What does δοκιμή (dokimḗ) mean in the Bible?
δοκιμή (dokimē) refers to tested genuineness, proven character, or the evidence that establishes something as approved. The noun often points not merely to the testing event but to what the test reveals.
Greek · G1382
δοκιμή
Test (abstractly or concretely); by implication, trustiness
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δοκιμή G1382
Pronunciation dokimḗ
What does δοκιμή (dokimḗ) mean in the Bible?
δοκιμή (dokimē) refers to tested genuineness, proven character, or the evidence that establishes something as approved. The noun often points not merely to the testing event but to what the test reveals.
Reader summary
Full entry for δοκιμή (G1382) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G1382?
The BSB source-word alignment has 8 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include character (2), proof (2), ordeal (1), proven worth (1), tried [Me] (1).
Where does δοκιμή (dokimḗ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Romans 5:4. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Corinthians (4), Romans (2), Hebrews (1), Philippians (1).
What This Word Actually Means
δοκιμή (dokimē) refers to tested genuineness, proven character, or the evidence that establishes something as approved. The noun often points not merely to the testing event but to what the test reveals. Romans 5 traces suffering through perseverance to proven character and then to hope, all within the grace secured through Christ. In 2 Corinthians 13 the Corinthians demand proof that Christ speaks through Paul, only to be told to examine themselves.
Philippians 2 presents Timothy's proven worth through a known pattern of serving the gospel with Paul. The word therefore resists instant reputations. Character becomes visible across pressure, obedience, and service. At the same time, suffering does not mechanically produce maturity, and human approval is not the final verdict. God uses trials within the life of faith, and the church recognizes fruit that has actually been demonstrated.
How the Bible Uses It
δοκιμή names tested or demonstrated genuineness. Paul applies it to character formed through suffering, demanded proof of apostolic ministry, and Timothy's established worth in gospel service.
- Rom.5.4
Perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Within peace with God and hope of glory, suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces proven character, and character strengthens hope.
- 2Cor.13.3
Since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you but is powerful among you.
The Corinthians demand proof of Christ speaking in Paul, but the surrounding passage redirects examination toward their own standing in the faith.
- Php.2.22
But you know Timothy’s proven worth, that as a child with his father he has served with me to advance the gospel.
Timothy's proven worth is publicly known through sustained, self-forgetting service in advancing the gospel.
Passage contextBook context
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It character 2× Romans 5:4
proof 2× 2 Corinthians 9:13, 2 Corinthians 13:3
ordeal 1× 2 Corinthians 8:2
proven worth 1× Philippians 2:22
tried [Me] 1× Hebrews 3:9
would stand the test 1× 2 Corinthians 2:9
Show sample aligned rows
Romans 5:4 δοκιμήν to character Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Romans 5:4 δοκιμὴ to character Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular 2 Corinthians 2:9 δοκιμὴν to would stand the test Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular 2 Corinthians 8:2 δοκιμῇ to ordeal Noun - Dative Feminine Singular 2 Corinthians 9:13 δοκιμῆς to proof Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular 2 Corinthians 13:3 δοκιμὴν to proof Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Philippians 2:22 δοκιμὴν to proven worth Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Hebrews 3:9 δοκιμασίᾳ to tried [Me] Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Romans 5:4
Aligned rows 8
Books represented 4
Romans 2 2 Corinthians 4 Philippians 1 Hebrews 1
Source forms
δοκιμὴν 3x dokimēn 2 Corinthians 2:9, 2 Corinthians 13:3, Philippians 2:22
δοκιμασίᾳ 1x dokimasia Hebrews 3:9
δοκιμὴ 1x dokimē Romans 5:4
δοκιμῇ 1x dokimē 2 Corinthians 8:2
δοκιμήν 1x dokimēn Romans 5:4
δοκιμῆς 1x dokimēs 2 Corinthians 9:13
Parsing patterns
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular 4x Romans 5:4, 2 Corinthians 2:9, 2 Corinthians 13:3, Philippians 2:22
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular 2x 2 Corinthians 8:2, Hebrews 3:9
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular 1x 2 Corinthians 9:13
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular 1x Romans 5:4
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Recognize proven character through sustained faithfulness, not merely visibility, confidence, or a dramatic testimony.
