Pronunciation Guide: eye-SKHOO-nay

Basic Definition

Strong’s G152: αἰσχύνη refers to shame, dishonor, or disgrace, particularly in a moral or social context. It describes both the emotion of feeling ashamed and the objective state of being in disgrace. The word carries a deep sense of personal consciousness of dishonor that can lead to either destructive shame or redemptive conviction.

Etymology and Morphology

• Noun (feminine)
• Derived from αἶσχος (aischos), meaning ugliness or disfigurement
• Common in narrative and epistolary literature
• Frequently used in contexts of moral instruction and ethical exhortation
• Related to the verb αἰσχύνω (aischyno), meaning to dishonor or shame someone

αἰσχύνη Morphology:

• αἰσχύνη (nominative singular) – shame
• αἰσχύνης (genitive singular) – of shame
• αἰσχύνῃ (dative singular) – in/with shame
• αἰσχύνην (accusative singular) – shame (direct object)

Origin & History

The concept of αἰσχύνη was deeply embedded in ancient Greek culture, where honor and shame were primary social values. In classical Greek literature, Aristotle used the term in his “Rhetoric” to describe the pain or disturbance concerning past, present, or future evils that could bring disgrace.

Homer employed related terms in the Iliad to describe battlefield disgrace, while Plato used it in his dialogues to discuss moral failure and its impact on the soul. The word evolved from purely social shame to include moral and spiritual dimensions, particularly in Hellenistic Jewish literature.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Deep sense of disgrace or dishonor resulting from moral failure
• Objective state of being in disgrace before others
• Internal emotional response to recognized wrongdoing
• State of dishonor leading to social exclusion

αἰσχύνη Translation Options:

• Shame – Best captures both the emotional and social dimensions
• Disgrace – Emphasizes the objective state of dishonor
• Humiliation – Highlights the public nature of the shame
• Dishonor – Focuses on the loss of social standing and respect

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, αἰσχύνη appears in contexts discussing both destructive shame and redemptive conviction. Its first appearance in Luke 14:9 presents it as a consequence of pride, where those who exalt themselves face shame when asked to take a lower place.

The word carries particular significance in the epistles, where it often contrasts worldly shame with the honor found in Christ. This tension appears notably in discussions of the cross, which represents both shame to the world and glory to believers.

• “But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor [αἰσχύνη] in the presence of all who are at the table with you.” Luke 14:9
• “All who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.” Galatians 6:12
• “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame [αἰσχύνη].” Hebrews 12:2
• “These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots.” Jude 1:12

Cultural Insights

In the ancient Mediterranean world, shame was not merely an individual emotion but a powerful social force that regulated behavior and maintained social order. The concept of αἰσχύνη was intrinsically linked to the honor-shame culture where public reputation was paramount. Understanding this cultural context helps explain why the early Christians’ willingness to endure shame for the Messiah was particularly countercultural and powerful.

The Greco-Roman world’s emphasis on avoiding shame through maintaining social status and public honor makes the early Christian embrace of the shame of the cross all the more remarkable. This radical reorientation of values, where believers could find honor in what the world considered shameful, represented a fundamental challenge to the prevailing social order.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of αἰσχύνη extends beyond mere moral failure to encompass God’s redemptive work in transforming shame into glory. The cross of the Messiah stands as the supreme example of this transformation, where what appeared as supreme shame became the source of ultimate honor and glory.

This divine reversal pattern appears throughout Scripture, where God consistently takes what is shameful in the world’s eyes and transforms it into a vehicle for His glory. This transformation of shame exemplifies God’s power to redeem not just our sins but our very identities, turning places of deepest shame into testimonies of His grace.

Personal Application

Understanding αἰσχύνη challenges believers to examine their own relationship with shame. Rather than allowing shame to drive us away from God, we can learn to bring our shame to Him, knowing He specializes in transforming it into glory. This transformation occurs as we embrace our identity in Christ, who endured the cross’s shame to secure our honor before God.

The proper response to αἰσχύνη is not to deny or minimize our shame, but to bring it into the light of God’s grace, where it can be transformed into an opportunity for experiencing and displaying His redemptive power.

Related Words

• αἰσχύνομαι (aischynomai) – eye-SKHOO-no-my – to be ashamed, feel shame – Shows the active experience of shame See G153
• αἰσχρός (aischros) – eye-SKHROS – shameful, base, dishonorable – Describes what causes shame See G150
• ἐντροπή (entrope) – en-tro-PAY – shame, turning in on oneself – Emphasizes the internal aspect of shame See G1791
• ὄνειδος (oneidos) – ON-eye-dos – reproach, disgrace – Focuses on public shame See G3681

Did you Know?

• The concept of αἰσχύνη was so important in ancient Greek society that it was personified as a minor deity, demonstrating its crucial role in maintaining social order and moral behavior.
• Modern psychology has identified two types of shame that closely parallel the biblical usage of αἰσχύνη: toxic shame that destroys and healthy shame that leads to repentance and growth.
• The early Christian practice of meeting in homes and sharing meals together directly challenged the social shame system by creating communities where status distinctions were minimized and shame was transformed through mutual acceptance.

Remember This

αἰσχύνη reminds us that in God’s economy, what the world marks as shameful often becomes the very vehicle through which His glory is most powerfully displayed.