λοιδορία (loidoria)
loidoria
reviling
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun loidoria refers to harsh verbal abuse or insulting speech. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, both in pastoral letters where believers are instructed on how to respond to hostility. First Timothy 5:19 warns against accepting an accusation against an elder unless supported by witnesses, while 1 Peter 3:9 commands Christians not to repay evil with loidoria but instead to offer a blessing.
The word carries the weight of public shaming or slanderous speech intended to humiliate. It is not merely disagreement but a deliberate attempt to wound through words. The sources note its connection to the verb loidoreō, meaning to revile or insult, reinforcing that this is active, aggressive speech rather than passive criticism.
Its rarity in Scripture highlights the seriousness of such behavior. By limiting its use to contexts where believers face mistreatment, the text frames loidoria as a specific kind of spiritual attack—one that demands a counter-response of grace rather than retaliation. This creates a clear ethical boundary: Christians are called to break the cycle of verbal violence through deliberate kindness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word loidoria describes harsh verbal abuse intended to humiliate or wound. It is not simple disagreement but a deliberate attempt to shame someone through speech. In the New Testament, this term appears only twice, highlighting its seriousness as a form of spiritual attack that demands a specific response from believers.
When you face such hostility, the call is to break the cycle of retaliation. Instead of repaying insult with insult, Christians are invited to offer a blessing. This choice reflects trust in God’s justice and aligns with the calling to inherit His blessings. It is a difficult path, but one that preserves peace and witness.
This instruction reminds us that our response to mistreatment reveals the depth of our faith. By choosing kindness over revenge, we reflect the character of Christ. May you find strength in this command, knowing that grace has the power to transform even the most painful interactions into opportunities for witness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of reproach1×
- insult,1×
- insult1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- λοιδορίας,1×
- λοιδορίας1×
- λοιδορίαν1×
Key Verses
-
I Peter 3:9
not rendering evil for evil or insult for insult; but instead blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
This verse explicitly commands believers not to repay loidoria with insult but to respond with blessing, defining the ethical boundary for handling verbal abuse.
-
I Timothy 5:14
I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting.
Although the noun form is not used here, the context of giving the adversary an opportunity for insulting speech illustrates the practical danger of loidoria in community life.