ἀνθρωποκτόνος (anthrōpoktonos)
anthrōpoktonos
murderer
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun anthrōpoktonos literally means "murderer" or "manslayer," formed from words for "man" and "to kill." In the New Testament, this term appears only twice, carrying a heavy theological weight by describing not just any killer, but one who embodies hostility against human life. It is used in John 8:44 to characterize the devil as the one who was a murderer from the beginning, linking evil to the destruction of life.
This specific word distinguishes itself by its stark, compound construction. While other Greek terms exist for killing, anthrōpoktonos emphasizes the victim’s humanity. In 1 John 3:16, John uses it to contrast Christ’s self-giving love with the heartless act of Cain, who killed his brother. The term highlights that refusing to show life to a fellow human is akin to murder in spirit.
Translators consistently render this as "murderer," capturing its severity. Its rare usage underscores the seriousness of hatred and violence in Christian ethics. By associating the devil with this title, Scripture presents the ultimate opposition to God’s creative purpose as the deliberate end of human life.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word anthrōpoktonos carries a heavy weight, referring not merely to an act of violence but to the character of one who destroys human life. In John 8:44, it is used to describe the devil as a murderer from the beginning, linking evil directly to the rejection of truth and the desire to end what God created. This stark description reminds us that hatred and deception are not passive sins; they actively work against the sanctity of life.
Yet this term also serves as a profound mirror for our own hearts. In 1 John 3:15, the apostle John connects the spirit of murder to unrepentant hatred toward a brother. He does not say we must physically kill to share in this nature; rather, he shows that refusing love and withholding life from others reflects the same heart that opposes God. This word invites us to examine our relationships with care, recognizing that true faith produces life, not destruction.
Understanding this term helps us see the seriousness of sin while also pointing to the remedy. Where hatred seeks to destroy, Christ’s sacrifice offers life. By looking to Jesus, who gave Himself for us, we are called to lay down our own selfish desires and choose love instead. This choice aligns us with God’s purpose and keeps us grounded in the truth.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a murderer2×
- murderer1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀνθρωποκτόνος3×
Key Verses
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John 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.
This occurrence identifies the devil as a murderer from the beginning, linking his nature to both violence and deception.
-
I John 3:15
Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.
Here the term expands beyond physical killing to include hatred, showing that withholding love is spiritually equivalent to murder.