κατήγορος

a prosecutor, accuser

Definition

The Greek noun κατήγορος refers to a legal accuser or prosecutor, someone who formally brings charges against another in a court of law. In the New Testament, it consistently carries this legal sense, describing human accusers in judicial proceedings, as seen in Acts 23:30, 35; 24:8; 25:16, 18. In John 8:10, it is used when Jesus asks the woman caught in adultery, 'Woman, where are those accusers of yours?' The word takes on a profound theological dimension in Revelation 12:10, where Satan is identified as 'the accuser of our brethren,' portraying him as the ultimate prosecutor of believers before God.

Biblical Usage

The word is used seven times in the New Testament, primarily in the Book of Acts, where it describes the formal accusers in the legal cases against the Apostle Paul (e.g., Acts 23:30, 35; 24:8). This reflects its standard Greco-Roman courtroom context. It appears once in the Gospel of John (John 8:10) in a more informal, yet still accusatory, setting. Its most significant usage is in Revelation 12:10, where it is applied metaphorically to Satan, shifting from a human legal role to a cosmic, spiritual one.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek verb κατηγορέω (katēgoreō, G2723), meaning 'to speak against, accuse, charge.' The noun is a compound of κατά (kata, 'against') and ἀγορά (agora, 'assembly, marketplace'), literally meaning 'one who speaks against someone in the assembly' or public gathering, which was the setting for ancient legal proceedings.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant because it directly identifies Satan's role as 'the accuser' (Revelation 12:10). This contrasts with Jesus Christ, who is our advocate or defense attorney (1 John 2:1). Understanding this legal metaphor enriches the biblical picture of spiritual warfare, portraying salvation not just as forgiveness but as a decisive legal victory where the charges against believers are dismissed because of Christ's work.

In the Greco-Roman world, a κατήγορος was a formal, legal role. There was no separate professional class of prosecutors; any citizen could bring charges. The accuser was responsible for presenting the case and could face penalties if the accusation was found to be malicious or false. This context makes the scenes in Acts, where Paul faces multiple accusers, vividly realistic. The title given to Satan in Revelation 12:10 directly subverts this human institution, casting him as a malevolent, cosmic-level prosecutor.

διάβολος (diabolos, G1228) — 'slanderer, devil'; a broader term for an adversary, often used for Satan as the supreme slanderer and enemy. ἔγκλημα (enklēma, G1462) — 'charge, accusation'; refers to the legal complaint itself, not the person making it.

Word Details

Scripture References