5583. pseustés from the same as NG5574

Lexical Summary

pseustés from the same as NG5574: Liar

Original Word: ψεύστης
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: pseustés from the same as NG5574
Pronunciation: psyoos-tace'
Phonetic Spelling: (psyoos-tace')
KJV: liar
NASB: liar, liars
Word Origin: [from G5574 (ψεύδομαι - lie)]

1. a falsifier

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

liar.

From pseudomai; a falsifier -- liar.

see GREEK pseudomai

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 5583 pseústēs (from 5574 /pseúdomai, "to falsify, lie") – properly, a lair; a person who falsifies, misrepresents (distorts, misleads).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a liar
NASB Translation
liar (8), liars (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 5583: ψεύστης

ψεύστης, ψευστου, ὁ (ψεύδω), from Homer down, a liar: John 8:44, 55; 1 John 1:10; 1 John 2:4, 22; 1 John 4:20; 1 John 5:10; 1 Timothy 1:10; Titus 1:12; (Revelation 21:8 Lachmann (others ψευδής, which see)); one who breaks faith, a false or faithless man (see ψεῦσμα), Romans 3:4 cf. Proverbs 19:22.

Topical Lexicon

Topic

ψεύστης (pseustēs) — “liar”

Scope of Meaning

While everyday Greek could use ψεύστης of anyone who distorts reality, the New Testament confines the term to moral and spiritual untruth. A ψεύστης is not merely mistaken; he is consciously opposed to the God who “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). Every use of the noun exposes an ethical breach that springs from a faulty relationship to the truth-bearing God.

Occurrences in the New Testament

1. John 8:44 – the devil identified as “a liar and the father of lies.”
2. John 8:55 – Jesus contrasts His obedience with His opponents’ potential to “prove Him a liar.”
3. Romans 3:4 – “Let God be true and every man a liar.”
4. 1 Timothy 1:10 – “liars” grouped with law-breakers who contradict sound doctrine.
5. Titus 1:12 – Cretans proverbially called “liars.”
6. 1 John 1:10 – anyone denying personal sin “makes Him a liar.”
7. 1 John 2:4 – the professed believer who disobeys God “is a liar.”
8. 1 John 2:22 – the antichrist spirit labeled “the liar.”
9. 1 John 4:20 – the unloving brother is “a liar.”
10. 1 John 5:10 – the unbeliever who rejects God’s testimony “has made Him a liar.”

Old Testament Background

Israel’s law condemned false witness (Exodus 20:16) and perjury (Deuteronomy 19:16–19). The prophets decried “lying lips” that oppress the vulnerable (Psalm 120:2; Proverbs 6:17). Against this backdrop the New Testament sharpens the charge: a liar rebels not only against society but against divine revelation.

Revelatory Significance

John 8:44 anchors the concept in a cosmic conflict. Satan, “the father of lies,” stands behind every misuse of ψεύστης. Thus lying is more than a human frailty; it aligns the sinner with demonic purpose. Romans 3:4 inversely establishes God’s unwavering veracity: human untruth does not diminish divine faithfulness.

Christological Focus

In John 8:55 Jesus risks being branded a liar if His claims are false. The resurrection validated His testimony, silencing that charge. 1 John extends the thought: whoever denies Jesus as the Christ is “the liar” par excellence (1 John 2:22). False christology is therefore the pinnacle of deception.

Ecclesiological and Pastoral Implications

Paul’s letters group “liars” with sins that tear the moral fabric of the church (1 Timothy 1:10; Titus 1:12). Shepherds are to expose deceit and cultivate truthful speech (Ephesians 4:25). For Titus, Cretan culture’s reputation for lying demanded elders “holding to the faithful word” (Titus 1:9).

Doctrinal and Ethical Dimensions

1. Anthropology: The universality of sin makes every person a potential liar (Romans 3:4). Redemption reorients the tongue toward truth.
2. Soteriology: Persistently rejecting God’s witness concerning His Son marks one as a liar (1 John 5:10), placing salvation out of reach until repentance.
3. Sanctification: Obedience proves truthfulness (1 John 2:4). A claim to know God without moral correspondence is self-deception.
4. Love and Community: Hatred of a brother while professing love for God unveils hypocrisy (1 John 4:20). Truth and love are inseparable marks of regeneration.

