adjective
kakos
Greekκακός (kakos)
Strong’sG2556
bad, evil
stem kak-50 times in the New Testamentin 19 of 27 books10 of 26 forms occur
Translated as
What it means
κακός, -ή, -όν,
[in LXX chiefly for רַע, רָעָחprobably supposed to be רָעָה n="H7462";]
SYN.: v.s. ἄθεσμος.
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G2556 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidkak-os'
worthless (intrinsically, such; whereas G4190 properly refers to effects), i.e. (subjectively) depraved, or (objectively) injurious
Fromapparently a primary word;
King Jamesbad, evil, harm, ill, noisome, wicked.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Every form
| Job in the sentence case | masculine singular | feminine singular | neuter singular | masculine plural | feminine plural | neuter plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| subject nominative | kakos1×κακὸς | kakas | kakem24×κακὸν | kakois1×κακοὶ | kakais1×κακαί | kakeim6×κακὰ |
| object accusative | kakon | kakan1×κακήν | kakoin3×Κακοὺς | kakain | ||
| direct address vocative | kakor | kakar | kakoir | kakair | ||
| of, belonging to genitive | kakou | kakau | kakeu8×κακοῦ | kakoiu | kakaiu | kakeiu4×κακῶν |
| to, for dative | kako | kaka | kake1×κακῷ | kakoi | kakai | kakei |
Tinted cells are forms the New Testament never uses, so there is no Greek to show against them — but they are still correct Biblang, built from the slots below like any other.
Why these forms, and no others — the slots that make them
kak is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Words built on the same stem
Where it appears
50 occurrences, every one of them listed
kakos“wicked”subjectnominative singular1×
Matthew 24:48“wicked”ean de legateia tos kakos doulos ekeinos en ta kardia autou; Chronizatō mu tos kurios,But suppose that servant is wicked and says in his heart, ‘My master will be away a long time.’
kakan“evil”objectaccusative singular1×
Colossians 3:5“evil”Nekravar oun teim meleim teim epi tau gēau, porneian, akatharsian, pathem, epithumian kakan, kai tan pleonexian hotinas atō eidōlolatrias,Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
kakem“evil”subject or objectdirect singular24×
Matthew 27:23“evil”tos de fēate; Tinem gar kakem poiata? tois de perissōs krazale legarōtois; Stauritar.“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”
Mark 15:14“evil”tos de Pilatos legate autoi; Tinem gar poiata kakem? tois de perissōs krazala; Staurasar auton.“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”
Luke 23:22“evil”tos de tritem legata pros autoin; Tinem gar kakem poiata houtos? oudenem aitiem thanatou heuriskama en auto; paideuaratos oun auton apoluami.A third time he said to them, “What evil has this man done? I have found in Him no offense worthy of death. So after I punish Him, I will release Him.”
John 18:30“evil”apokrinila kai legala auto; Ei mē ate houtos kakem poiarōtos, ouk an si paradōana auton.“If He were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed Him over to you.”
Acts 16:28“harm”fōnata de fōna mega tos Paulos legarōtos; Mēdenem prassaseia siauto kakem, hapantois gar anō enthade.But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!”
Acts 23:9“wrong”gineta de kraugas megas, kai anistanaratois tinois toiu grammatevoiu teu mereu toiu Farisaioiu diamachele legarōtois; Oudenem kakem heuriskanō en to anthrōpo houto; ei de pneumem lalata auto ē angelosA great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
Acts 28:5“harm”tos men oun apotinassaratos tem thērem eis tem purem paschata oudenem kakem;But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.
Romans 2:9“evil”thlipsias kai stenochōrias, epi pantan psuchan anthrōpou tou katergazerōtou tem kakem, Ioudaiou tē prōtem kai Hellēnou;There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew, then for the Greek;
Romans 7:19“evil”ouk gar hem thelamō poiamō agathem, alla hem ouk thelamō kakem houtem prassamō.For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do.
Romans 12:17“evil”mēdeno kakem anti kakeu apodōarōtois; pronoerōtois kaleim enōpion pantoiu anthrōpoiu;Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.
