ἄνομος (anomos)
anomos
lawless
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek word anomos describes someone who is lawless or wicked. It combines a negative prefix with a root meaning law, literally translating to "without law." In the New Testament, this term appears in seven verses, often characterizing those who reject divine order or violate moral boundaries. For instance, it is used to describe the criminal crucified alongside Jesus (Mark 15:28) and the man of lawlessness in Paul’s letters (2 Thessalonians 2:8).
The word carries two primary nuances depending on context. First, it denotes active wickedness or lawbreaking, as seen when Luke notes that Jesus was counted with transgressors (Luke 22:37). Second, it can mean being outside the Mosaic law, such as when Paul speaks of becoming "to those without law" to win them (1 Corinthians 9:21). This second usage highlights a missionary strategy rather than moral failure.
Its etymology reinforces its stark meaning: the prefix indicates negation, and the root refers to established legal or moral codes. Translators typically render it as "lawless" or "wicked," capturing both the rejection of rules and the resulting immoral behavior. The term appears frequently in contexts involving judgment or conflict, emphasizing a state of being opposed to God’s ordained order.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word anomos literally means "without law." In the New Testament, it describes a state of being opposed to God’s moral order. This is not merely about breaking rules; it reflects a heart that has turned away from divine guidance. When we see this term applied to those who rejected Jesus, it reminds us of the seriousness of sin and its separation from God.
Yet, there is hope in how Scripture uses this word. In 1 Corinthians 9:21, Paul describes himself as being "without law" to those outside the Mosaic code, not because he ignored God, but to reach people who did not know Him. This shows that understanding anomos helps us see both the danger of rebellion and the grace that seeks out the lost. It invites us to rely on Christ’s law of love rather than our own strength.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] lawless2×
- with [their] lawless1×
- outside [the] law1×
- outside [the] Law.1×
- outside [the] Law —1×
- outside [the] Law1×
- lawless [one]1×
- lawless1×
- for [the] lawless1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀνόμων3×
- ἀνόμοις3×
- ἄνομος2×
- ἄνομος,1×
- ἀνόμους.1×
Key Verses
-
I Corinthians 9:21
to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law.
This verse shows the word used positively in a missionary context, describing Paul's flexibility in reaching those outside the Mosaic law.
-
II Thessalonians 2:8
Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the manifestation of his coming;
Here the term identifies the 'lawless one,' a figure who actively opposes divine authority and will be destroyed by Christ's presence.
-
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,
Paul lists the lawless alongside other sinners to explain that God’s law is designed to expose and address human rebellion, not for the righteous.