μομφή, μέμψις (momphē, mempsis)
momphē, mempsis
complaint
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun momphē refers to a specific kind of complaint or expression of blame. It carries the sense of finding fault with someone, often implying a lingering resentment or a grudge held against another person. The word appears only once in the New Testament, located in Colossians 3:13.
Paul uses this term when instructing believers to bear with one another and forgive each other freely. In this context, it highlights the need to let go of petty grievances and the desire to point out others' shortcomings. Rather than keeping a record of wrongs, Christians are called to cover these complaints with love.
Its rarity in Scripture underscores its negative weight as a barrier to unity. By naming this specific behavior, the text identifies holding onto blame as something that disrupts community life. The instruction is clear: such fault-finding has no place among those who share in Christ’s forgiveness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word momphē describes a specific kind of complaint that goes beyond simple disagreement. It implies holding onto blame or nurturing a grudge against another person. In the New Testament, this term appears only once, in Colossians 3:13, where Paul addresses how believers should treat one another.
This passage invites us to examine our own hearts when conflicts arise. Instead of keeping a mental record of wrongs or waiting for an apology, we are called to bear with each other’s flaws. The standard given is Christ’s forgiveness toward us. When we remember how freely we have been forgiven, it becomes easier to release the desire to point out others’ shortcomings.
Letting go of these lingering resentments protects our community from division. It allows love to cover the mistakes that naturally occur in relationships. By choosing forgiveness over fault-finding, we reflect the grace that sustains our faith daily.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a complaint;1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μομφήν·1×
Key Verses
-
Colossians 3:13
bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
This is the only New Testament occurrence of the word, where Paul explicitly links bearing with one another to forgiving as Christ forgave you.