σκολιός (skolios)
skolios
crooked
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective skolios describes something that is physically bent, curved, or winding, standing in direct contrast to straight and level paths. In the Old Testament Greek translations, it appears in passages like Deuteronomy 32:5 to describe a crooked generation, establishing a link between physical distortion and moral deviation.
In the New Testament, this image shifts to human character. It describes people who are perverse, unjust, or froward. Paul uses it in Philippians 2:15 to urge believers to remain blameless among a "crooked and twisted" generation, highlighting the tension between upright conduct and a distorted social environment.
The word also appears in Luke 3:5 and Acts 2:40, often tied to the idea of making straight paths or saving oneself from this perverse age. Translators typically render it as "crooked" or "twisted," preserving the visual metaphor of a path that does not go directly toward its intended goal.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word skolios paints a picture of something bent or twisted, often used in Scripture to describe a generation that has lost its way. It is not merely about physical shape but points to moral distortion—a path that curves away from truth and justice. When Paul writes to the Philippians, he describes believers living among such a crooked age, urging them to shine like lights rather than conform to the bend of the world.
This imagery reminds us that integrity is not always easy when the surrounding culture feels twisted or unjust. Yet, the call is clear: we are invited to walk straight paths of honesty and love, even when others do not. In Luke’s Gospel, John the Baptist speaks of valleys being filled and hills brought low, suggesting that God’s grace levels every uneven ground. We find hope knowing that our conduct does not need to mirror the crookedness around us.
Living with uprightness means choosing clarity over compromise. It is a quiet strength that reflects God’s character in a world often defined by distortion. As we navigate our daily lives, we can trust that God values sincerity and invites us to be people of light, offering peace and direction to those who feel lost in the twist of life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- crooked2×
- unreasonable.1×
- perverse1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σκολιᾶς2×
- σκολιὰ1×
- σκολιοῖς.1×
Key Verses
-
Philippians 2:15
that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without defect in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world,
Paul uses this word to contrast the blameless conduct of believers against a morally distorted social environment.
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Luke 3:5
Every valley will be filled. Every mountain and hill will be brought low. The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth.
The term describes the 'crooked' paths that will be straightened by God’s coming intervention, symbolizing moral correction.
-
Acts 2:40
With many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
Peter exhorts his audience to separate themselves from a perverse age, highlighting the need for distinct Christian witness.