προσωποληπτέω

I show partiality

Definition

The verb προσωποληπτέω means to show partiality or favoritism, specifically by judging or treating someone based on external appearances, social status, or personal bias rather than by just or impartial standards. In the New Testament, it carries a strong negative connotation, describing an action that violates God's command to love one's neighbor and reflects a sinful, worldly mindset. Its sole biblical occurrence in James 2:9 explicitly condemns this behavior as sin, equating it with breaking the royal law of love (Leviticus 19:18).

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in James 2:9. It appears in a practical ethical context where James rebukes believers for showing favoritism to the rich over the poor within the Christian assembly. The usage is imperative and accusatory: 'But if you show partiality, you are committing sin.' It functions as a stark warning against behavior that contradicts the essence of Christian love and the character of God, who does not show partiality (Acts 10:34).

Etymology

The word is a compound verb from πρόσωπον (prosōpon, G4383), meaning 'face' or 'appearance,' and λαμβάνω (lambanō, G2983), meaning 'to receive' or 'to take.' Thus, it literally means 'to receive or judge based on face/appearance.' It translates the Hebrew idiom 'to lift up the face,' found in the Old Testament (e.g., Leviticus 19:15 in the LXX), which means to show unjust favor. The meaning developed from this literal sense to the abstract concept of prejudicial judgment.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it directly addresses the nature of God versus human sin. God is described as impartial (Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11), so showing προσωπολημψία (partiality) is to act contrary to His character. It strikes at the heart of the gospel, which is offered to all regardless of social or economic status (Galatians 3:28). Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by highlighting that partiality is not merely poor etiquette but a fundamental sin against the law of love and a denial of the faith (James 2:1).

In the 1st-century Greco-Roman and Jewish world, honor-shame dynamics and strict social hierarchies were pervasive. Showing deference to the wealthy, powerful, or well-connected (literally, 'receiving their face') was a common social practice to gain favor or avoid disgrace. James confronts this deeply ingrained cultural norm, declaring it incompatible with the kingdom of God, where value is derived from being made in God's image and redeemed in Christ, not from worldly status.

διακρίνω (diakrinō, G1252) — can mean 'to judge' or 'to differentiate,' and in James 2:4 it is used in the context of making distinctions that lead to partial judgments. προσωπολημψία (prosōpolēmpsia, G4382) — the noun form meaning 'partiality' or 'favoritism,' used in Romans 2:11, Ephesians 6:9, and Colossians 3:25 to describe the attribute/act itself.

Word Details

Scripture References