Word Study · Strong's G4190 · Greek
πονηρός
poneros
pon-ay-ros'
Strong's 1890 spelling: ponērós
“hurtful, i.e. evil (properly, in effect or influence, and thus differing from, which refers rather to essential character, as well as from, which indicates degeneracy from original virtue)”
Strong's Dictionary · 1890 · public domain
hurtful, i.e. evil (properly, in effect or influence, and thus differing from , which refers rather to essential character, as well as from , which indicates degeneracy from original virtue); figuratively, calamitous; also (passively) ill, i.e. diseased; but especially (morally) culpable, i.e. derelict, vicious, facinorous; neuter (singular) mischief, malice, or (plural) guilt; masculine (singular) the devil, or (plural) sinners
Rendered in the KJV as
bad, evil, grievous, harm, lewd, malicious, wicked(-ness).
- 78occurrencesin the New Testament
- 20 of 27New Testament bookswhere the word stands
- 35inflected formsdistinct spellings
Across 78 occurrences
The word itself
Inflected forms · 35
- πονηρὰ9
- πονηροῦ9
- πονηρὸς6
- πονηρὸν5
- πονηροὺς5
- πονηροὶ4
- πονηρῶν4
- πονηρά3
- πονηρόν,3
- πονηρὲ2
- πονηρόν.¶2
- πονηρότερα2
and 23 more spellings in the ledger below.
How it is rendered · 26
- evil36
- evil,7
- evil.6
- evil [one]3
- bad2
- evil [one].2
- evil one2
- more evil2
- [his] evil1
- [the] evils1
- an evil1
- crimes;1
The sense the word carries at each spot — how the translators read it there, not a fixed translation.
How it parses · 22
- adjective · genitive (“of”) · masculine singular9
- adjective · nominative (subject) · masculine singular8
- adjective · accusative (object) · masculine plural7
- adjective · accusative (object) · neuter singular5
- adjective · nominative (subject) · masculine plural5
- adjective · nominative (subject) · feminine singular5
- adjective · accusative (object) · neuter plural4
- adjective · genitive (“of”) · neuter plural4
- adjective · nominative (subject) · neuter plural4
- adjective · nominative (subject) · neuter singular4
- adjective · accusative (object) · masculine singular3
- adjective · genitive (“of”) · neuter singular3
Show the grammar codes as tagged
- A-GSM · 9
- A-NSM · 8
- A-APM · 7
- A-ASN · 5
- A-NPM · 5
- A-NSF · 5
- A-APN · 4
- A-GPN · 4
- A-NPN · 4
- A-NSN · 4
- A-ASM · 3
- A-GSN · 3
All 78, in canonical order
The ledger of occurrences
Where this word lives
Matthew carries the most and opens below; every other book is one click.
Matthew26 occurrences
- Matthew 5:11πονηρὸνponēronadjective · accusative (object) · neuter singularBlessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.here: evil
- Matthew 5:37πονηροῦponērouadjective · genitive (“of”) · masculine singularSimply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.here: evil
- Matthew 5:39πονηρῷ.ponērōadjective · dative (“to / for”) · neuter singularBut I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;here: evil [person].
- Matthew 5:45πονηροὺςponērousadjective · accusative (object) · masculine pluralthat you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.here: evil
- Matthew 6:13πονηροῦponērouadjective · genitive (“of”) · neuter singularAnd lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’here: evil’
- Matthew 6:23πονηρὸςponērosadjective · nominative (subject) · masculine singularBut if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!here: evil
- Matthew 7:11πονηροὶponēroiadjective · nominative (subject) · masculine pluralSo if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!here: evil
- Matthew 7:17πονηροὺςponērousadjective · accusative (object) · masculine pluralLikewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.here: bad
- Matthew 7:18πονηροὺςponērousadjective · accusative (object) · masculine pluralA good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.here: bad
- Matthew 9:4πονηρὰponēraadjective · accusative (object) · neuter pluralBut Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor evil in your hearts?here: evil
- Matthew 12:34πονηροὶponēroiadjective · nominative (subject) · masculine pluralYou brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.here: evil
- Matthew 12:35πονηρὸςponērosadjective · nominative (subject) · masculine singularThe good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.here: evil
- Matthew 12:35πονηροῦponērouadjective · genitive (“of”) · masculine singularThe good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.here: [his] evil
- Matthew 12:35πονηρά.¶ponēraadjective · accusative (object) · neuter pluralThe good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.here: evil things.
