δειγματίζω (deigmatizō)
deigmatizō
to disgrace
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb deigmatizō means to make a public display of someone, often in a humiliating or shameful way. Derived from the noun for "spectacle" or "example," it describes the act of exposing a person as an object of attention and ridicule. In the New Testament, this rare word appears only twice, carrying a heavy weight of social disgrace.
Its most striking usage occurs in Colossians 2:15, where Paul describes Christ’s victory on the cross. Rather than being shamed by spiritual powers, Jesus publicly paraded them as captives, stripping them of their authority. This image turns the expected outcome upside down: the crucifixion, meant to disgrace Jesus, becomes the moment he exposes his enemies to shame instead.
While some manuscripts suggest a similar concept in Matthew 1:19 regarding Joseph’s plan to divorce Mary quietly, the primary theological force of deigmatizō is found in Paul’s description of cosmic triumph. It reminds readers that divine victory often involves reversing human standards of honor and shame, turning public exposure into a demonstration of ultimate power.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word deigmatizō carries a heavy weight of social disgrace, describing an act where someone is exposed as an object of public ridicule. In the ancient world, this was the ultimate shame, yet the New Testament uses it to describe a divine reversal. When Paul writes in Colossians 2:15, he paints a striking picture of Christ’s victory on the cross. Rather than being shamed by spiritual powers, Jesus publicly paraded them as captives, stripping them of their authority.
This image turns human standards of honor and shame upside down. The crucifixion, meant to disgrace Jesus, becomes the moment he exposes his enemies to shame instead. For your faith, this offers profound comfort. It reminds us that divine victory often involves reversing worldly expectations, turning public exposure into a demonstration of ultimate power.
Even in Matthew 1:19, we see Joseph choosing not to make Mary a public example, reflecting a heart that avoids unnecessary shame. This word invites us to trust that God’s ways are higher than ours. In Christ, our deepest fears of disgrace are met with His triumphant grace, pointing toward the hope of resurrection shared by all Christians.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to disgrace,1×
- He disgraced [them]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐδειγμάτισεν1×
- δειγματίσαι,1×
Key Verses
-
Colossians 2:15
Having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
This verse captures the word’s primary theological force as Christ publicly parades spiritual powers as captives, stripping them of authority.
-
Matthew 1:19
Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.
Here Joseph chooses not to make Mary a public example, showing how the concept of disgrace informs his righteous decision to divorce secretly.