κατήγορος (katēgoros)
katēgoros
accuser
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun katēgoros refers to a formal accuser or prosecutor, one who brings charges against another in a legal setting. In the New Testament, it appears six times, primarily within the narrative of Paul’s trials in Acts and in John’s Gospel. The term carries the weight of official litigation rather than casual complaint.
Its etymology combines the intensive prefix kata- with agoreuō, meaning to speak in the assembly or marketplace. This root suggests a public, authoritative declaration of guilt. In Acts 23:30 and 25:16, Roman officials like Felix and Festus use the word to describe the Jewish leaders’ formal complaints against Paul, highlighting the structured nature of their accusations.
Most significantly, Revelation 12:10 applies this title to Satan, calling him "the accuser of our brothers." This usage transforms a legal term into a spiritual reality, portraying the devil not merely as a tempter but as a prosecutor seeking to condemn believers before God. Translators consistently render it as "accuser," preserving its role as an adversary in a courtroom drama.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
In our daily lives, we often feel weighed down by criticism or the fear that others are judging us unfairly. The Greek word katēgoros describes a formal prosecutor who brings official charges in a courtroom. It is not just a casual complaint, but a serious legal accusation designed to condemn someone. Understanding this term helps us see the intensity of the opposition faced by biblical figures like Paul and the spiritual battle described in Revelation.
For believers, this word highlights a profound truth about our standing before God. While Satan acts as an accuser, pointing out our failures and sins to bring condemnation, Jesus offers a different perspective. In John 8, He asks the woman caught in sin, "Did no one condemn you?" showing that His grace removes the power of these accusations. We are not defined by the charges brought against us, but by the forgiveness found in Christ.
This assurance brings deep peace. When we know that our sins are forgiven and covered by Jesus' sacrifice, the accuser has no legal ground to stand on. Instead of living in fear of judgment, we can rest in the confidence that God sees us as righteous through faith. This freedom allows us to live without shame, knowing we are accepted not by our own perfection, but by His mercy.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- accusers6×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κατήγοροί2×
- κατήγοροι1×
- κατηγόρους,1×
- κατηγόρους1×
- κατηγόροις1×
Key Verses
-
John 8:10
Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, “Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?”
Jesus uses the term to highlight that the woman's accusers have left, emphasizing her freedom from condemnation and the presence of grace.
-
Acts 25:16
I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to destruction before the accused has met the accusers face to face and has had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him.
Festus defines Roman justice by requiring the accused to meet the katēgoros face-to-face, showing the word's role in formal legal procedure.