Ἰουδαϊκῶς (Ioudaikōs)
Ioudaikōs
Jew
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adverb Ioudaikōs means to live or act in the Jewish manner, specifically regarding religious and ceremonial practices. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Galatians 2:14, where Paul confronts Peter for withdrawing from table fellowship with Gentile believers.
Paul uses this word to highlight a contradiction in Peter’s behavior. Although Peter knew that salvation comes through faith in Christ and not by observing the Law, he was "living Jewishly" by separating himself from Gentiles. The term points to strict adherence to Jewish customs, such as dietary laws, which Paul argues should no longer be a barrier between believers.
This single occurrence underscores a major theme in Galatians: the tension between cultural identity and gospel freedom. By accusing Peter of acting "Jewishly," Paul emphasizes that forcing Gentile converts to adopt Jewish rituals undermines the truth of the gospel. The word serves as a sharp critique of hypocrisy, showing how even leaders can stumble when they prioritize tradition over grace.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
This word appears only once in the New Testament, yet it carries a heavy weight. In Galatians, Paul uses it to describe Peter’s hesitation to eat with Gentile believers. The term means living in the Jewish manner, specifically regarding ceremonial practices. It highlights a tension between cultural habits and gospel freedom.
Paul’s confrontation shows that even faithful leaders can stumble when they prioritize social comfort over grace. For us, this reminds us that our faith should not be divided by cultural lines. When we act out of fear or tradition rather than love, we obscure the truth of the Good News.
The gospel breaks down barriers. It invites us to look beyond customs and see one another as equals in Christ. This word calls us to examine where we might be creating unnecessary divisions. May we live openly in the freedom that Christ has given us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- like a Jew1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Ἰουδαϊκῶς1×
Key Verses
-
Galatians 2:14
But when I saw that they didn’t walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?
Paul uses this adverb to accuse Peter of hypocrisy by withdrawing from Gentile believers, thereby compromising the truth of the gospel through social separation.