Romans 12:21“evil”mē nikisōr hupo teu kakeu, alla nikasōr en te agathe tem kakem.Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 13:4“wrong”theou gar diakonos atō si eis tem agathem. ean de tem kakem poiaseiō, fobesōr; ouk gar eikē tan machairan foratō; theou gar diakonos atō, ekdikos eis organ to tem kakem prassarōto.For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.
Romans 13:4“wrongdoer”theou gar diakonos atō si eis tem agathem. ean de tem kakem poiaseiō, fobesōr; ouk gar eikē tan machairan foratō; theou gar diakonos atō, ekdikos eis organ to tem kakem prassarōto.For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.
Romans 13:10“wrong”tas agapas to plēsion kakem ouk ergazetō; plērōmem oun nomou tas agapas.Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Romans 14:20“wrong”mē heneken brōmeu kataluasōr tem ergem tou theou. panteim men kathareim, alla kakem to anthrōpo to dia proskommeu esthiarōto.Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block.
Romans 16:19“evil”tas gar vu hupakoas eis pantoin afikneta; epi vi oun chairamō, thelamō de vin sofoin arō eis tem agathem, akeraioin de eis tem kakem.Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil.
1 Corinthians 13:5“wrongs”ouk aschēmonatō, ouk zētatō teim heautau, ouk paroxunitō, ouk logizetō tem kakem,It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.
2 Corinthians 13:7“wrong”euchenō de pros ton theon mē poiara vin kakem mēdenem, ouk hina nis dokimois fainineia, alla hina vis tem kalem poiaveiō, nis de hōs adokimois aneiō.Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong — not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what is right, even if we appear to have failed.
1 Thessalonians 5:15“evil”horavōr mē tinos kakem anti kakeu tino apodōateia, alla pantote tem agathem diōkavōr eis allēloin kai eis pantoin.Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
1 Peter 3:9“evil”mē apodōarōtois kakem anti kakeu ē loidorian anti loidoriau tounantion de eulogarōtois, hoti eis houtem kaliva hina eulogian klēronomaveia.Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
3 John 1:11“evil”Agapētor, mē mimesōr tem kakem alla tem agathem. tos agathopoiarōtos ek tou theou atō; tos kakopoiarōtos ouk horatē ton theon.Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
Romans 7:21“evil”Heuriskamō ara ton nomon to thelarōto mi poiarō tem kalem hoti mi tem kakem parakeietō;So this is the principle I have discovered: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
James 3:8“evil”tan de glōssan oudenos damazara dunetō anthrōpoiu; akatastatem kakem, mestas iou thanatēforou.but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
Revelation 16:2“foul”Kai aperchata tos prōtos kai ekchata tan fialan autou eis tan gēan; kai gineta helkem kakem kai ponērem epi toin anthrōpoin toin echarōtoin tem charagmem teu thēreu kai toin proskunarōtoin ta eikōna auteu.So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and loathsome, malignant sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
kakeu“evil”of, belonging togenitive singular8×
John 18:23“wrong”apokrinita auto Iēsus; Ei kakōs lalama, marturasar peri teu kakeu; ei de kalōs, tinem min derasō?Jesus replied, “If I said something wrong, testify as to what was wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why did you strike Me?”
Romans 12:17“evil”mēdeno kakem anti kakeu apodōarōtois; pronoerōtois kaleim enōpion pantoiu anthrōpoiu;Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.
Romans 12:21“evil”mē nikisōr hupo teu kakeu, alla nikasōr en te agathe tem kakem.Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
1 Thessalonians 5:15“evil”horavōr mē tinos kakem anti kakeu tino apodōateia, alla pantote tem agathem diōkavōr eis allēloin kai eis pantoin.Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
Hebrews 5:14“evil”teleioiu de atō tas stereas trofēas, toiu dia tan hexian teim aisthētērieim gumnazirēteim echarōtoiu pros diakrisian kaleu tē kai kakeu.But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.
