verb
kataischunomō
Strong’sG2617
I shame, disgrace, put to utter confusion
stem kataischun-13 times in the New Testamentin 5 of 27 books9 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
καταισχύνω means to dishonour, disgrace, or put to shame 1234. It can be used of shaming a person or bringing disgrace on something 13, and in the passive voice it means to be ashamed or put to shame 13.
The word is also used of hopes that come to nothing, in the sense of a hope or expectation being disappointed or proved false 1.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
κατ-αισχύνω,
[in LXX chiefly for בּוֹשׁ;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G2617 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
future -αισχῠνῶRefs 4th c.BC+:—dishonour, put to shame, μή τι καταισχύνειν πατέρων γένος Refs 8th c.BC+; τὴν σὴν οὐ κ. φύσιν I put not thy nature to shame, i.e. show myself not unworthy of thee, Refs 5th c.BC+
2 dishonour a woman, ἀλλοτρίας γυναῖκας Refs 5th c.BC+; also of a male, Refs 4th c.BC+
3 ὁ μέλλων Χρόνος ἐμὸν καταίσχυνε.. Χρέος covered me with dishonour in that my debt remained unpaid, Refs 5th c.BC+
4 ={καταχέζειν},{Χαίτην} Refs 2nd c.AD+
II middle, feel shame before, θεούς Refs 5th c.BC+: —aorist passive, καταισχυνθέντες τὴν ἀρετὴν αὐτῶν Refs 5th c.BC+: with infinitive, to be ashamed to.., ἰητρεύειν Refs 5th c.BC+; καταισχυνθῆναι.. ὅπως μὴ δόξει.. to be ashamed of being thought.., Refs 5th c.BC+
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| kataischunatōκαταισχύνει | happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular | dishonors | 3× |
| kataischunavōκαταισχύνετε | happening now · yepresent active indicative 2nd person plural | humiliate | 1× |
| kataischunoleκατῃσχύνοντο | was happening · theyimperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural | humiliated | 1× |
| kataischunitiκαταισχυνθήσεται | will happen · he/she/itfuture passive indicative 3rd person singular | put to shame | 2× |
| kataischunimaκατῃσχύνθην | happened · Iaorist passive indicative 1st person singular | put to shame | 1× |
| kataischunateiōκαταισχύνῃ | happening now · he/she/itpresent active subjunctive 3rd person singular | shame | 2× |
| kataischuniteiaκαταισχυνθῇ | happened · he/she/itaorist passive subjunctive 3rd person singular | put to shame | 1× |
| kataischunineiaκαταισχυνθῶμεν | happened · weaorist passive subjunctive 1st person plural | humiliated | 1× |
| kataischunileiaκαταισχυνθῶσιν | happened · theyaorist passive subjunctive 3rd person plural | put to shame | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 172, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 8 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kataischunamō | kataischuname | kataischunami | kataischunama | kataischunamē | kataischunamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | kataischunasō | kataischunase | kataischunasi | kataischunasa | kataischunasē | kataischunaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataischunatō3×καταισχύνει | kataischunate | kataischunati | kataischunata | kataischunatē | kataischunatelē |
| we 1st person plural | kataischunanō | kataischunane | kataischunani | kataischunana | kataischunanē | kataischunanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataischunavō1×καταισχύνετε | kataischunave | kataischunavi | kataischunava | kataischunavē | kataischunavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | kataischunalō | kataischunale | kataischunali | kataischunala | kataischunalē | kataischunalelē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kataischunomō | kataischunome | kataischunomē | kataischunomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | kataischunosō | kataischunose | kataischunosē | kataischunoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataischunotō | kataischunote | kataischunotē | kataischunotelē |
| we 1st person plural | kataischunonō | kataischunone | kataischunonē | kataischunonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataischunovō | kataischunove | kataischunovē | kataischunovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | kataischunolō | kataischunole1×κατῃσχύνοντο | kataischunolē | kataischunolelē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kataischunimi | kataischunima1×κατῃσχύνθην |
| you 2nd person singular | kataischunisi | kataischunisa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataischuniti2×καταισχυνθήσεται | kataischunita |
| we 1st person plural | kataischunini | kataischunina |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataischunivi | kataischuniva |
| they 3rd person plural | kataischunili | kataischunila |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 5 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kataischunameiō | kataischunameia | kataischunameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | kataischunaseiō | kataischunaseia | kataischunaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataischunateiō2×καταισχύνῃ | kataischunateia | kataischunateiē |
| we 1st person plural | kataischunaneiō | kataischunaneia | kataischunaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataischunaveiō | kataischunaveia | kataischunaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | kataischunaleiō | kataischunaleia | kataischunaleiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kataischunomeiō | kataischunomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | kataischunoseiō | kataischunoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataischunoteiō | kataischunoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | kataischunoneiō | kataischunoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataischunoveiō | kataischunoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | kataischunoleiō | kataischunoleiē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kataischunimeia |
| you 2nd person singular | kataischuniseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataischuniteia1×καταισχυνθῇ |
| we 1st person plural | kataischunineia1×καταισχυνθῶμεν |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataischuniveia |
