κρίνω

I judge, decide, think good

Definition

The Greek verb κρίνω primarily means 'to judge' or 'to decide.' In the New Testament, it carries a range of meanings from making a personal evaluation or decision (Luke 12:57) to exercising formal judicial authority, as in a legal setting (Matthew 5:40). It can also mean 'to condemn,' especially in contexts of divine judgment, such as when Jesus warns, 'Do not judge, or you too will be judged' (Matthew 7:1). In eschatological contexts, it refers to the final judgment, where the Son of Man will judge the tribes (Matthew 19:28).

Biblical Usage

κρίνω is used 98 times across the New Testament, appearing frequently in the Gospels, Acts, and the Pauline epistles. In the Gospels, it often appears in Jesus' teachings about human judgment and divine judgment (e.g., Matthew 7:1-2, Luke 6:37). In Acts and the epistles, it is used for legal judgments (Acts 25:9-10) and discussions of God's righteous judgment (Romans 2:16). A pattern emerges where human judgment is cautioned against, while God's or Christ's final judgment is affirmed as just and authoritative.

Etymology

Derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *krei-, meaning 'to sieve, discriminate, distinguish.' This root gives κρίνω its core sense of separating or deciding. It is related to the Greek noun κρίσις (krisis, G2920), meaning 'judgment' or 'decision,' and the adjective κριτικός (kritikos), meaning 'able to judge.' The concept inherently involves making a distinction between right and wrong, good and bad.

Semantic Range

κρίνω is theologically central to understanding biblical concepts of judgment. It highlights both the human tendency to judge others, which Jesus condemns as hypocritical (Matthew 7:1-5), and the divine prerogative of God and Christ to execute perfect, final judgment (John 5:22, Acts 17:31). This duality underscores the doctrine that judgment belongs to God alone, emphasizing human fallibility and divine sovereignty. Understanding this range enriches reading by clarifying when passages warn against human criticism and when they affirm God's just rule.

In the Greco-Roman world, κρίνω was a common legal term for rendering a verdict in court. Jewish readers would also associate it with the Old Testament concept of God judging His people and the nations. The cultural understanding involved not just a mental opinion but an authoritative decision with consequences, often public and binding. This differs from some modern, more subjective notions of 'judging' as merely having a personal viewpoint.

διακρίνω (diakrinō, G1252) — to distinguish, discern, or make a judgment between options; κατακρίνω (katakrinō, G2632) — to condemn, expressing a negative judgment with a stronger sense of finality; κρίμα (krima, G2917) — the noun form meaning the result of judgment, a verdict or condemnation.

Word Details

Scripture References