ἀδόκιμος (adokimos)
adokimos
failing
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek adjective adokimos describes something or someone that fails to withstand testing and is consequently rejected. Its literal sense comes from the world of metallurgy, where it referred to coins or metals that did not meet the required standard of purity and were deemed worthless. In Scripture, this idea of being "unapproved" carries a serious weight, indicating a final exclusion rather than a temporary failure.
While the term can apply to land that yields only thorns (Hebrews 6:8), it is most often used for people who have been thoroughly examined and found lacking. Paul uses it in this way to describe those whose thinking is debased (Romans 1:28) and himself, fearing that after preaching to others he might become disqualified (1 Corinthians 9:27). It also appears in lists of character flaws, such as the deceitful teachers in Titus 1:16.
The word combines a negative prefix with a root meaning "to prove" or "test." This etymology highlights that adokimos is not merely about being different, but about failing a specific standard of integrity. Translators often render it as "reprobate" or "disqualified," capturing the sense of one who has passed through the fire and emerged impure.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word adokimos carries a heavy weight in Scripture, rooted in the ancient practice of testing metals or coins for purity. When an item failed this rigorous examination, it was not merely set aside; it was deemed worthless and rejected. This image reminds us that faith is not about passive belief but about enduring the fires of trial with integrity. It challenges us to consider whether our lives withstand the scrutiny of God’s standard.
Paul uses this term in 1 Corinthians 9:27, expressing a profound fear that after preaching to others, he might himself become disqualified. This is not a call to anxiety, but to vigilance. It invites us to examine our hearts honestly, ensuring that our outward profession matches our inner reality. The goal is not perfection, but a heart aligned with Christ.
While the concept of being adokimos sounds severe, it ultimately points to the value of authenticity. We are invited to live lives that do not crumble under pressure or compromise their truth. By seeking God’s approval rather than human praise, we find our standing secure in Him alone, resting in the hope that He refines us rather than rejects us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- disqualified2×
- unfit.1×
- unapproved.1×
- unapproved1×
- failing1×
- a depraved1×
- [is] worthless1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀδόκιμος2×
- ἀδόκιμοι2×
- ἀδόκιμοί1×
- ἀδόκιμον1×
- ἀδόκιμοι.¶1×
- ἀδόκιμοι.1×
Key Verses
-
I Corinthians 9:27
but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.
Paul uses this term to express his personal vigilance, fearing that despite his ministry to others, he might fail the ultimate test of faithfulness himself.
-
II Corinthians 13:5
Examine your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don’t you know about your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
Here the word serves as a warning in self-examination, suggesting that true faith is proven by the presence of Christ within, rather than mere external appearance.
-
Hebrews 6:8
but if it bears thorns and thistles, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
The term describes land that yields thorns instead of grain, illustrating how a life that fails to produce spiritual fruit faces rejection and destruction.