ἀπροσωπολήπτως (aprosōpolēptōs)
aprosōpolēptōs
impartially
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adverb aprosōpolēptōs means to act without showing partiality or favoritism. Derived from a negative prefix and a root meaning "to receive a person," it literally describes treating everyone with the same standard of regard. In Scripture, this term appears only once, in 1 Peter 1:17, where believers are urged to live with reverence during their earthly sojourn.
The context here is crucial: God judges each person’s work impartially. This usage highlights a divine attribute that contrasts sharply with human tendencies to judge based on status or appearance. The word emphasizes that in God’s eyes, external distinctions do not influence His verdict, ensuring that justice is applied equally to all who call upon Him as Father.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Living as a stranger in this world can feel isolating, but 1 Peter 1:17 reminds us that our heavenly Father sees every detail of our lives. He does not look at your social status, wealth, or outward appearance when He evaluates your actions. This impartiality is a source of deep comfort because it means God’s judgment is based entirely on the truth of who you are and what you have done, free from human bias.
Because God treats everyone with equal fairness, we can approach Him with reverence rather than fear of unfairness. This awareness invites us to live carefully and respectfully during our time on earth. Knowing that He sees us clearly helps us find peace in His justice, trusting that our efforts are known and valued by a Father who loves without favoritism.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- impartially1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀπροσωπολήμπτως1×
Key Verses
-
I Peter 1:17
If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear,
This is the only occurrence of the word, where it describes God's judgment as being based on each person's work rather than their status.