- Keep suffering inside the gospel frame of grace; pain alone does not guarantee maturity or approval.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that δοκιμή means God accepts believers because they have passed enough trials.
- Do not claim that every demand for proof is legitimate; 2 Corinthians turns the examination back on the church.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Trial process that produces proven character or approval when successfully endured through testing
Strong's G1382
Lexical occurrences 7 verses Greek text appearances 7 times Word forms 4 forms 7 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Philippians 2:19–24 Source Gloss
test (abstractly or concretely); by implication, trustiness
Extended definition Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Trial process that produces proven character or approval when successfully endured through testing
(δόκιμος), [in Sm.: Psa.68:31 * ;]
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
7 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Romans 5:4 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
δοκιμήν, dokimhn
a trial, proof; tried, approved character
Read verse Romans 5:4 Noun Nominative Singular Feminine
δοκιμὴ dokimh
a trial, proof; tried, approved character
Read verse 2 Corinthians 2:9 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
δοκιμὴν dokimhn
a trial, proof; tried, approved character
Read verse 2 Corinthians 8:2 Noun Dative Singular Feminine
δοκιμῇ dokimh
a trial, proof; tried, approved character
Read verse 2 Corinthians 9:13 Noun Genitive Singular Feminine
δοκιμῆς dokimhv
a trial, proof; tried, approved character
Read verse 2 Corinthians 13:3 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
δοκιμὴν dokimhn
a trial, proof; tried, approved character
Read verse Philippians 2:22 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
δοκιμὴν dokimhn
a trial, proof; tried, approved character
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 4 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Form patterns 4 Aligned forms 7 Case pattern Accusative (4) Number pattern Singular (7)
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Nominative · Singular · Feminine Rom 5:4 1×
Genitive · Singular · Feminine 2 Cor 9:13 1×
Dative · Singular · Feminine 2 Cor 8:2 1×
Accusative · Singular · Feminine Rom 5:4 · 2 Cor 2:9 · 2 Cor 13:3 · Phil 2:22 4×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
New Testament Witnesses
proven character
Showing 1 selected witness from 7 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
δοκιμή is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
Shows ministry credibility comes through tested faithfulness. Philippians 2:19–24
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
δοκιμή gives the church a category for credibility that has survived contact with real life. Romans 5 begins with justification, peace, grace, and hope before it speaks of suffering. Trials do not purchase God's favor; within grace, they produce perseverance, and perseverance yields character whose genuineness has been shown. Second Corinthians 13 presents a sharper setting.
The church demands proof that Christ speaks through Paul, but Paul answers with the power of the crucified and risen Christ and calls the Corinthians to test themselves. Philippians 2 supplies a positive portrait in Timothy. His worth is not a claim on a résumé but something the church knows because he has served the gospel like a child with a father and has genuinely cared for others.
Tested character is therefore neither celebrity reputation nor sinless performance. It is recognizable faithfulness formed under grace, displayed through endurance, and directed toward Christ's work.
Anchor passage
Rom.5.1-5
Doctrinal connections
- Romans 5:1-5 - grace turns suffering toward perseverance, character, and hope
- 2 Corinthians 8:1-8 - generosity can demonstrate the sincerity of love
- 2 Corinthians 13:1-5 - demands for proof lead to self-examination in the faith
- Philippians 2:19-24 - Timothy's worth is known through gospel service
- James 1:2-4 - tested faith produces steadfast maturity
The noun belongs to the δοκιμ- family of testing and approval. It often emphasizes the proven quality or evidence resulting from examination, not merely the trial itself. Context decides whether English should use character, proof, genuineness, or proven worth.
From Old to New Testament
Wisdom and narrative texts repeatedly reveal character through testing, while the prophets distinguish genuine covenant faithfulness from outward claims. The New Testament centers such proving within grace and allegiance to Christ. The connection is a canonical testing theme, not a claim that every Hebrew testing term maps directly to δοκιμή.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain