Lexical Summary kataischuno: To shame, to disgrace, to confound, to dishonor Original Word: καταισχύνω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance confound, put to shameFrom kata and aischunomai; to shame down, i.e. Disgrace or (by implication) put to the blush -- confound, dishonour, (be a-, make a-)shame(-d). see GREEK kata see GREEK aischunomai Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2617: καταισχύνωκαταισχύνω; passive, imperfect κατησχυνομην; 1 aorist κατῃσχύνθην; future καταισχυνθήσομαι; the Sept. chiefly for הֵבִישׁ and הֹבִישׁ; as in Greek writings from Homer down; 1. to dishonor, disgrace: τήν κεφαλήν, 1 Corinthians 11:4f (σποδῷ τήν κεφαλήν, Josephus, Antiquities 20, 4, 2). 2. to put to shame, make ashamed: τινα 1 Corinthians 1:27; 1 Corinthians 11:22; passive to be ashamed, blush with shame: Luke 13:17; 2 Corinthians 7:14; 2 Corinthians 9:4: 1 Peter 3:16; by a Hebrew usage one is said to be put to shame who suffers a repulse, or whom some hope has deceived; hence, ἐλπίς οὐ καταισχύνει, does not disappoint: Romans 5:5 (cf. Psalm 21:6 Strong’s Greek 2617 (kataischunō) describes the experience or infliction of shame, disgrace, or humiliation. The verb can refer either to (1) objective shame—being proved wrong, exposed, or disappointed—or (2) subjective shame—feeling dishonor before God or people. In the New Testament its range is consistent: God never fails those who trust Him, yet He can and will shame human pride; believers safeguard one another from disgrace through orderly worship, ethical conduct, and faithful stewardship. Old Testament and Jewish Background The Septuagint frequently uses the same verb to render Hebrew terms such as bosh and chapher (“to be ashamed”) when Israel’s enemies are confounded or when God’s people are vindicated (for example, Psalm 25:3; Isaiah 45:17). Isaiah 28:16, “the one who believes will not be put to shame,” becomes foundational for Paul and Peter. The Old Testament backdrop therefore supplies two interwoven themes: covenant hope that never disappoints and divine justice that silences arrogance. New Testament Distribution The verb appears thirteen times and clusters around five settings: 1. Divine Vindication of Faith Faith rests on the certainty that God “does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5). Both apostles quote Isaiah to assure believers that trusting in Christ means they “will never be put to shame.” The future eschatological certainty reaches back into present experience; hope is already vindicated by the Spirit poured into believers’ hearts. 2. God’s Redemptive Strategy Against Human Pride “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise”. The cross reverses worldly evaluations; what appears contemptible becomes the instrument of triumphant grace. Human boasting collapses, displaying God’s sovereignty in election and salvation. 3. Congregational Order and Worship Decorum Paul warns that disregard for divinely ordered symbols of authority during prayer and prophecy “disgraces” both the individual and, by extension, the assembly. In verse 22 he presses social sensitivity at the Lord’s Table: failure to share equitably “humiliates those who have nothing.” The verb highlights an ethical obligation to guard one another’s honor inside Christ’s body. 4. Apostolic Integrity and Generous Stewardship Paul’s confidence in the Corinthians could have resulted in personal embarrassment had they proven faithless. Their obedience rescued both the apostle and themselves from shame, illustrating the reciprocal nature of honor within ministry partnerships. 5. Controversy and Public Opposition Jesus’ opponents “were humiliated” when His healing exposed their hypocrisy (Luke 13:17). Peter encourages Christians to maintain “a clear conscience,” so that enemies “may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.” Ethical consistency, not retaliation, silences slander. Doctrinal Significance 1. Assurance of Salvation Because God’s love has been poured out by the Spirit (Romans 5:5), believers possess an unassailable hope. Assurance is not a private sentiment but a public reality that withstands scrutiny on the Last Day. 2. Christological Fulfillment The Isaiah stone passages (Romans 9:33; 10:11; 1 Peter 2:6) identify Jesus as the decisive dividing line. Union with Him eliminates shame; rejection of Him guarantees it. The verb thereby serves Christology by distinguishing faith from unbelief. 3. Ecclesiology and Corporate Holiness Shame language polices disruptive behavior within worship. Paul’s head-covering and Lord’s Supper instructions reveal that corporate life should reflect God’s created order and sacrificial love. Communities that ignore these patterns risk disgracing themselves and the gospel. 4. Missional Witness In 1 Peter 3:16 the church’s ethical integrity becomes an apologetic; opponents are refuted not merely by argument but by observable righteousness. The verb thus connects holiness with evangelistic fruitfulness. Pastoral Applications • Cultivate confident hope grounded in the gospel; remind believers that trusting Christ will never end in disappointment. Historical Notes Early church fathers (e.g., Justin Martyr, Irenaeus) quoted Isaiah’s “no shame” promise when defending Christian faith before pagan critics. Liturgical manuals from the third and fourth centuries cite 1 Corinthians 11 to support decorum in prayer gatherings. Throughout history, hymns and confessions have echoed Romans 10:11 to emphasize saving faith’s certainty. Summary Strong’s Greek 2617 underscores the Bible’s consistent message: those who rely on themselves will ultimately be disgraced, but those who rely on the Lord Jesus Christ will never be put to shame. The verb threads through New Testament teaching on salvation, worship, ethics, and mission, binding them together in a coherent vision of honor restored by grace and safeguarded through obedient faith. Englishman's Concordance Luke 13:17 V-IIM/P-3PGRK: λέγοντος αὐτοῦ κατῃσχύνοντο πάντες οἱ NAS: His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire KJV: his adversaries were ashamed: and all INT: on saying of him were ashamed all who Romans 5:5 V-PIA-3S Romans 9:33 V-FIP-3S Romans 10:11 V-FIP-3S 1 Corinthians 1:27 V-PSA-3S 1 Corinthians 1:27 V-PSA-3S 1 Corinthians 11:4 V-PIA-3S 1 Corinthians 11:5 V-PIA-3S 1 Corinthians 11:22 V-PIA-2P 2 Corinthians 7:14 V-AIP-1S 2 Corinthians 9:4 V-ASP-1P 1 Peter 2:6 V-ASP-3S 1 Peter 3:16 V-ASP-3P Strong's Greek 2617 |
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