ἀσέλγεια (aselgeia)
aselgeia
debauchery
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 10 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun aselgeia describes a life stripped of restraint, often translated as debauchery or licentiousness. It depicts behavior that ignores moral boundaries, driven by unchecked desire rather than self-control. In the New Testament, this word appears in lists of sinful behaviors, such as in Romans 13:13 and Galatians 5:19, where it stands alongside other vices to illustrate a lifestyle opposed to spiritual integrity.
Its root suggests a state of being "uncontinent" or lacking self-restraint. The sources note a close link to asōtia, which emphasizes profligacy or wastefulness, but aselgeia focuses more on the shameless and outrageous nature of the actions. This distinction highlights that the issue is not just spending resources poorly, but acting with insolence and disregard for social or divine norms.
This term carries significant weight in 2 Peter, where it describes the false teachers who introduce destructive heresies. In 2 Peter 2:2-7, their aselgeia is linked to exploiting others and indulging in fleshly desires, showing how moral corruption can accompany false teaching. The word paints a picture of people who have abandoned any sense of modesty or respect for authority.
Translators often use "debauchery" or "licentiousness" to capture this intensity. These English terms convey the excess and lack of inhibition inherent in the Greek concept. The consistent use of aselgeia across different books underscores its role as a marker of a life fully turned away from ethical constraints.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word aselgeia describes a life stripped of restraint, where unchecked desire replaces moral boundaries. It is not merely a momentary lapse but a pattern of behavior that ignores social and divine norms with shameless disregard. In the New Testament, this term appears in lists of sinful behaviors, such as in Romans 13:13 and Galatians 5:19, illustrating a lifestyle opposed to spiritual integrity.
Understanding this word helps us recognize the danger of abandoning modesty and respect for authority. It paints a picture of people who have given themselves over to lust and greed, often accompanied by false teaching that exploits others. The consistent use of aselgeia across different books underscores its role as a marker of a life fully turned away from ethical constraints.
For your faith, this word serves as a sobering reminder of the need for self-control. It invites us to examine our own hearts and ensure we are not drifting toward shameless behavior. By acknowledging the destructive nature of such actions, we can turn back to God’s guidance and seek a life marked by integrity and respect for others.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 10 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- sensuality,4×
- to sensuality2×
- sensuality2×
- of sensuality1×
- in sensuality,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀσελγείᾳ3×
- ἀσελγείαις,3×
- ἀσέλγεια,2×
- ἀσέλγειαν1×
- ἀσελγείαις1×
Key Verses
-
Romans 13:13
Let’s walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy.
This verse places aselgeia alongside reveling and drunkenness, grouping it with other vices to illustrate a lifestyle opposed to spiritual integrity.
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Galatians 5:19
Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,
Here the word is listed among the deeds of the flesh, highlighting its role as a marker of a life fully turned away from ethical constraints.
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II Peter 2:7
and delivered righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the lustful life of the wicked
The text links Lot’s distress to the lustful life of the wicked, showing how moral corruption can accompany false teaching and exploit others.
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Jude 1:4
For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ.
This occurrence describes men who turn God’s grace into indecency, using the term to condemn those who deny Christ while living shamelessly.