corruption or unfruitfulness.
• H6135 עָקָר (aqar): Meaning "barren" or "sterile," used to describe the inability to produce offspring or results.

These Hebrew terms, like ἄκαρπος, convey the idea of lacking productivity or failing to achieve the intended purpose, whether in a physical or spiritual sense.

Usage: The word ἄκαρπος is used in the New Testament to describe both literal and metaphorical barrenness or lack of fruitfulness. It is often employed in spiritual contexts to denote a lack of good works or spiritual productivity.

Context: The Greek term ἄκαρπος appears in several New Testament passages, often conveying a spiritual lesson about the importance of bearing fruit in one's life. In the Berean Standard Bible, it is used to describe individuals or entities that fail to produce the expected results or outcomes, particularly in a spiritual or moral sense.

• Matthew 13:22 (BSB): "The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful." Here, ἄκαρπος illustrates how external distractions can hinder spiritual growth and productivity.

• Mark 4:19 (BSB): "But the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful." This passage parallels Matthew 13:22, emphasizing the dangers of worldly concerns.

• Ephesians 5:11 (BSB): "Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." In this context, ἄκαρπος refers to actions that are morally and spiritually barren, urging believers to avoid and confront such behaviors.

• Titus 3:14 (BSB): "And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works for cases of urgent need, so that they will not be unfruitful." Here, the term underscores the necessity of engaging in good works to avoid spiritual barrenness.

The concept of fruitfulness is a recurring theme in the New Testament, often associated with living a life that reflects the values and teachings of Christ. The use of ἄκαρπος serves as a warning against complacency and a call to active faith and righteousness.

Forms and Transliterations

ακαρπα άκαρπα ἄκαρπα ακαρποι άκαρποι ἄκαρποι ακαρποις ακάρποις ἀκάρποις ακαρπος άκαρπος άκαρπός ἄκαρπος ἄκαρπός ακαρπους ακάρπους ἀκάρπους ακάρπω akarpa ákarpa akarpoi ákarpoi akarpois akárpois akarpos ákarpos ákarpós akarpous akárpous

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 13:22 Adj-NMS
GRK: λόγον καὶ ἄκαρπος γίνεται
NAS: the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
KJV: and he becometh unfruitful.
INT: word and unfruitful it becomes

Mark 4:19 Adj-NMS
GRK: λόγον καὶ ἄκαρπος γίνεται
NAS: the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
KJV: and it becometh unfruitful.
INT: word and unfruitful it becomes

1 Corinthians 14:14 Adj-NMS
GRK: νοῦς μου ἄκαρπός ἐστιν
NAS: prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
KJV: understanding is unfruitful.
INT: [the] mind of me unfruitful is

Ephesians 5:11 Adj-DNP
GRK: ἔργοις τοῖς ἀκάρποις τοῦ σκότους
NAS: Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds
KJV: fellowship with the unfruitful works
INT: works unfruitful of darkness

Titus 3:14 Adj-NMP
GRK: μὴ ὦσιν ἄκαρποι
NAS: so that they will not be unfruitful.
KJV: they be not unfruitful.
INT: not they might be unfruitful

2 Peter 1:8 Adj-AMP
GRK: ἀργοὺς οὐδὲ ἀκάρπους καθίστησιν εἰς
NAS: nor unfruitful in the TRUE knowledge
KJV: nor unfruitful in
INT: idle nor unfruitful make [you] as to

Jude 1:12 Adj-NNP
GRK: δένδρα φθινοπωρινὰ ἄκαρπα δὶς ἀποθανόντα
NAS: trees without fruit, doubly
KJV: whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice
INT: trees autumnal without fruit twice having died

Strong's Greek 175
7 Occurrences

ἄκαρπα — 1 Occ.
ἄκαρποι — 1 Occ.
ἀκάρποις — 1 Occ.
ἄκαρπος — 3 Occ.
ἀκάρπους — 1 Occ.