| they 3rd person plural | kataischunileia1×καταισχυνθῶσιν |
Commands — imperative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | kataischunasōr | kataischunasar | kataischunasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataischunatōr | kataischunatar | kataischunatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataischunavōr | kataischunavar | kataischunavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | kataischunalōr | kataischunalar | kataischunalēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | kataischunosōr | kataischunosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataischunotōr | kataischunotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataischunovōr | kataischunovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | kataischunolōr | kataischunolēr |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | kataischunisar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataischunitar |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataischunivar |
| they 3rd person plural | kataischunilar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kataischunamoiō | kataischunamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | kataischunasoiō | kataischunasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataischunatoiō | kataischunatoia |
| we 1st person plural | kataischunanoiō | kataischunanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataischunavoiō | kataischunavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | kataischunaloiō | kataischunaloia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kataischunomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | kataischunosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataischunotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | kataischunonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataischunovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | kataischunoloiō |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kataischunimoia |
| you 2nd person singular | kataischunisoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataischunitoia |
| we 1st person plural | kataischuninoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataischunivoia |
| they 3rd person plural | kataischuniloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, no occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | kataischunarō | kataischunari | kataischunara | kataischunarē |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | kataischunorō | kataischunorē | ||
| acted on passive voice | kataischuniri | kataischunira |
Used as an adjective — participle, no occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | kataischunarōntos | kataischunarintos | kataischunarantos | kataischunarēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | kataischunorōntos | kataischunorēntos | ||
| acted on passive voice | kataischunirintos | kataischunirantos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
kataischun 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
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
13 occurrences, every one of them listed
kataischunatō“dishonors”happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular3×
Romans 5:5tas de elpidas ouk kataischunatō; hoti tas agapas tou theou ekchotē …And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out …
1 Corinthians 11:4… proseuchorōntos ē profēteuarōntos kata kefalau echarōntos kataischunatō tan kefalan autou;… or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.
1 Corinthians 11:5… proseuchorōntas ē profēteuarōntas akatakalupta ta kefala kataischunatō tan kefalan autau, henem gar atō …… or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is just …
kataischunavō“humiliate”happening now · yepresent active indicative 2nd person plural1×
1 Corinthians 11:22… tau ekklēsau tou theou katafronavō, kai kataischunavō toin mē echarōntoin? tinem legameia vi? …… despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What can …
kataischunole“humiliated”was happening · theyimperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural1×
Luke 13:17kai houteim legarōntou autou kataischunole pantois tois antikeiorōntois auto, kai pantos …… said this, all His adversaries were humiliated. And the whole crowd rejoiced at …
kataischuniti“put to shame”will happen · he/she/itfuture passive indicative 3rd person singular2×
Romans 9:33… kai tos pisteuarōntos epi auto ouk kataischuniti.… believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
Romans 10:11… Pantos tos pisteuarōntos epi auto ouk kataischuniti.… believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
kataischunima“put to shame”happened · Iaorist passive indicative 1st person singular1×
2 Corinthians 7:14“put to shame”… tinem auto huper vu kauchomē, ouk kataischunima, alla hōs panteim en alētheia lalana …… I was not embarrassed by anything I had boasted to him about you. But just as everything we said to you …
kataischunateiō“shame”happening now · he/she/itpresent active subjunctive 3rd person singular2×
1 Corinthians 1:27… tou kosmou eklegeta tos theos, hina kataischunateiō toin sofoin, kai teim astheneim tou …… foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak …
1 Corinthians 1:27… tou kosmou eklegeta tos theos, hina kataischunateiō teim ischureim,… weak things of the world to shame the strong.
kataischuniteia“put to shame”happened · he/she/itaorist passive subjunctive 3rd person singular1×
1 Peter 2:6… tos pisteuarōntos epi auto ouk mē kataischuniteia.… believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
kataischunineia“humiliated”happened · weaorist passive subjunctive 1st person plural1×
2 Corinthians 9:4“humiliated”… mi Makedonois kai heuriskaleia vin aparaskeuastoin kataischunineia nis, hina mē leganeiō vis, en …… if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we — to say nothing of you — would be …
kataischunileia“put to shame”happened · theyaorist passive subjunctive 3rd person plural1×
1 Peter 3:16… echarōntois agathan, hina en he katalalovō kataischunileia tois epēreazarōntois vu tan agathan en …… those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.