ἀσχημοσύνη (aschēmosunē)
aschēmosunē
indecency
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun aschēmosunē describes a state of unseemliness or indecency, often referring to shameful exposure or nakedness. In the Septuagint, it frequently translates the Hebrew word for shame or nakedness, establishing a link between physical exposure and moral disgrace. The New Testament uses this term sparingly, appearing in only two verses to highlight profound spiritual or social disorder.
In Romans 1:27, Paul employs the word to describe the unnatural acts committed by those who have rejected God, framing them as an indecency that violates created order. Similarly, Revelation 16:15 uses it euphemistically for shame or nakedness, warning believers to remain clothed so they do not suffer this exposure. The term thus carries a heavy weight of disgrace, marking actions or states that are fundamentally contrary to decency and divine expectation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word aschēmosunē points to a deep sense of unseemliness or exposure that goes beyond simple modesty. It describes a state where inner disorder becomes visible, creating a shame that reflects a break from God’s intended order. This is not just about social etiquette but about the soul’s alignment with truth.
In Romans 1:27, Paul uses this term to describe actions that violate the created design for human relationships. It serves as a sobering reminder that rejecting divine boundaries leads to a profound loss of dignity and peace. The word highlights how sin often brings its own penalty through shame and disconnection.
Revelation 16:15 offers a different angle, using the image of nakedness to warn against spiritual vulnerability. Jesus urges believers to stay 'clothed' with righteousness, protecting their hearts from this exposure. This imagery invites us to examine our lives, seeking the covering that brings honor rather than disgrace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- shame2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀσχημοσύνην2×
Key Verses
-
Romans 1:27
Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error.
Paul uses aschēmosunē here to label acts that violate the created order, showing how such behavior leads to inherent shame and penalty.
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Revelation of John 16:15
“Behold, I come like a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his clothes, so that he doesn’t walk naked, and they see his shame.”
Jesus employs the concept euphemistically to warn believers against spiritual nakedness, urging them to remain clothed in righteousness to avoid shame.