ἀνδροφόνος (androphonos)
androphonos
murderer
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The rare noun androphonos literally means "man-slayer" or "murderer." Its structure combines andros, meaning "of a man," with phonos, meaning "bloodshed" or "murder." This specific compound distinguishes the act of killing a human being from other forms of violence, emphasizing the intentional taking of life. It appears only once in the New Testament, in 1 Timothy 1:9.
In that single occurrence, Paul lists androphonos among those who are lawless and rebellious. The term is placed alongside other serious moral failures to illustrate the kind of behavior that stands in direct opposition to sound doctrine. By using this specific word rather than a more general term for killer, the text highlights the gravity of unlawful homicide as a fundamental violation of human dignity.
While the Greek language offers several words for killing, such as the more common phoneus, androphonos carries the weight of its etymological roots. It points to a deliberate act against a person. Its solitary use in Scripture underscores how seriously early Christian teaching viewed the sanctity of life, categorizing such acts as incompatible with the faith.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word androphonos, found only once in the New Testament, carries a heavy weight. It literally means "man-slayer" and appears in Paul’s letter to Timothy as part of a list describing those who oppose God’s law. By choosing this specific compound word rather than a general term for killing, the text highlights the gravity of taking human life. It is not just about violence; it is about the intentional destruction of a person made in God’s image.
For your faith, this word serves as a stark reminder of the value God places on every individual. It calls us to respect life in all its forms and to reject any attitude that devalues our neighbors. Understanding this term helps us see how seriously Scripture views the sanctity of human existence. It invites us to examine our own hearts for any seeds of hatred or disregard for others.
While the list in Timothy includes many serious sins, androphonos stands out for its direct attack on human dignity. It reminds us that true righteousness involves protecting life and honoring those around us. This understanding encourages a deeper commitment to peace and justice in our daily interactions.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- for slayers of man,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀνδροφόνοις,1×
Key Verses
-
I Timothy 1:9
as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
This is the only occurrence of the word, where Paul uses it to describe the lawless as those who violate the fundamental dignity of human life.