γόης (goēs)
goēs
imposter
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun goēs refers to an impostor or charlatan, specifically one who deceives through magical tricks or incantations. Its root connects to the verb for wailing or howling, suggesting that these figures performed their deceptions with dramatic, mournful cries. In ancient contexts, this term described a conjurer or enchanter whose craft relied on illusion rather than genuine power.
Scripture uses this word only once, in 2 Timothy 3:13, to describe the moral decline of false teachers. Paul notes that such deceivers will continue to go from bad to worse, misleading others just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. The term carries a strong sense of moral corruption, highlighting how spiritual fraudulence leads both the deceiver and their victims into deeper error.
Unlike neutral terms for magic, goēs emphasizes the dishonesty of the practitioner. It is not merely about supernatural ability but about intentional deception. This single usage in the New Testament warns believers that false teachers are not just mistaken but actively engaged in spiritual trickery, making discernment essential for faithful living.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word goēs describes a charlatan who uses tricks to deceive people. In 2 Timothy 3:13, Paul warns that false teachers will grow worse by deceiving others and being deceived themselves. This term highlights the intentional dishonesty of those who lead believers astray with spiritual illusions.
Discernment is essential for faithful living. When we encounter teachings that seem to rely on hidden knowledge or dramatic displays rather than clear truth, we can trust Scripture as our guide. God calls us to stand firm in what is real and true, avoiding the traps of those who seek to manipulate faith for their own gain.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- imposters1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- γόητες1×
Key Verses
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II Timothy 3:13
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
Paul uses this rare term to describe false teachers whose deception leads both themselves and their followers into deeper error.