κατασοφίζομαι (katasophizomai)
katasophizomai
be cunning
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb katasophizomai describes acting with cunning or dealing craftily with someone to gain an advantage. It carries the sense of outwitting another person through subtle devices or artifice, rather than through open strength or honesty.
This word appears only once in the New Testament, in Acts 7:19. Stephen uses it to describe how Pharaoh treated the Israelites by acting craftily against them. The term highlights a deceptive strategy where one party tries to circumvent or overreach another through cleverness rather than force.
Its formation combines a prefix meaning "against" or "down" with a root related to wisdom or skill, but here it takes on a negative connotation. Instead of praiseworthy wisdom, it refers to the kind of cleverness used for deception. Translators typically render it as dealing craftily or acting with deceit.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word katasophizomai describes a specific kind of cunning where someone uses cleverness not to build up, but to trick or harm another person for their own gain. It is wisdom turned sideways, becoming a tool for deception rather than truth. In Acts 7:19, Stephen uses this term to describe how Pharaoh dealt with the Israelites. He did not just use brute force; he used crafty schemes to mistreat them and try to erase their future by forcing parents to abandon their babies.
When we encounter such behavior in our own lives, it can be deeply unsettling to see wisdom misused for evil. It reminds us that intelligence without integrity is dangerous. Yet, this word also highlights the reality of spiritual warfare. The enemy often uses subtle tricks and hidden agendas rather than open confrontation. Recognizing these patterns helps us stay grounded in honesty and transparency.
Our call as believers is to reject this kind of crafty deception. Instead, we are invited to walk in the light, where our actions align with God’s truth. This does not mean we must be naive, but that we choose integrity over manipulation. May you find peace in knowing that God sees all hidden things and ultimately brings justice. You can trust in His fairness even when others act with deceit.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having dealt treacherously with1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κατασοφισάμενος1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 7:19
The same took advantage of our race and mistreated our fathers, and forced them to abandon their babies, so that they wouldn’t stay alive.
Stephen uses this rare word to show how Pharaoh used crafty schemes, not just force, to mistreat the Israelites and try to destroy their future.