κρίμα

a judgment, verdict, lawsuit

Definition

κρίμα (krima) primarily means a judgment or verdict, often with a negative sense of condemnation. In the Gospels, it frequently refers to the adverse judgment people will face for their actions, such as in Matthew 7:2 where Jesus warns that the measure you use will be used to judge you. It can also denote a legal case or lawsuit, as seen in 1 Corinthians 6:7, where Paul rebukes believers for taking their disputes before secular courts. In some contexts, like John 9:39, it carries the sense of a decisive act of judgment with salvific implications, where Jesus says he came 'for judgment' so the blind may see.

Biblical Usage

This word appears 28 times in the New Testament, used across Gospels, Acts, and Epistles. In the Synoptic Gospels (e.g., Matthew 23:14, Mark 12:40, Luke 20:47), it often condemns religious hypocrisy and foretells severe judgment. In the epistles, especially Paul's writings (e.g., Romans 2:2-3, 1 Corinthians 11:29), it discusses divine judgment on sin and the consequences for believers' conduct. The usage consistently involves a formal decision, whether human legal proceedings or divine condemnation.

Etymology

Derived from the verb κρίνω (krinō, G2919), meaning 'to judge, decide, or separate.' The noun κρίμα denotes the result or content of that judging action—the verdict or sentence itself. Cognates include κρίσις (krisis, G2920), which focuses more on the process or act of judging, while κρίμα emphasizes the concrete outcome.

Semantic Range

κρίμα is theologically significant as it underscores the reality of divine judgment. It highlights that human actions have consequences before God, pointing to both present spiritual accountability and future eschatological judgment. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by clarifying that biblical 'judgment' is not merely an abstract concept but a decisive verdict with eternal implications, central to the gospel's warning and justice.

In the Greco-Roman world, κρίμα was a common legal term for a judicial decision or lawsuit, reflecting a society with established courts and legal procedures. For Jewish audiences, it also resonated with Old Testament themes of God's righteous judgment. The cultural understanding blends human legal verdicts with the divine courtroom, where God is the ultimate judge.

κρίσις (krisis, G2920) — focuses on the process or act of judging. κρίνω (krinō, G2919) — the verb meaning to judge or decide. κατακρίνω (katakrinō, G2632) — to condemn, a stronger negative verdict.

Word Details

Scripture References