Untoward
An Obsolete but Powerful Word
The word "untoward" has largely disappeared from modern English, but in the language of the King James Version it carried a strong moral charge. It described something that was turned away from the right direction, perverse, willful, and morally crooked. The word likely derives from the idea of a heart that was "not toward" God, that is, not inclined toward the divine will and teaching. Hence "not-toward" became "untoward."
Modern translations replace it with words like "crooked," "corrupt," or "perverse," all of which capture the original Greek meaning more clearly for contemporary readers.
Peter's Call at Pentecost
The word appears in Acts 2:40, at the climax of Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost. After proclaiming the death and resurrection of Jesus and declaring him both Lord and Christ, Peter urged his hearers: "Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (KJV). Modern versions render this as "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."
The Greek word behind "untoward" means literally "crooked" or "bent," the opposite of straight or upright. Peter was calling his listeners to separate themselves morally and spiritually from the generation that had rejected and crucified Jesus. The appeal resulted in about three thousand people being baptized that day (Acts 2:41).
The Biblical Background of Crookedness
Peter's language echoes Moses' words in Deuteronomy 32:5, where Israel is described as "a warped and crooked generation." Moses used this language in his farewell song to warn the people about the consequences of unfaithfulness. The same Greek word that Peter uses in Acts 2:40 appears in the Septuagint translation of Deuteronomy 32:5.
By echoing Moses, Peter drew a direct parallel between the generation that wandered in the wilderness and the generation that rejected the Messiah. Just as Moses called Israel to faithful obedience before entering the promised land, Peter called his contemporaries to repentance before the coming judgment.
Paul later used the same language in Philippians 2:15, encouraging believers to be "blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world." The contrast between crookedness and straightness, between moral distortion and divine alignment, runs throughout Scripture.
The Imagery of Crookedness and Straightness
The biblical contrast between crooked and straight is one of Scripture's most persistent moral metaphors. Isaiah 40:3-4 calls for making straight a highway for God, with every crooked place made smooth. Proverbs repeatedly contrasts the straight path of the righteous with the crooked ways of the wicked (Proverbs 2:15; 10:9; 28:6).
To be "untoward" or crooked is to deviate from God's standard, to twist what should be straight, to distort what God has made plain. The concept implies not just error but willful perversion, a deliberate turning away from known truth.
The Call to Be Different
Peter's exhortation to save yourselves from the untoward generation was not a call to physical separation but to moral and spiritual distinctiveness. The early Christians continued to live in their communities but adopted a way of life that stood in sharp contrast to the values around them. They shared their possessions, devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, broke bread together, and prayed (Acts 2:42-47).
This call to distinctiveness remains relevant. Every generation has its own forms of moral crookedness, and the biblical challenge to live as straight and upright people in a crooked world continues to define the calling of believers.
From Untoward to Straight
The gospel that Peter preached at Pentecost offered the remedy for crookedness: repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38). The transformation from crooked to straight, from untoward to upright, is the work of God's Spirit in human hearts. John the Baptist had prepared the way by calling people to "make straight paths for him" (Matthew 3:3), and Peter's Pentecost sermon completed the message by pointing to the risen Christ as the one who makes all things new.
Biblical Context
The word 'untoward' appears in Acts 2:40 in Peter's Pentecost sermon, echoing the language of Deuteronomy 32:5 about a 'crooked generation.' The same Greek word appears in Philippians 2:15. The broader metaphor of crookedness versus straightness runs through Proverbs, Isaiah, and the Gospels.
Theological Significance
The concept behind 'untoward' teaches that moral crookedness is a defining characteristic of humanity apart from God. Peter's call to separate from the crooked generation is ultimately a call to repentance and faith, not mere moral improvement. The transformation from crooked to straight is the work of the Holy Spirit, poured out at Pentecost, who enables believers to live upright lives in a morally distorted world.
Historical Background
Peter's Pentecost sermon was delivered in Jerusalem around 30 AD, shortly after Jesus' ascension. The 'generation' he addressed had witnessed Jesus' ministry, rejected him, and handed him over for crucifixion. The English word 'untoward' was in common literary use during the early 17th century when the KJV was translated but had become obsolete by the 19th century. The Revised Version of 1881 replaced it with 'crooked,' which accurately translates the Greek term.