Understanding ἀτιμόω (atimoō) Strong’s G821: The Powerful Biblical Word for Dishonoring and Treating with Contempt

Pronunciation Guide: ah-tee-MO-oh

Basic Definition

Strong’s G821: ἀτιμόω represents the act of treating someone with dishonor, contempt, or indignity. This powerful verb emphasizes the deliberate action of stripping away someone’s honor or treating them as worthless. In biblical usage, it often carries the weight of public shame or humiliation, making it particularly poignant in the honor-shame culture of the ancient world.

Etymology and Morphology

• Verb (transitive)
• Derived from ἄτιμος (atimos, “without honor”)
• Compound of ἀ- (negative prefix) + τιμή (timē, “honor, value, worth”)
• Primary usage in narrative and teaching passages
• Common in contexts of social relationships and religious conflict

ἀτιμόω Morphology:

• ἀτιμόω (present active indicative) – I dishonor
• ἀτιμῶ (contracted present active indicative) – I dishonor
• ἀτιμώσω (future active indicative) – I will dishonor
• ἠτίμωσα (aorist active indicative) – I dishonored
• ἠτίμωσαν (3rd person plural aorist active indicative) – they dishonored
• ἀτιμωθείς (aorist passive participle) – having been dishonored

Origin & History

The concept of honor and shame was fundamental to ancient Greek society, making ἀτιμόω a particularly weighted term. In classical Greek literature, it appeared in works like Plato’s “Republic” where it described the stripping of civic rights from citizens. The term evolved from its early legal usage in Athens, where ἀτιμία (atimia) represented the formal removal of citizenship rights, to a broader application in Hellenistic Greek.

In the Septuagint, ἀτιμόω appears in contexts of social and religious dishonor, particularly in the Wisdom literature. The translation of Proverbs 14:2 uses it to describe those who despise God’s ways, showing its theological significance in Jewish thought.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• To treat with contempt or dishonor
• To degrade or humiliate publicly
• To strip of honor or dignity
• To treat as worthless or of no value

ἀτιμόω Translation Options:

• “to dishonor” – emphasizes the active removal of honor
• “to treat with contempt” – highlights the attitude behind the action
• “to shame” – focuses on the social impact
• “to degrade” – emphasizes the lowering of status
• “to treat as worthless” – captures the complete devaluation implied

Biblical Usage

The most significant appearance of ἀτιμόω occurs in Mark 12:4, within the Parable of the Wicked Tenants. Here, the Messiah uses it to describe the treatment of the vineyard owner’s servants, representing the prophets sent by God to Israel. The word choice powerfully illustrates the deliberate rejection and dishonoring of God’s messengers.

In the broader New Testament context, ἀτιμόω appears in scenarios where religious authorities or opponents of the gospel message deliberately dishonor God’s representatives. This usage pattern reveals a consistent theme of human rebellion against divine authority through the dishonoring of His messengers.

Key appearances:

• Mark 12:4 – “and they dishonored him”
• Luke 20:11 – “and they treated him shamefully“
• Acts 5:41 – (related form) “worthy to suffer dishonor“

Cultural Insights

In the ancient Mediterranean world, honor was not merely a personal quality but a public commodity that determined one’s place in society. The act of ἀτιμόω wasn’t just about personal insult but about public degradation that affected one’s entire social standing and family reputation. This cultural context helps us understand why the treatment of the vineyard owner’s servants in Mark 12:4 was particularly egregious – it wasn’t just personal violence, but a public statement of contempt for the owner’s authority.

The Jewish concept of כָּבוֹד (kavod, “glory/honor”) and its opposite, קָלוֹן (qalon, “shame”), provides important background for understanding ἀτιμόω. In Jewish thought, to dishonor God’s representative was to dishonor God Himself, making the term particularly weighty in religious contexts.

Theological Significance

The use of ἀτιμόω in biblical narratives often highlights the profound contrast between human rejection and divine vindication. When God’s messengers are dishonored, it reveals humanity’s rebellion against divine authority, yet God frequently responds by elevating those very servants to positions of honor. This pattern reaches its climax in the Messiah Himself, who was supremely dishonored by men but exalted by God to the highest place of honor.

The term also illuminates the cost of discipleship, as followers of the Messiah are called to be willing to endure dishonor for His name. Yet this earthly dishonor becomes a badge of honor in God’s kingdom, demonstrating the radical reversal of values in His economy.

Personal Application

When we encounter ἀτιμόω in Scripture, it challenges us to examine our own response to God’s messengers and message. Are we like the wicked tenants who dishonored the owner’s representatives, or do we receive God’s truth with honor and respect? This word also offers comfort to those facing rejection or shame for their faith, reminding them that earthly dishonor for the Messiah’s sake carries eternal honor in God’s kingdom.

In our modern context, where social media and public discourse often involve shaming and dishonoring others, understanding ἀτιμόω calls us to a higher standard of treating every person with the dignity they deserve as bearers of God’s image.

Related Words

• ἄτιμος (atimos) – without honor, despised – Highlights the state of being dishonored rather than the act See G820
• ἀτιμία (atimia) – dishonor, shame – The noun form expressing the condition of dishonor See G819
• ἀτιμάζω (atimazō) – to dishonor, treat with contempt – A related verb with similar meaning See G818
• τιμάω (timaō) – to honor – The positive counterpart, showing the contrast See G5091

Did you Know?

• In ancient Athens, ἀτιμία (related to ἀτιμόω) was a formal legal punishment that stripped citizens of their civil rights, effectively making them “civil deaths” in society. This background adds depth to the New Testament usage, suggesting complete social exclusion.
• The concept of honor and shame was so central to ancient Mediterranean culture that anthropologists classify it as an “honor-shame” society, in contrast to our modern “guilt-innocence” oriented culture. This makes understanding ἀτιμόω crucial for grasping the social dynamics in biblical narratives.
• Modern Greek still uses forms of ἀτιμόω in legal contexts, particularly regarding the loss of civil rights or official positions, showing the enduring legal and social significance of the concept.

Remember This

ἀτιμόω represents not just personal insult but a deliberate act of dishonoring that strikes at the heart of divine authority and human dignity, reminding us that how we treat God’s messengers reflects our response to God Himself.