κατακρίνω

I condemn

Definition

The verb κατακρίνω means to pass a judicial sentence of condemnation, declaring someone guilty and worthy of punishment. It often carries the sense of a final, decisive judgment, as when the scribes and Pharisees sought to condemn Jesus (Mark 14:64). In a broader theological sense, it describes God's final judgment against sin, as in Mark 16:16 where unbelief results in condemnation. The word can also express a personal sense of self-condemnation or remorse, seen in Judas who 'condemned himself' after betraying Jesus (Matthew 27:3, using a middle voice sense).

Biblical Usage

Κατακρίνω is used primarily in the Gospels and Paul's letters, often in contexts of formal legal or divine judgment. In the Synoptic Gospels, it frequently describes the religious leaders' intent to condemn Jesus (e.g., Matthew 20:18, Mark 10:33). Jesus uses it to speak of the final judgment, where the men of Nineveh and the Queen of the South will 'condemn' the unbelieving generation (Matthew 12:41-42). Paul employs it to discuss the believer's freedom from condemnation in Christ (e.g., Romans 8:34) and the principle of self-examination to avoid being condemned with the world (1 Corinthians 11:32).

Etymology

The word is a compound of the preposition κατά (kata), meaning 'down' or 'against,' and the verb κρίνω (krinō), meaning 'to judge, decide, or separate.' Thus, κατακρίνω intensifies the root idea of judging into a judgment 'against' someone, resulting in a condemnatory verdict. It shares this root with other judicial terms like κρίσις (krisis, judgment) and κρίμα (krima, condemnation).

Semantic Range

This word is central to the biblical themes of sin, judgment, and salvation. It highlights the seriousness of God's verdict against human sin and the reality of eternal condemnation for those outside of Christ (Mark 16:16). Theologically, it contrasts with justification—being declared righteous. The New Testament's great hope is that 'there is now no condemnation (κατάκριμα, the noun form) for those in Christ Jesus' (Romans 8:1). Understanding this term enriches the reading of passages about the final judgment and the gospel's promise of deliverance from God's condemning sentence.

In the Greco-Roman world, κατακρίνω was a strong legal term from the courtroom, implying an official and binding guilty verdict. For Jesus' audience, it would evoke the power of both Jewish religious courts (the Sanhedrin) and Roman imperial justice. This cultural backdrop makes the accusations against Jesus and the promise of 'no condemnation' for believers powerfully counter-cultural, transferring ultimate judicial authority from human courts to God.

κρίνω (krinō, G2919) — a broader term for judging or deciding, not necessarily implying condemnation. καταδικάζω (katadikazō, G2613) — also means to condemn, but with a stronger emphasis on the resulting penalty or punishment.

Word Details

Scripture References