ἀνδροφόνος

a murderer

Definition

The Greek word ἀνδροφόνος specifically means 'a murderer' or 'man-slayer,' denoting someone who intentionally kills another human being. In the New Testament, it carries the full legal and moral weight of unlawful, premeditated homicide. Its sole biblical occurrence in 1 Timothy 1:9 places it in a list of lawbreakers, clearly classifying the murderer as one under the condemnation of God's law. Unlike more general terms for killing, this word implies a grave violation of the divine command against murder.

Biblical Usage

ἀνδροφόνος is used only once in the New Testament, in 1 Timothy 1:9. Here, the Apostle Paul uses it in a vice list to illustrate the kind of people for whom the law was made—the unrighteous. It appears alongside other serious sins like the lawless, disobedient, ungodly, and sinners. This singular usage shows it is a definitive, stark term for a capital offender, used to underscore the seriousness of sin and the purpose of the Mosaic law in convicting the guilty.

Etymology

The word is a compound from ἀνήρ (anēr, G435), meaning 'man' or 'male adult,' and φόνος (phonos, G5408), meaning 'murder' or 'slaughter.' Thus, it literally means 'a man-slayer.' Its formation is straightforward, directly combining the idea of a human victim with the act of killing. It is a more specific and legally charged term than the more common word for murderer, φονεύς (phoneus).

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it directly connects to the sixth commandment, 'You shall not murder' (Exodus 20:13). Its use in 1 Timothy 1:9 highlights the universal applicability of God's moral law, which condemns all humanity as sinners in need of grace. Understanding this specific Greek term enriches reading by clarifying that the New Testament upholds the Old Testament's severe view of intentional homicide, placing it among the gravest sins that demonstrate our need for the salvation offered in Christ Jesus.

In the Greco-Roman world and Jewish law, intentional murder was universally condemned as a capital crime. The term ἀνδροφόνος would have been understood in a legal context, implying not just any killing but a culpable, unjustified homicide deserving of the death penalty (cf. Genesis 9:6, Numbers 35:16-21). This cultural and legal gravity is precisely why Paul selects it for his list; it represents an undeniable, extreme example of transgression.

φονεύς (phoneus, G5407) — A more general and frequently used New Testament term for 'murderer,' often used in lists of vices and in the commandments (e.g., Matthew 15:19, Romans 1:29).

Word Details

Scripture References