4189. ponéria
Lexicon
ponéria: Wickedness, evil, malice

Original Word: πονηρία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: ponéria
Pronunciation: po-nay-REE-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (pon-ay-ree'-ah)
Definition: Wickedness, evil, malice
Meaning: wickedness, iniquities.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
iniquity, wickedness.

From poneros; depravity, i.e. (specially), malice; plural (concretely) plots, sins -- iniquity, wickedness.

see GREEK poneros

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 4189 ponēría (from 4192 /pónos, "pain, laborious trouble") – properly, pain-ridden evil, derived from 4192 (pónos) which refers to "pain (pure and simple)" – resulting in "toil, then drudge, i.e. 'bad' like our . . . criminal" (WP, 1, 325). See 4190 (ponēros).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from ponéros
Definition
iniquity
NASB Translation
malice (1), wicked ways (1), wickedness (5).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4189: πονηρία

πονηρία, πονηρίας, (πονηρός) (from Sophocles down), the Sept. for רֹעַ and רָעָה, depravity, iniquity, wickedness ((so A. V. almost uniformly)), malice: Matthew 22:18; Luke 11:39; Romans 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:8; Ephesians 6:12; plural αἱ πονηρίαι (cf. Winers Grammar, § 27, 3; Buttmann, § 123, 2; R. V. wickednesses), evil purposes and desires, Mark 7:22; wicked ways (A. V. iniquities), Acts 3:26. (Synonym: see κακία, at the end.)

Topical Lexicon
Word Origin: Derived from πονηρός (ponērós), meaning "evil" or "wicked."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: H7451 רַע (ra‘): Often translated as "evil" or "wickedness," this Hebrew term shares a similar semantic range with πονηρία, describing moral and ethical corruption.
H205 אָוֶן (aven): Translated as "iniquity" or "trouble," this term also corresponds to the concept of wickedness and malice found in πονηρία.

This entry provides a comprehensive understanding of the term πονηρία, its biblical usage, and its theological implications, encouraging believers to pursue righteousness and reject evil.

Usage: The word πονηρία is used in the New Testament to describe the moral corruption and wickedness that stands in opposition to God's holiness and righteousness. It is often associated with sinful behaviors and attitudes that are contrary to the teachings of Christ.

Context: Overview: πονηρία is a term that captures the essence of moral evil and wickedness in the human heart and actions. It is used in the New Testament to describe the pervasive nature of sin and its impact on individuals and communities.
Biblical Context: In the New Testament, πονηρία is frequently mentioned in lists of vices and is contrasted with virtues that are pleasing to God. It is often used to describe the general state of human sinfulness and the specific acts that arise from a corrupt heart.
Key Verses:
Matthew 6:23 (BSB): "But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"
Mark 7:21-22 (BSB): "For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness."
Ephesians 6:12 (BSB): "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Theological Significance: πονηρία is a fundamental concept in understanding the fallen nature of humanity and the need for redemption through Jesus Christ. It highlights the contrast between the sinful nature of man and the holiness of God, underscoring the necessity of repentance and transformation through the Holy Spirit.
Practical Application: Believers are called to recognize and reject πονηρία in their lives, striving instead to embody the virtues of the Spirit. This involves a conscious effort to align one's thoughts, words, and actions with the teachings of Christ and to seek God's strength in overcoming evil.

Forms and Transliterations
πονηρια πονηρία πονηρίᾳ πονηριαι πονηρίαι πονηριαν πονηρίαν πονηριας πονηρίας πονηριων πονηριών πονηριῶν poneria ponēria poneriai poneríai poneríāi ponēriai ponēríai ponēríāi ponerian ponerían ponērian ponērían ponerias ponerías ponērias ponērías ponerion poneriôn ponēriōn ponēriō̂n
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 22:18 N-AFS
GRK: Ἰησοῦς τὴν πονηρίαν αὐτῶν εἶπεν
NAS: perceived their malice, and said,
KJV: their wickedness, and said,
INT: Jesus the malice of them said

Mark 7:22 N-NFP
GRK: πλεονεξίαι πονηρίαι δόλος ἀσέλγεια
NAS: deeds of coveting [and] wickedness, [as well] [as] deceit,
KJV: covetousness, wickedness, deceit,
INT: covetous desires wickednesses deceit sensuality

Luke 11:39 N-GFS
GRK: ἁρπαγῆς καὶ πονηρίας
NAS: of robbery and wickedness.
KJV: of ravening and wickedness.
INT: of plundering and wickedness

Acts 3:26 N-GFP
GRK: ἀπὸ τῶν πονηριῶν ὑμῶν
NAS: every one [of you] from your wicked ways.
KJV: of you from his iniquities.
INT: from the wickednesses of you

Romans 1:29 N-DFS
GRK: πάσῃ ἀδικίᾳ πονηρίᾳ πλεονεξίᾳ κακίᾳ
NAS: unrighteousness, wickedness, greed,
KJV: fornication, wickedness, covetousness,
INT: all unrighteousness wickedness covetousness malice

1 Corinthians 5:8 N-GFS
GRK: κακίας καὶ πονηρίας ἀλλ' ἐν
NAS: of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened
KJV: of malice and wickedness; but with
INT: of malice and wickedness but with

Ephesians 6:12 N-GFS
GRK: πνευματικὰ τῆς πονηρίας ἐν τοῖς
NAS: the spiritual [forces] of wickedness in the heavenly
KJV: against spiritual wickedness in high
INT: spiritual [powers] of evil in the

Strong's Greek 4189
7 Occurrences


πονηρίᾳ — 1 Occ.
πονηρίαι — 1 Occ.
πονηρίαν — 1 Occ.
πονηρίας — 3 Occ.
πονηριῶν — 1 Occ.















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