- Matthew 12:39πονηρὰponēraadjective · nominative (subject) · feminine singularJesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.here: evil
- Matthew 12:45πονηρότεραponēroteraadjective · accusative (object) · neuter pluralThen it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there; and the final plight of that man is worse than the first. So will it be with this wicked generation.”here: more evil
- Matthew 12:45πονηρᾷ.¶ponēraadjective · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singularThen it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there; and the final plight of that man is worse than the first. So will it be with this wicked generation.”here: evil.
- Matthew 13:19πονηρὸςponērosadjective · nominative (subject) · masculine singularWhen anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.here: evil one
- Matthew 13:38πονηροῦ·ponērouadjective · genitive (“of”) · masculine singularThe field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,here: evil [one];
- Matthew 13:49πονηροὺςponērousadjective · accusative (object) · masculine pluralSo will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous,here: evil
- Matthew 15:19πονηροί,ponēroiadjective · nominative (subject) · masculine pluralFor out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.here: evil,
- Matthew 16:4πονηρὰponēraadjective · nominative (subject) · feminine singularA wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Then He left them and went away.here: evil
- Matthew 18:32πονηρέ,ponēreadjective · vocative (address) · masculine singularThen the master summoned him and declared, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me.here: evil,
- Matthew 20:15πονηρόςponērosadjective · nominative (subject) · masculine singularDo I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’here: envious
- Matthew 22:10πονηρούςponērousadjective · accusative (object) · masculine pluralSo the servants went out into the streets and gathered everyone they could find, both evil and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.here: evil
- Matthew 25:26πονηρὲponēreadjective · vocative (address) · masculine singular‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed.here: Wicked
Mark2 occurrences
- Mark 7:22πονηρός,ponērosadjective · nominative (subject) · masculine singulargreed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness.here: evil,
- Mark 7:23πονηρὰponēraadjective · nominative (subject) · neuter pluralAll these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.”here: evils
Luke13 occurrences
- Luke 3:19πονηρῶνponērōnadjective · genitive (“of”) · neuter pluralBut when he rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother’s wife Herodias and all the evils he had done,here: [the] evils
- Luke 6:22πονηρὸνponēronadjective · accusative (object) · neuter singularBlessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man.here: evil
- Luke 6:35πονηρούς.¶ponērousadjective · accusative (object) · masculine pluralBut love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.here: evil.
- Luke 6:45πονηρὸςponērosadjective · nominative (subject) · masculine singularThe good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.here: evil
- Luke 6:45πονηροῦponērouadjective · genitive (“of”) · masculine singularThe good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.here: evil
- Luke 6:45πονηρόν·ponēronadjective · accusative (object) · neuter singularThe good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.here: evil;
- Luke 7:21πονηρῶνponērōnadjective · genitive (“of”) · neuter pluralAt that very hour Jesus healed many people of their diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and He gave sight to many who were blind.here: evil
- Luke 8:2πονηρῶνponērōnadjective · genitive (“of”) · neuter pluralas well as some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,here: evil
- Luke 11:13πονηροὶponēroiadjective · nominative (subject) · masculine pluralSo if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”here: evil
- Luke 11:26πονηρότεραponēroteraadjective · accusative (object) · neuter pluralThen it goes and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first.”here: more evil
- Luke 11:29πονηράponēraadjective · nominative (subject) · feminine singularAs the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.here: an evil
- Luke 11:34πονηρὸςponērosadjective · nominative (subject) · masculine singularYour eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body is full of darkness.here: evil
- Luke 19:22πονηρὲponēreadjective · vocative (address) · masculine singularHis master replied, ‘You wicked servant, I will judge you by your own words. So you knew that I am a harsh man, withdrawing what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?here: evil
John3 occurrences
- John 3:19πονηρὰponēraadjective · nominative (subject) · neuter pluralAnd this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.here: evil
- John 7:7πονηράponēraadjective · nominative (subject) · neuter pluralThe world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I testify that its works are evil.here: evil
- John 17:15πονηροῦ.ponērouadjective · genitive (“of”) · masculine singularI am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.here: evil.
