1. Overview

βέβηλος (bébēlos), pronounced “BEH-bay-los,” is a Greek adjective that primarily means “profane,” “unholy,” or “common.” The word is derived from the root words bé (meaning “away”) and bēlos (meaning “threshold”), suggesting something that is away from the sacred, thus ordinary or common. In the context of the New Testament, bébēlos is often used to describe something that is irreverent or lacking in holiness, particularly in contrast to what is sacred or pure.

2. Lexical Details

BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich) defines bébēlos as “profane, worldly, or irreverent.” BDAG emphasizes that this term is often used in a negative sense, particularly to describe persons, teachings, or actions that are seen as outside the boundaries of what is considered sacred or holy in a religious context. It indicates a fundamental disconnection from the sacred or divine.

Thayer’s Lexicon describes bébēlos as “accessible or common” but emphasizes that it has come to mean “profane” or “unhallowed” when used in religious texts. Thayer’s notes that this word was commonly applied to people, teachings, or practices that were deemed unworthy of divine or sacred associations.

Vine’s Expository Dictionary aligns with these definitions, noting that bébēlos is used to describe something that is “irreverent” or “profane.” Vine’s points out that this term was often used in contrast to what is considered holy or sacred, highlighting the dichotomy between the sacred and the profane.

LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones) gives insight into the classical usage of bébēlos, where it initially meant “accessible” or “common,” but over time, the term evolved to take on the connotation of “profane” or “unholy,” particularly in religious contexts. The word was used to describe something or someone who did not adhere to the sacred or religious norms.

Biblical references:

• 1 Timothy 1:9: “Understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane (bébēlos), for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers.” Here, bébēlos is used to describe those who are irreverent or impious.
• 1 Timothy 4:7: “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness.” In this verse, bébēlos is translated as “irreverent,” highlighting the concept of avoiding teachings or beliefs that are unholy or unworthy of respect.
• Hebrews 12:16: “That no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.” In this passage, Esau is described as bébēlos, indicating his disregard for what was sacred.

3. Classical Usage

In classical Greek literature, bébēlos was used to describe something that was common or accessible to all, particularly in contrast to what was sacred:

• Plutarch’s “Moralia”: In his discussions of ethics and morality, Plutarch uses bébēlos to describe actions or thoughts that are profane or unworthy of moral or religious respect.
• Aristotle’s “Nicomachean Ethics”: Aristotle employs the term bébēlos in the context of describing behaviors that are outside the norms of virtuous living, highlighting actions that are profane or morally corrupt.
• Homer’s “Iliad”: Although not as common in Homeric texts, the term bébēlos is occasionally used to describe individuals or actions that are seen as disrespectful or irreverent to the gods.

These examples from classical literature show that bébēlos was a term associated with behaviors, actions, or people that were considered outside the realm of the sacred or virtuous, reinforcing its negative connotation.

4. Summary

The Greek adjective bébēlos (G952) is a term used to describe something that is profane, unholy, or irreverent. It is used in the New Testament to characterize individuals, teachings, or actions that are considered outside the realm of what is sacred or holy. Lexicons such as BDAG, Thayer’s, and Vine’s highlight the term’s connection to irreverence and its role in contrasting the sacred with the profane. In classical Greek literature, bébēlos was used to describe actions, thoughts, or individuals that were not in line with religious or moral norms, further emphasizing its negative connotation. Overall, bébēlos serves as a critical term in distinguishing between what is sacred and what is profane, making it an essential concept in both biblical and classical Greek thought.