ἀτιμάζω (atimazō)
atimazō
to dishonor
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb atimazō means to strip someone of honor or dignity, treating them with contempt through words or actions. It carries a heavy social weight, implying a public degradation that lowers a person’s standing in the community. In the New Testament, it appears seven times, often describing how religious leaders or society mistreat Jesus and his followers.
Its root combines a negative prefix with timē, meaning "honor" or "price." This etymology highlights that dishonor is not just rudeness but an active devaluation of worth. For instance, in Mark 12:4 and Luke 20:11, the landowner’s tenants are said to have atimazōd the servant, reflecting a violent rejection of his authority. Similarly, Romans 2:23 warns against boasting in the law while dishonoring God through transgression.
A striking example occurs in Acts 5:41, where the apostles rejoice because they were counted worthy to suffer atimazōd for Jesus’ name. Here, the word shifts from an act of aggression to a badge of identity; being despised by the world becomes proof of alignment with Christ. Translators typically render it as "dishonor" or "insult," preserving the sense of public shame.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word atimazō describes a deep stripping of dignity, where someone is publicly treated as worthless. In our daily lives, this can feel like a sharp rejection or an unfair judgment that makes us question our value. It reminds us that honor is not just about status but about how we treat the person standing in front of us.
Jesus faced this kind of contempt when people dishonored Him, yet He remained faithful to the Father. For believers, suffering dishonor for the sake of Christ is a strange privilege. When the world treats you with contempt because of your faith, it signals that you are walking in step with those who came before you.
Instead of seeking revenge when we feel slighted, we can look to Jesus. He did not repay insult with insult but entrusted Himself to God. This gives us peace when our dignity is challenged, knowing that our true worth is fixed by God and cannot be taken away by human hands.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to suffer dishonor;1×
- to dishonor1×
- having dishonored1×
- dishonored.1×
- dishonored1×
- dishonor you?1×
- dishonor1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἠτίμασαν.1×
- ἠτιμάσατε1×
- ἀτιμάσαντες1×
- ἀτιμάζετέ1×
- ἀτιμάζεσθαι1×
- ἀτιμάζεις;1×
- ἀτιμασθῆναι·1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 5:41
They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name.
This verse shows the apostles rejoicing in their dishonor, viewing public shame as a mark of genuine discipleship.
-
John 8:49
Jesus answered, “I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father and you dishonor me.
Jesus contrasts His own honor to the Father with the religious leaders' active disrespect toward Him.
-
Romans 2:23
You who glory in the law, do you dishonor God by disobeying the law?
Paul highlights the hypocrisy of claiming religious knowledge while acting in ways that degrade God's reputation.