προσωπολήπτης (prosōpolēptēs)
prosōpolēptēs
prejudiced person
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun prosōpolēptēs describes a person who shows partiality or favoritism, literally defined as one who "receives faces." In biblical usage, it refers to judging individuals based on external appearances, social status, or wealth rather than their true character or merit. This concept appears in Acts 10:34, where Peter declares that God does not show such favoritism, emphasizing divine impartiality.
Its etymology combines prosōpon ("face") and lambanō ("to receive"), creating a vivid image of accepting someone based on their outward presentation. The term carries strong theological weight, particularly in contexts contrasting human bias with God's perfect justice. Translators typically render it as "respecter of persons" or "one who shows partiality," capturing the idea of unfair discrimination.
This word highlights a fundamental tension between human tendency toward superficial judgment and the biblical ideal of equitable treatment for all people regardless of background or status.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word προσωπολήπτης describes a person who accepts someone based on their outward appearance or social standing rather than their true character. It literally means one who "receives faces," suggesting a superficial judgment that values external markers over inner worth.
In Acts 10:34, Peter uses this concept to declare that God does not show favoritism. This reminder challenges us to examine our own hearts. We often fall into the trap of judging others by their status, wealth, or background, but God sees the person behind the face.
Recognizing this bias invites you to treat everyone with equal dignity and respect. When you choose to see people as God sees them, you reflect His impartial love in your daily interactions, fostering a community built on genuine fairness rather than social hierarchy.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- One who shows partiality1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- προσωπολήμπτης1×
Key Verses
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Acts 10:34
Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism;
Peter explicitly states that God does not show favoritism, using this concept to break down barriers between Jews and Gentiles.