τιμωρία

punishment, penalty

Definition

Timōria refers to punishment or penalty, specifically as a consequence for wrongdoing. In the New Testament, it carries the sense of judicial punishment, often implying retribution or vengeance for a transgression. The word appears only in Hebrews 10:29, where it describes the severe punishment deserved by someone who has trampled the Son of God and insulted the Spirit of grace. This singular usage highlights punishment as a divine, just response to a grave offense against God's covenant.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Hebrews 10:29. It is employed in a rhetorical question to emphasize the severity of the punishment awaiting those who willfully reject Christ's sacrifice after having received knowledge of the truth. The context is a warning against apostasy, using the language of the Mosaic law (which prescribed death for defiance) to argue for a much greater punishment under the new covenant.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek verb τιμάω (timaō), meaning 'to honor' or 'to value,' and the suffix -ωρία, which can indicate a process or result. Interestingly, the root connects to the concept of assigning value or worth. Thus, timōria conceptually involves assigning a penalty that corresponds to the value of the offense—a punishment that 'honors' or matches the gravity of the crime. It is related to the noun τιμή (timē, G5092), meaning 'honor, price.'

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it underscores the seriousness of sin and the reality of divine justice. In Hebrews 10:29, it contrasts the mercy available in Christ with the inescapable punishment for those who utterly reject Him. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by highlighting that God's punishment is not arbitrary but is a proportionate, judicial response. It connects to doctrines of atonement, judgment, and the finality of rejecting God's grace.

In the Greco-Roman world, timōria was a common term in legal and philosophical discourse for punishment, often with a strong connotation of retribution or vengeance to restore social order and honor. The author of Hebrews uses this culturally understood concept to argue from the lesser to the greater: if violation of the old covenant brought severe punishment (timōria), how much more severe will be the punishment for despising the new covenant in Christ's blood?

κόλασις (kolasis, G2851) — punishment with a primary focus on correction or chastisement. δίκη (dikē, G1349) — justice, judgment, or punishment as a legal sentence. ἐκδίκησις (ekdikēsis, G1557) — vengeance, punishment as an act of retribution.

Word Details

Scripture References