καπηλεύω (kapēleuō)
kapēleuō
to peddle
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb kapeleuō describes the act of peddling or trading, but it carries a heavy moral weight derived from its root kapelos, meaning a huckster or petty merchant. In the ancient world, such traders were often suspected of adulterating their goods to maximize profit. Consequently, the term implies not just selling, but doing so with sordid gain or by corrupting the integrity of what is offered.
This word appears only once in the New Testament, in 2 Corinthians 2:17. Paul uses it to contrast his own ministry with that of false teachers. He states that he does not kapeleuō the word of God; he does not peddle divine truth for personal advantage or mix it with falsehoods to suit market demands. Instead, his message is offered in Christ and before God, maintaining spiritual purity rather than commercial expediency.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word kapēleuō describes a huckster who mixes inferior goods with expensive ones to boost profit. In ancient markets, these peddlers were distrusted because they compromised quality for gain. Paul uses this strong term in 2 Corinthians 2:17 to show that he never treated the gospel as a commodity to be manipulated or sold for personal advantage.
For your faith, this word offers profound comfort. It means the message you receive is not a product designed to manipulate your emotions or empty your wallet. The truth of Christ remains pure and unadulterated. You can trust that the gospel is offered with sincerity, not as a business transaction.
This assurance allows you to rest in the integrity of God's word. It is not something you must earn or negotiate for. Instead, it is a gift given freely by God through Christ, preserved in its original purity for your salvation and growth.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- peddling1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- καπηλεύοντες1×
Key Verses
-
II Corinthians 2:17
For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.
Paul uses this rare term to sharply distinguish his honest ministry from false teachers who compromised the gospel for profit.