ἀνθρωποκτόνος

a murderer

Definition

The word ἀνθρωποκτόνος means 'a murderer' or 'man-slayer,' specifically one who intentionally kills another human. In the New Testament, it carries a strong moral and spiritual weight, describing not only physical homicide but also the underlying hatred that Jesus and John equate with murder in the heart. In John 8:44, Jesus uses it to describe the devil, who 'was a murderer from the beginning,' linking the concept to spiritual death and deception. In 1 John 3:15, the apostle states that 'whoever hates his brother is a murderer,' expanding the definition to include malicious intent and a heart devoid of eternal life.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only twice in the New Testament, both in Johannine literature, creating a thematic link between the Gospel of John and the First Epistle of John. In John 8:44, it is used in a polemical context against the devil, characterizing his nature as destructive to human life from the beginning of human history. In 1 John 3:15, it is used in ethical instruction to the Christian community, equating hatred with the moral guilt of murder. Both uses move beyond mere legal categorization to address spiritual condition and internal sin.

Etymology

Derived from the combination of ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos, G444), meaning 'man' or 'human,' and κτείνω (kteinō), a verb meaning 'to kill.' It is a compound noun literally meaning 'a human-killer.' The root verb κτείνω is an older, poetic form often associated with violent killing, giving the compound a stark and forceful tone.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it connects physical violence to internal spiritual states. Jesus's identification of the devil as the archetypal 'murderer' (John 8:44) ties human sin to a satanic origin of deception and death. John's application of the term to hatred (1 John 3:15) radicalizes the Old Testament law against murder, teaching that the heart's attitude is what defiles a person and severs one from the life found in Christ. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by showing how the New Testament internalizes and spiritualizes the concept of murder, making it a matter of the heart's orientation toward love or hate.

In the Greco-Roman world, the term would have been understood as a severe criminal and moral label. However, the New Testament usage, particularly in 1 John 3:15, would have been striking. By equating hatred with murder, it challenged cultural norms that might have viewed internal hatred as a private matter, instead aligning with Jesus's teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:21-22) that anger and contempt carry the moral weight of murder before God.

φονεύς (phoneus, G5406) — A more common, general term for a murderer or killer, used in legal contexts (e.g., Matthew 22:7, Acts 3:14). ἀνθρωποκτόνος carries a more intense, compounded sense of 'human-slayer.'

Word Details

Scripture References