κύων (kuōn)
kuōn
dog
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
In the ancient Near East, dogs were not beloved pets but scavengers that roamed streets and garbage dumps. The Greek word kuoōn refers to these animals, carrying a heavy weight of social disdain. While it appears literally in Luke 16:21 for the stray dogs at Lazarus’s gate, its primary use is metaphorical, serving as a sharp term of reproach.
When used figuratively, it describes those considered morally impure or spiritually unclean. Jesus employs this harsh imagery in Matthew 7:6, warning against casting what is holy before dogs, implying that sacred truths are wasted on those who would only trample them. Paul uses the same term in Philippians 3:2 to label false teachers as "dogs," emphasizing their dangerous and corrupting influence on the community.
The word’s force lies in its contrast between the clean and the unclean. It appears again in Revelation 22:15, excluding those who practice deceit from the holy city. Translators often keep the literal "dogs" to preserve this jarring image of spiritual exclusion, reminding readers that certain behaviors were viewed as fundamentally incompatible with God’s kingdom.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
In our modern culture, dogs are often cherished family members, but in biblical times they were scavengers associated with waste and impurity. When Scripture uses this word, it is not describing a pet, but invoking a harsh image of spiritual exclusion. It reminds us that some truths are sacred and should not be treated lightly or shared with those who only seek to mock or destroy them.
This word appears in moments of serious warning, such as Jesus’ instruction to protect holy things from being trampled, or Paul’s call to guard the church against corrupting influences. It serves as a sobering reminder that our faith is precious and requires discernment. We are called to value what God has given us while remaining wise about who we share it with.
Ultimately, this imagery points to the seriousness of spiritual cleanliness. It invites us to examine our own hearts, ensuring we are not those who return to what we have left behind, but rather those who cherish the truth and live in a way that honors God’s holiness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- dogs3×
- dogs,1×
- A dog1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κύνες2×
- κύων1×
- κύνας,1×
- κυσὶν1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 7:6
“Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Jesus uses this term to warn against wasting sacred truths on those who would only trample them.
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Philippians 3:2
Beware of the dogs; beware of the evil workers; beware of the false circumcision.
Paul labels false teachers as dogs to highlight their dangerous and corrupting influence on the community.
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Revelation of John 22:15
Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
This verse places dogs outside the holy city, symbolizing exclusion from God’s kingdom due to moral impurity.