Acts8 occurrences
- Acts 17:5πονηροὺςponērousadjective · accusative (object) · masculine pluralThe Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people.here: wicked
- Acts 18:14πονηρόν,ponēronadjective · nominative (subject) · neuter singularBut just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint.here: wicked,
- Acts 19:12πονηρὰponēraadjective · accusative (object) · neuter pluralso that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them.here: evil
- Acts 19:13πονηρὰponēraadjective · accusative (object) · neuter pluralNow there were some itinerant Jewish exorcists who tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits. They would say, “I bind you by Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.”here: evil
- Acts 19:15πονηρὸνponēronadjective · nominative (subject) · neuter singularEventually, one of the evil spirits answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”here: evil
- Acts 19:16πονηρόν,ponēronadjective · nominative (subject) · neuter singularThen the man with the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. The attack was so violent that they ran out of the house naked and wounded.here: evil,
- Acts 25:18πονηρῶν·ponērōnadjective · genitive (“of”) · neuter pluralBut when his accusers rose to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.here: crimes;
- Acts 28:21πονηρόν.ponēronadjective · accusative (object) · neuter singularThe leaders replied, “We have not received any letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the brothers from there reported or even mentioned anything bad about you.here: evil.
Romans1 occurrence
1 Corinthians1 occurrence
Ephesians3 occurrences
- Ephesians 5:16πονηραίponēraiadjective · nominative (subject) · feminine pluralredeeming the time, because the days are evil.here: evil
- Ephesians 6:13πονηρᾷponēraadjective · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singularTherefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.here: evil
- Ephesians 6:16πονηροῦponērouadjective · genitive (“of”) · masculine singularIn addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.here: evil one
Colossians1 occurrence
1 Thessalonians1 occurrence
2 Thessalonians2 occurrences
- 2 Thessalonians 3:2πονηρῶνponērōnadjective · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluralAnd pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not everyone holds to the faith.here: evil
- 2 Thessalonians 3:3πονηροῦ.ponērouadjective · genitive (“of”) · masculine singularBut the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.here: evil.
2 Timothy2 occurrences
- 2 Timothy 3:13πονηροὶponēroiadjective · nominative (subject) · masculine pluralwhile evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.here: Evil
- 2 Timothy 4:18πονηροῦponērouadjective · genitive (“of”) · neuter singularAnd the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.here: evil
Hebrews2 occurrences
- Hebrews 3:12πονηρὰponēraadjective · nominative (subject) · feminine singularSee to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God.here: evil
- Hebrews 10:22πονηρᾶςponērasadjective · genitive (“of”) · feminine singularlet us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.here: evil
James2 occurrences
- James 2:4πονηρῶν;¶ponērōnadjective · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluralhave you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?here: evil?
- James 4:16πονηράponēraadjective · nominative (subject) · feminine singularAs it is, you boast in your proud intentions. All such boasting is evil.here: evil
1 John6 occurrences
- 1 John 2:13πονηρόν.¶ponēronadjective · accusative (object) · masculine singularI am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.here: evil [one].
- 1 John 2:14πονηρόν.¶ponēronadjective · accusative (object) · masculine singularI have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.here: evil [one].
- 1 John 3:12πονηροῦponērouadjective · genitive (“of”) · masculine singularDo not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.here: evil [one]
- 1 John 3:12πονηρὰponēraadjective · nominative (subject) · neuter pluralDo not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.here: evil
- 1 John 5:18πονηρὸςponērosadjective · nominative (subject) · masculine singularWe know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.here: evil [one]
- 1 John 5:19πονηρῷponērōadjective · dative (“to / for”) · masculine singularWe know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.here: evil [one]