Historical Reception

Early Fathers cited Romans 3:4 to defend the authority of Scripture over human opinion. Augustine warned that calling God a liar, as in 1 John 1:10, undermines repentance. The Reformers employed these texts against doctrinal corruption, asserting sola Scriptura: let God be true though every man be found a liar.

Contemporary Ministry Application

• Preaching: Declare the seriousness of untruth in light of John 8:44; contrast with Jesus as “the way and the truth” (John 14:6).
• Counseling: Identify habitual lying as bondage; point to the liberating truth of the gospel.
• Apologetics: Use 1 John 5:10 to press the unbeliever—rejection of Christ is tantamount to branding God a liar.
• Church Discipline: Apply 1 Timothy 1:10 when falsehood damages the flock; restore with gentleness yet clarity.

Representative Quotations

John 8:44: “He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Romans 3:4: “Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: ‘So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.’”

1 John 2:22: “Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son.”

Summary

ψεύστης exposes the gravity of deception before a holy God. Scripture confronts the liar, unmasks the satanic source of falsehood, and calls every believer into the liberating light of truth in Jesus Christ.

Forms and Transliterations

ψευσται ψεύσται ψεῦσται ψευσταις ψεύσταις ψευστην ψεύστην ψευστης ψεύστης pseustai pseûstai pseustais pseústais pseusten pseustēn pseústen pseústēn pseustes pseustēs pseústes pseústēs

Englishman's Concordance

John 8:44 N-NMS
GRK: λαλεῖ ὅτι ψεύστης ἐστὶν καὶ
NAS: from his own [nature], for he is a liar and the father
KJV: for he is a liar, and the father
INT: he speaks for a liar he is and

John 8:55 N-NMS
GRK: ὅμοιος ὑμῖν ψεύστης ἀλλὰ οἶδα
NAS: that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like
KJV: not, I shall be a liar like unto you:
INT: like you a liar But I know

Romans 3:4 N-NMS
GRK: δὲ ἄνθρωπος ψεύστης καθὼς γέγραπται
NAS: man [be found] a liar, as it is written,
KJV: every man a liar; as it is written,
INT: moreover man a liar as it has been written

1 Timothy 1:10 N-DMP
GRK: ἀρσενοκοίταις ἀνδραποδισταῖς ψεύσταις ἐπιόρκοις καὶ
NAS: and kidnappers and liars and perjurers,
KJV: for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons,
INT: homosexuals men-stealers liars perjurers and

Titus 1:12 N-NMP
GRK: Κρῆτες ἀεὶ ψεῦσται κακὰ θηρία
NAS: are always liars, evil
KJV: [are] alway liars, evil
INT: Cretans always [are] liars evil wild beasts

1 John 1:10 N-AMS
GRK: οὐχ ἡμαρτήκαμεν ψεύστην ποιοῦμεν αὐτὸν
NAS: we make Him a liar and His word
KJV: we make him a liar, and his
INT: not we have sinned a liar we make him

1 John 2:4 N-NMS
GRK: μὴ τηρῶν ψεύστης ἐστίν καὶ
NAS: His commandments, is a liar, and the truth
KJV: commandments, is a liar, and the truth
INT: not is keeping a liar is and

1 John 2:22 N-NMS
GRK: ἐστιν ὁ ψεύστης εἰ μὴ
NAS: Who is the liar but the one who denies
KJV: Who is a liar but he that denieth
INT: is the liar if not

1 John 4:20 N-NMS
GRK: αὐτοῦ μισῇ ψεύστης ἐστίν ὁ
NAS: his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love
KJV: he is a liar: for
INT: of him should hate a liar he is he who

1 John 5:10 N-AMS
GRK: τῷ θεῷ ψεύστην πεποίηκεν αὐτόν
NAS: has made Him a liar, because
KJV: him a liar; because
INT: God a liar has made him

Strong's Greek 5583
10 Occurrences

ψεῦσται — 1 Occ.
ψεύσταις — 1 Occ.
ψεύστην — 2 Occ.
ψεύστης — 6 Occ.