Lexical Summary mórainó: To make foolish, to become foolish, to lose savor Original Word: μωραίνω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance make foolish, lose savor. From moros; to become insipid; figuratively, to make (passively, act) as a simpleton -- become fool, make foolish, lose savour. see GREEK moros HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 3471 mōraínō(from 3474 /mōrós) – dull, sluggish ("without an edge"); (figuratively) acting "stupid or silly," "insipid, flat." . . . "to play the fool" (WS, 30). See 3474 (mōros). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom móros Definition to be foolish NASB Translation became fools (1), become tasteless (2), made foolish (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3471: μωραίνωμωραίνω: 1 aorist ἐμωρανα; 1 aorist passive ἐμωράνθην; (μωρός); 1. in classical Greek to be foolish, to act foolishly. 2. in Biblical Greek a. to make foolish: passive Romans 1:22 (Isaiah 19:11; Jeremiah 10:14; 2 Samuel 24:10); equivalent to to prove a person or thing to be foolish: τήν σοφίαν τοῦ κόσμου, 1 Corinthians 1:20 (τήν βουλήν αὐτῶν, Isaiah 44:25). b. to make flat and tasteless: passive of salt that has lost its strength and flavor, Matthew 5:13; Luke 14:34. The verb μωραίνω carries two intertwined ideas in Scripture: the intellectual sense of “to make foolish” and the sensory picture of something “becoming tasteless.” Both nuances converge on the thought of losing an original, God-given quality—whether sound judgment or salt’s distinct flavor. In Scripture, folly is not a mere mental defect but a moral failure to honor God, while tastelessness portrays a believer whose testimony no longer influences the surrounding world. Old Testament Foreshadowing Although the precise term does not appear in the Hebrew canon, its concepts are anticipated. The prophets often condemn those who “have no understanding” (for example, Isaiah 27:11) and describe covenant violators as “salt that is not seasoned” (compare Leviticus 2:13; Ezekiel 16:4, which assume salt’s preservative role). Thus the Greek verb’s dual imagery harmonizes with earlier revelation: rejecting divine wisdom degrades both mind and mission. New Testament Usage Matthew 5:13 and Luke 14:34 employ the passive form to warn disciples: “If the salt loses its savor [μωρανθῇ], with what will it be made salty?” The metaphor presses believers to guard their distinctiveness; fruitless discipleship is portrayed as astonishingly self-defeating, like salt ceasing to be salty. Paul uses the active and passive in wider theological argument. In 1 Corinthians 1:20 God “made foolish [ἐμώρανεν] the wisdom of the world,” overturning human pretensions through the scandal of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). Conversely, Romans 1:22 exposes willful unbelief: “Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools [ἐμωράνθησαν].” The same verb highlights divine judgment (God renders worldly wisdom futile) and human culpability (sinners render themselves foolish). Theological Implications 1. Revelation over Reason. μωραίνω underscores that unaided human intellect cannot arrive at saving truth. When God “makes foolish” worldly schemes, He is vindicating the supremacy of revelation (1 Corinthians 2:6-10). 2. Moral Declension. Folly is self-inflicted in Romans 1:22; the verb marks the tragic exchange where worship is redirected from the Creator to creation (Romans 1:23-25). Intellectual darkness is inseparable from moral rebellion. 3. Covenant Witness. In the salt sayings, the verb warns the church that loss of spiritual vitality compromises mission. The moral decay the church is meant to restrain will instead overrun her witness if discipleship becomes bland. Historical Interpretation Early church fathers read μωραίνω christologically. Chrysostom saw God’s “foolishness” in the cross as wisdom that humbles the proud. Augustine linked tasteless salt to nominal believers who “bear the name but not the power of Christianity.” Reformers echoed these themes: Calvin urged that gospel preaching “empties man of pride,” while Luther contrasted theologia crucis with “worldly wisdom” undone by μωραίνω. Practical Ministry Applications • Preaching: Present the cross as God’s answer to the intellectual idols of every age, trusting the Spirit to “make foolish” current ideologies. • Discipleship: Guard against spiritual complacency. Regular self-examination and repentance prevent the church from becoming tasteless salt. • Apologetics: Highlight Romans 1’s diagnosis—sin is not merely misinformation but active suppression of truth, resulting in self-inflicted folly. • Church Discipline: Jesus’ warning about salt’s uselessness legitimizes corrective measures aimed at restoring a believer’s flavor. Contemporary Relevance Modern culture venerates autonomy and relativism, yet μωραίνω exposes their end: intellectual futility and ethical barrenness. The church’s counter-cultural task remains unchanged—proclaim the crucified and risen Christ and live distinctively so that the earth tastes the preserving grace of God. If the church abandons either message or holiness, it forfeits its God-ordained influence. Summary In its four New Testament appearances μωραίνω depicts (1) the self-destructive folly of sin, (2) God’s decisive overturning of worldly wisdom through the gospel, and (3) the peril of disciples who forfeit their distinctive influence. Together these uses call believers to cherish revealed wisdom, maintain vibrant holiness, and rely on the Spirit to confound every age’s pretensions. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 5:13 V-ASP-3SGRK: τὸ ἅλας μωρανθῇ ἐν τίνι NAS: the salt has become tasteless, how KJV: the salt have lost his savour, wherewith INT: the salt become tasteless with what Luke 14:34 V-ASP-3S Romans 1:22 V-AIP-3P 1 Corinthians 1:20 V-AIA-3S Strong's Greek 3471 |
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