Divine Judgment: ὑπόδικος (Strong’s G5267: hypodikos) Reveals Universal Accountability

Strong’s G5267: A compound adjective joining hypo (under) with dikē (justice), meaning liable to judgment or accountable before justice. In biblical usage, it specifically describes humanity’s universal accountability before God’s righteous judgment.

U- Unveiling the Word

ὑπόδικος (hypodikos) combines ὑπό (hypo, “under”) with δίκη (dikē, “justice”), creating a powerful legal term describing someone subject to judgment. In Romans 3:19, Paul uses this term to express humanity’s universal accountability before God’s judgment. The early church frequently employed this word to discuss human responsibility before divine law and the universal need for redemption. Today, it continues to emphasize both the reality of divine judgment and the universal need for salvation through the Messiah.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ὑπόδικος, hypodikos, hoop-OD-ee-kos
• Detailed Pronunciation: hoop (as in “hoop”) + od (as in “odd”) + ee (as in “see”) + kos (as in “cost”)
• Part of Speech: Adjective

Etymology:

• ὑπό (hypo) – prefix meaning “under”
• δίκη (dikē) – noun meaning “justice”
• -ος (-os) – adjectival suffix
  Combined to mean “under justice/judgment”

D – Defining Meanings

• Answerable to judgment
• Liable to punishment
• Subject to justice

For compound words:

• ὑπό indicates position under authority
• δίκη contributes the concept of justice/judgment

Translation Options:

• “Accountable” – emphasizes responsibility
• “Liable to judgment” – highlights legal aspect
• “Subject to justice” – maintains literal meaning

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ἔνοχος (enochos, EN-o-khos) – “liable, guilty”
  See G1777
• κατάκριτος (katakritos, kat-AK-ree-tos) – “condemned”
  See G2613
• ὑπεύθυνος (hypeuthynos, hoop-YOUTH-ee-nos) – “answerable”
  See G5265

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As an adjective, ὑπόδικος exhibits these features:

• Case: Various (nominative, genitive, etc.)
• Number: Singular or Plural
• Gender: Masculine, Feminine, or Neuter
• Declension: Second

Examples of usage:

• Masculine singular: ὑπόδικος
• Feminine singular: ὑπόδικος
• Neuter singular: ὑπόδικον
• Plural forms adjust accordingly

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The major lexicons emphasize ὑπόδικος’s legal significance. BDAG highlights its use in expressing accountability before divine judgment. Thayer’s notes its development from Greek legal terminology to theological usage. LSJ traces its use in classical legal contexts. Vine’s connects it to Paul’s doctrine of universal human guilt. Strong’s emphasizes its compound nature suggesting subjection to justice. Moulton and Milligan document its frequent appearance in legal papyri dealing with liability and judgment.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Romans 3:19: “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become [ὑπόδικος] guilty before God.”

Additional References:
This word appears only once in the New Testament.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

Author: Work	Text
Plato: Laws	“The citizen becomes [ὑπόδικος] liable to judgment for breaking the law.”
Demosthenes: Against Meidias	“He was [ὑπόδικος] accountable to the court for his actions.”
Aristotle: Politics	“Officials are [ὑπόδικος] answerable to the assembly for their decisions.”

N – Noteworthy Summary

ὑπόδικος powerfully expresses humanity’s universal accountability before God’s righteous judgment. Yet this sobering truth points us to the good news: while all are liable to judgment, King Jesus took our liability upon Himself. Through His sacrificial death, He provides the way for those under judgment to receive mercy and justification through faith in Him.

D – Did You Know?

• The word was commonly used in ancient Greek courts
• It influenced early Christian discussions of universal guilt
• Paul uses it uniquely to describe all humanity’s status before God

Strong’s G5267: A compound adjective joining hypo (under) with dikē (justice), meaning liable to judgment or accountable before justice. In biblical usage, it specifically describes humanity’s universal accountability before God’s righteous judgment.

Part of speech: Adjective

Tags: judgment, accountability, justice, law, guilt, Romans, Paul’s theology, divine justice, salvation, redemption​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​