766. aselgeia

Lexicon

aselgeia: Licentiousness, debauchery, sensuality, lewdness

Original Word: ἀσέλγεια
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: aselgeia
Pronunciation: ah-sel'-gheia
Phonetic Spelling: (as-elg'-i-a)
Definition: Licentiousness, debauchery, sensuality, lewdness
Meaning: (outrageous conduct, conduct shocking to public decency, a wanton violence), wantonness, lewdness.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

filth, lasciviousness, debauchery.

From a compound of a (as a negative particle) and a presumed selges (of uncertain derivation, but apparently meaning continent); licentiousness (sometimes including other vices) -- filthy, lasciviousness, wantonness.

see GREEK a

HELPS Word-studies

766 asélgeia (from aselgēs/"brutal") – properly, violent spite which rejects restraint and indulges in lawless insolence (wanton caprice).

[This is likewise the meaning of 766 /asélgeia in classical Greek (WS, 110).]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of uncertain origin
Definition
licentiousness, wantonness
NASB Translation
licentiousness (1), sensual (1), sensuality (8).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 766: ἀσέλγεια

ἀσέλγεια, ἀσελγειας, ἡ, the conduct and character of one who is ἀσελγής (a word which some suppose to be compounded of the alpha privative and Σελγη, the name of a city in Pisidia whose citizens excelled in strictness of morals (so Etym. Magn. 152, 38; per contra cf. Suidas 603 d.): others of ἆ intens. and σαλάγειν, to disturb, raise a din; others, and now the majority, of alpha privative and σέλγω equivalent to θέλγω, not affecting pleasantly, exciting disgust), "unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence": Mark 7:22 (where it is uncertain what particular vice is spoken of); of gluttony and venery, Jude 1:4; plural, 1 Peter 4:3; 2 Peter 2:2 (for Rec. ἀπωλείαις), 18; of carnality, lasciviousness: 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 4:19; 2 Peter 2:7; plural "wanton (acts or) manners, as filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females, etc." (Fritzsche), Romans 13:13. (In Biblical Greek besides only in Wis. 14:26 and 3Macc. 2:26. Among Greek writings used by Plato, Isocrates and following; at length by Plutarch (Lucull. 38) and Lucian (dial. meretr. 6) of the wantonness of women (Lob. ad Phryn., p. 184 n.).) Cf. Tittmann i., p. 151f; (especially Trench, § xvi.).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from a compound of α (a, "without") and a presumed form of σέλγω (selgo, "to control or restrain").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ἀσέλγεια, similar concepts can be found in the Old Testament, where terms related to moral corruption and licentiousness are used. These include:

- זִמָּה (zimmah, Strong's Hebrew 2154) • often translated as "lewdness" or "wickedness."
- נְבָלָה (nebalah, Strong's Hebrew 5039) • translated as "folly" or "outrage," often in the context of moral disgrace.

These Hebrew terms, like ἀσέλγεια, convey a sense of moral and ethical violation, emphasizing the need for purity and righteousness in the lives of God's people.

Usage: The word ἀσέλγεια is used in the New Testament to describe behaviors that are morally and ethically corrupt, often associated with sexual immorality and debauchery. It is used to highlight the sinful nature of actions that are contrary to the teachings of Christ and the standards of Christian living.

Context: The Greek term ἀσέλγεια appears in several New Testament passages, emphasizing the moral depravity and sinful nature of certain behaviors. It is often listed among other vices that are condemned by the apostles as incompatible with the Christian life. For instance, in Mark 7:22, Jesus lists it among the evils that come from within a person and defile them. In Romans 13:13, Paul exhorts believers to live decently, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery (ἀσέλγεια), but to clothe themselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Galatians 5:19, ἀσέλγεια is included in the "acts of the flesh," which are contrasted with the fruit of the Spirit. The apostle Peter also warns against ἀσέλγεια in 1 Peter 4:3, where he reminds believers of their past lives of debauchery and urges them to live according to God's will. Similarly, in 2 Peter 2:2, 7, and 18, Peter describes false teachers who indulge in ἀσέλγεια, leading others astray with their corrupt ways.

The term underscores the importance of self-control and the rejection of behaviors that are contrary to the holiness and righteousness expected of followers of Christ. It serves as a warning against the dangers of succumbing to fleshly desires and the need for believers to live lives that reflect the transformative power of the Gospel.

Forms and Transliterations

ασελγεια ασελγεία ασέλγεια ἀσελγείᾳ ἀσέλγεια ασελγειαις ασελγείαις ἀσελγείαις ασελγειαν ασέλγειαν ἀσέλγειαν aselgeia asélgeia aselgeíāi aselgeiais aselgeíais aselgeian asélgeian

Englishman's Concordance

Mark 7:22 N-NFS
GRK: πονηρίαι δόλος ἀσέλγεια ὀφθαλμὸς πονηρός
NAS: [as well] [as] deceit, sensuality, envy,
KJV: deceit, lasciviousness, an evil
INT: wickednesses deceit sensuality envy evil

Romans 13:13 N-DFP
GRK: κοίταις καὶ ἀσελγείαις μὴ ἔριδι
NAS: not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife
KJV: and wantonness, not
INT: in sexual immorality and sensuality not in strife

2 Corinthians 12:21 N-DFS
GRK: πορνείᾳ καὶ ἀσελγείᾳ ᾗ ἔπραξαν
NAS: immorality and sensuality which
KJV: and lasciviousness which
INT: sexual immorality and sensuality which they practiced

Galatians 5:19 N-NFS
GRK: πορνεία ἀκαθαρσία ἀσέλγεια
NAS: are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
KJV: uncleanness, lasciviousness,
INT: sexual immorality impurity sensuality

Ephesians 4:19 N-DFS
GRK: παρέδωκαν τῇ ἀσελγείᾳ εἰς ἐργασίαν
NAS: over to sensuality for the practice
KJV: over unto lasciviousness, to
INT: gave up to sensuality for [the] working

1 Peter 4:3 N-DFP
GRK: πεπορευμένους ἐν ἀσελγείαις ἐπιθυμίαις οἰνοφλυγίαις
NAS: having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts,
KJV: in lasciviousness, lusts,
INT: having walked in sensuality lusts wine-drinking

2 Peter 2:2 N-DFP
GRK: αὐτῶν ταῖς ἀσελγείαις δι' οὓς
NAS: will follow their sensuality, and because
INT: their sensuality through whom

2 Peter 2:7 N-DFS
GRK: ἀθέσμων ἐν ἀσελγείᾳ ἀναστροφῆς ἐρρύσατο
NAS: oppressed by the sensual conduct
KJV: with the filthy conversation
INT: lawless in sensuality conduct he delivered

2 Peter 2:18 N-DFP
GRK: ἐπιθυμίαις σαρκὸς ἀσελγείαις τοὺς ὀλίγως
NAS: desires, by sensuality, those
KJV: of the flesh, [through much] wantonness, those that were clean
INT: [the] desires of [the] flesh to sensuality those who indeed

Jude 1:4 N-AFS
GRK: μετατιθέντες εἰς ἀσέλγειαν καὶ τὸν
NAS: of our God into licentiousness and deny
KJV: God into lasciviousness, and denying
INT: changing into sensuality and the

Strong's Greek 766
10 Occurrences

ἀσέλγεια — 5 Occ.
ἀσελγείαις — 4 Occ.
ἀσέλγειαν — 1 Occ.