κάκωσις (kakōsis)
kakōsis
oppression
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun kakōsis refers to the act of treating someone with harm or cruelty. Derived from the root for "bad" or "evil," it describes active ill-treatment rather than passive suffering. In Scripture, this word appears only once, in Acts 7:34, where Stephen recounts God’s concern for the Israelites.
Here, it translates the Hebrew concept of affliction faced by a people under foreign rule. The term captures the weight of oppression experienced by the Hebrews in Egypt. It is not merely hardship, but specific mistreatment inflicted upon them.
This single usage highlights how God perceives injustice. He sees the abuse his people endure and moves to deliver them. The word underscores that divine attention includes the reality of human cruelty.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kakōsis points to active harm rather than general hardship. It describes the specific cruelty inflicted upon others. In Acts 7:34, Stephen uses this term to describe the Israelites' suffering in Egypt. God did not just notice their pain; He saw the injustice directed at them.
This reminds us that God cares about how people are treated. He sees the weight of oppression and hears the cries of those hurt by others. His attention is drawn to human cruelty, not abstract ideas. This offers comfort when we face unfair treatment or see others suffer.
You can trust that God perceives these wrongs with clarity. He does not ignore the abuse his people endure. Instead, He moves to deliver them from their plight. This truth encourages us to seek justice and rely on His timely intervention in difficult seasons.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- oppression1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κάκωσιν1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 7:34
I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning. I have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you into Egypt.’
Stephen uses this rare noun to specify that God saw the active mistreatment of Israel, not just their general hardship.