1 Peter 3:9“evil”mē apodōarōtois kakem anti kakeu ē loidorian anti loidoriau tounantion de eulogarōtois, hoti eis houtem kaliva hina eulogian klēronomaveia.Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:10“evil”tos gar thelarōtos zōan agaparō kai horara hēmerain agathain pauatar tan glōssan apo kakeu kai cheileim teu mē lalara dolon,For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
1 Peter 3:11“evil”ekklinatar de apo kakeu kai poiatar agathem, zētatar eirēnan kai diōkatar autan;He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.
kake“bad”to, fordative singular1×
Romans 13:3“bad”tois gar archōnois ouk alō fobos te agathe erge alla te kake. thelasō de mē foberō tan exousian? tem agathem poiasōr, kai echasi epainon ek autau;For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval.
kakois“evil”subjectnominative plural1×
Mark 7:21“evil”esōthen gar ek tau kardiau toiu anthrōpoiu tois dialogismois tois kakois ekporeuelō, porneiais, klopais, fonois,For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
kakoin“evil”objectaccusative plural3×
Matthew 21:41“wretches”legalō auto; Kakoin kakōs apolluati autoin, kai ton ampelōnon ekdōeti alloi geōrgoi, hotinois apodōali auto toin karpoin en toi kairoi autoiu.“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and will rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the fruit at harvest time.”
Philippians 3:2“evil”Blepavōr toin kuōnoin, blepavōr toin kakoin ergatoin, blepavōr tan katatoman.Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh!
Revelation 2:2“evil”Oidamē teim ergeim su, kai ton kopon kai tan hupomonan su, kai hoti ouk dunesō bastazara kakoin, kai peirazasa toin legarōtoin heautoin apostoloin, kai ouk alō, kai heuriskasa autoin pseudoin;I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and you have tested and exposed as liars those who falsely claim to be apostles.
kakais“bad”subjectnominative plural1×
1 Corinthians 15:33“bad”mē planivōr; ftheiralō ētheim chrēsteim homiliais kakais.Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
kakeim“evil”subject or objectdirect plural6×
Luke 16:25“bad”legata de Abraam; Teknem, mimnēskisar hoti apolambasa teim agatheim su en ta zōa su, kai Lazaros homoiōs teim kakeim; nun de hōde parakalitō sis de odunesō.But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.
Acts 9:13“harm”apokrinita de Hananios; Kurior, akouama apo polloiu peri tou anērou houtou, hoseim kakeim toi hagioi su poiata en Ierousalēm;But Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
Romans 3:8“evil”kai mē kathōs blasfēminō kai kathōs fēalō tinois nin legarō hoti Poianeia teim kakeim hina erchateia teim agatheim? hoiu tem krimem endikem atō.Why not say, as some slanderously claim that we say, “Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved!
2 Timothy 4:14“harm”Alexandros tos chalkevos polleim mi kakeim endeiknueta apodōati auto tos kurios kata teim ergeim autouAlexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
1 Peter 3:12“evil”hoti ofthalmois kuriou epi dikaioin kai oueim autou eis deēsian autoiu, prosōpem de kuriou epi poiarōtoin kakeim.For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Titus 1:12“evil”legata tinos ek autoiu, idios autoiu profētos, Krois aei pseustois, kakeim thēreim, gastērais argais;As one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
kakeiu“evil”of, belonging togenitive plural4×
Romans 1:30“evil”katalaloin, theostugoin, hubristoin, huperēfanoin, alazōnoin, efeuretoin kakeiu, gonevoi apeithoin,slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents.
1 Corinthians 10:6“evil”Houteim de tupois nu ginila, eis tem mē arō nin epithumētoin kakeiu, kathōs kakeinois epithumala.These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did.
1 Timothy 6:10“evil”rizas gar panteiu teiu kakeiu atō tas filargurias, hau tinois oregerōtois apoplanila apo tau pistiau kai heautoin peripeirala odunai pollai.For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
James 1:13“evil”mēdenos peirazirōtos legatōr hoti Apo theou peirazimō; tos gar theos apeirastos atō kakeiu, peirazatō de autos oudenon.When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.