3557. nosphizó

Lexical Summary

nosphizó: To misappropriate, to embezzle, to keep back, to steal.

Original Word: νοσφίζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: nosphizó
Pronunciation: nos-FEE-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (nos-fid'-zom-ahee)
KJV: keep back, purloin
NASB: keep back, kept back, pilfering
Word Origin: [middle voice from nosphi (apart or clandestinely)]

1. to sequestrate for oneself, i.e. embezzle

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

keep back, purloin.

Middle voice from nosphi (apart or clandestinely); to sequestrate for oneself, i.e. Embezzle -- keep back, purloin.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from nosphi (apart)
Definition
to abandon, to set apart
NASB Translation
keep back (1), kept back (1), pilfering (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3557: νοσφίζω

νοσφίζω: middle, present participle νοσφιζόμενος; 1 aorist ἐνοσφισαμην; (νόσφι afar, apart); to set apart, separate, divide; middle to set apart or separate for oneself, i. e. to purloin, embezzle, withdraw covertly and appropriate to one's own use: χρήματα, Xenophon, Cyril 4, 2, 42; Plutarch, Lucull. 37; Aristid. 4; μηδέν τῶν ἐκ τῆς διαρπαγης, Polybius 10, 16, 6; χρυσώματα, 2 Macc. 4:32; ἀλλότρια, Josephus, Antiquities 4, 8, 29; absolutely, Titus 2:10; (τί) ἀπό τίνος, Acts 5:2, 3 (here A. V. keep back); the Sept. Joshua 7:1; ἐκ τίνος, Athen. 6, p. 234 a.

Topical Lexicon

Semantic Range and Core Idea

The verb νοσφίζομαι depicts the clandestine act of setting aside, withholding, or embezzling what rightfully belongs to another. Its nuance is not mere forgetfulness or delay but a deliberate, concealed misappropriation that violates trust within a covenant relationship.

Occurrences in Scripture

• Acts 5:2–3 presents the decisive New Testament example: “With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the proceeds…” (Acts 5:2). Peter immediately identifies the sin as lying “to the Holy Spirit” (Acts 5:3).
• Titus 2:10 warns bond-servants “not pilfering, but showing all good faith,” thus extending the prohibition from communal sharing in Jerusalem to the ordinary workplace of first-century households.

Theological Implications

1. Sin against the Body of Christ: In Acts, misappropriation is treated as a sin not simply against fellow believers but against God Himself. The Spirit indwells the church; to defraud the community is to defraud the Lord (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:16).
2. Integrity of Witness: Titus speaks to the missionary setting of Crete. By refusing to pilfer, servants “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every way” (Titus 2:10). Integrity authenticates proclamation.
3. Stewardship under the New Covenant: Resources entrusted to believers—whether possessions, time, or gifts—are to be managed faithfully for God’s purposes (1 Peter 4:10). νοσφίζομαι is the antithesis of stewardship.

Historical Background

• Greco-Roman Patronage: Households were economic units where slaves often handled finances. Pilfering was common enough to earn literary attention (e.g., Plutarch, Lucian). Paul’s instruction in Titus addresses a real, socially accepted vice.
• Early Church Communalism: The Jerusalem believers voluntarily pooled resources (Acts 4:32-35). Against that backdrop, Ananias and Sapphira’s deceit was a direct assault on the Spirit-shaped unity of the fledgling church.

Old Testament Parallels

Joshua 7 recounts Achan’s secret appropriation of devoted items. The shared vocabulary of “kept back” (LXX uses νοσφίζομαι) underlines continuity: hidden theft threatens the entire covenant community and invites divine judgment.

Christological and Missional Dimensions

Jesus Christ, “though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor” (2 Corinthians 8:9), embodies openhanded generosity. Concealed greed contradicts the self-giving pattern of the cross and obscures the Gospel’s credibility before the watching world.

Pastoral Applications

• Financial Transparency: Churches and ministries must pursue open accounting practices, recognizing that hidden misuse provokes God’s displeasure (Acts 5).
• Work Ethic: Employees emulate Christ by refusing even minor misappropriation—office supplies, time theft, or intellectual property—so that “they may adorn the doctrine” (Titus 2:10).
• Accountability: Small-group life and mutual confession guard against the isolation that breeds secret sin.

Related New Testament Teaching

Ephesians 4:28 sets the positive alternative: “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work… that he may have something to share with the one in need”. The transformation from taking to giving marks genuine conversion.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 3557 exposes the destructive power of concealed self-interest within God’s people. Whether in the dramatic judgment of Acts or the quiet workplace ethic of Titus, Scripture consistently calls believers to transparent integrity, generous stewardship, and Spirit-filled community life.

Forms and Transliterations

ενοσφίσαντο ενοσφισατο ενοσφίσατο ἐνοσφίσατο νοσφιζομενους νοσφιζομένους νοσφισασθαι νοσφίσασθαι enosphisato enosphísato nosphisasthai nosphísasthai nosphizomenous nosphizoménous

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 5:2 V-AIM-3S
GRK: καὶ ἐνοσφίσατο ἀπὸ τῆς
NAS: and kept back [some] of the price
KJV: And kept back [part] of the price,
INT: and kept back from the

Acts 5:3 V-ANM
GRK: ἅγιον καὶ νοσφίσασθαι ἀπὸ τῆς
NAS: Spirit and to keep back [some] of the price
KJV: and to keep back [part] of
INT: Holy and to keep back from the

Titus 2:10 V-PPM-AMP
GRK: μὴ νοσφιζομένους ἀλλὰ πᾶσαν
NAS: not pilfering, but showing all
KJV: Not purloining, but shewing
INT: not pilfering but all

Strong's Greek 3557
3 Occurrences

ἐνοσφίσατο — 1 Occ.
νοσφίσασθαι — 1 Occ.
νοσφιζομένους — 1 Occ.