ἀνήμερος (anēmeros)
anēmeros
brutal
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective anēmeros describes something that is untamed, savage, or fierce. It combines a negative prefix with the root for "tame," literally meaning "not domesticated." In Scripture, this word appears only once, in 2 Timothy 3:3, where it characterizes the moral decay of the last days.
Here, it is paired with other vices to depict people who are unfeeling and cruel. The term suggests a wildness that refuses submission to social or ethical norms. Translators often render it as "brutal" or "inhuman," capturing its sense of raw, unchecked aggression rather than mere anger.
Its singular usage highlights the severity of the behavior Paul warns against. By choosing this specific word, the text emphasizes a loss of humanity that is fundamental and instinctual, not just a temporary lapse in judgment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word anēmeros paints a stark picture of human nature when it strips away the veneer of civility. It describes a state that is untamed and savage, lacking the gentle restraint that allows people to live together in peace. When Scripture uses this term, it points to a hardness of heart that refuses to submit to basic ethical norms or show mercy.
In 2 Timothy 3:3, Paul lists this fierce nature alongside other vices to describe the moral decay of difficult times. This reminds us that cruelty is not just an occasional outburst but a deep-seated character trait that rejects love and self-control. Recognizing this danger helps us guard our own hearts against becoming cold or indifferent to those around us.
Our faith calls us to counter this wildness with the gentle strength of Christ. By choosing kindness and forgiveness, we reflect a different kind of power—one that tames the instinct for aggression and restores our shared humanity. May you find grace in these challenging moments, letting love guide your steps rather than fear or anger.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- savage,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀνήμεροι,1×
Key Verses
-
II Timothy 3:3
without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, not lovers of good,
This is the only occurrence of the word, where it characterizes the savage, untamed cruelty that marks moral decay in the last days.