τιμωρέω (timōreō)
timōreō
to punish
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb timōreō carries the dual sense of protecting someone’s honor and punishing those who violate it. Its root combines a word for "honor" with one meaning "guard," suggesting that true defense involves both support and retribution. In the New Testament, this duality is rare; instead, the word focuses almost exclusively on the act of avenging or inflicting punishment.
It appears only twice in Scripture, both within Acts 22 and 26, where Paul describes his past zeal as a persecutor of Christians. He states that he punished them in synagogues and sought to bring them to prison. Here, the term underscores the severity of his actions against the early church, framing his persecution as a harsh enforcement of religious boundaries.
Translators typically render this word as "punish" or "avenge," capturing its weighty, judicial tone. Unlike words that might imply corrective discipline, timōreō points to a decisive act of retribution against an offender. Its limited usage highlights specific moments of intense conflict rather than general principles of justice.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When Paul speaks of punishing believers, he describes a time when his zeal for religious order blinded him to the truth. The word used here carries a heavy weight, pointing to decisive retribution rather than gentle correction. It reminds us that even those who seem most certain can be deeply mistaken in their pursuit of what they believe is right.
Yet this harsh past serves as a powerful backdrop for grace. Paul’s conversion shows that no one is beyond the reach of mercy. His story invites us to examine our own convictions, asking whether we are guarding truth with love or enforcing boundaries with anger. The same God who transformed Paul can soften hard hearts today.
Understanding this word helps us see the depth of Paul’s change. It highlights that true faith is not about punishing error but about embracing the peace that Christ offers. We are called to reflect that same mercy in our own lives, recognizing that every person carries dignity and worth.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they may be punished.1×
- punishing1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- τιμωρῶν1×
- τιμωρηθῶσιν.1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 22:5
as also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and traveled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.
This verse shows Paul using his authority to bring believers in bonds specifically for the purpose of punishment, highlighting the legal and physical nature of his persecution.
-
Acts 26:11
Punishing them often in all the synagogues, I tried to make them blaspheme. Being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
Here Paul admits he punished them often in synagogues with the specific goal of forcing them to blaspheme, revealing the intense personal rage behind his actions.