What does αἰτία (aitía) mean in the Bible?
Aitia names a cause, reason, basis, charge, or ground for action. In passion and trial contexts, the word often concerns the stated charge or legal basis brought against someone.
Greek · G156
αἰτία
Aitia names a cause, reason, basis, charge, or ground for action. In passion and trial contexts, the word often concerns the stated charge or legal basis brought against someone.
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αἰτίαG156
Pronunciationaitía
What does αἰτία (aitía) mean in the Bible?
Reader summary
Full entry for αἰτία (G156) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G156?
The BSB source-word alignment has 20 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include reason (4), basis for a charge (3), . . . (2), charge (2), charges (2).
Where does αἰτία (aitía) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 19:3. Its strongest book concentrations include Acts (8), John (3), Matthew (3), 2 Timothy (2).
What This Word Actually Means
Aitia names a cause, reason, basis, charge, or ground for action. In passion and trial contexts, the word often concerns the stated charge or legal basis brought against someone. The irony is sharp: the written charge over Jesus names Him King of the Jews, while Pilate repeatedly finds no basis for a charge against Him. Acts continues the concern with grounds and reasons, saying the leaders found no ground for a death sentence against Jesus and showing Paul explaining the reason for his chains.
The word is not a full theology of justice by itself, but it helps readers attend to accusation, evidence, public explanation, and the difference between a true reason and a manipulated charge. In the Gospel passion, the innocent Christ is condemned under a charge that unwittingly declares His kingship.
How the Bible Uses It
Aitia appears in legal, explanatory, and causal settings. The passion narratives use it for the charge against Jesus and Pilate's declaration that he finds no basis for a charge. Acts uses the word for grounds of accusation, reasons for action, and Paul's explanation of his imprisonment for the hope of Israel.
- Matt.27.37
Above His head they posted the written charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
The written charge above Jesus names Him King of the Jews. The legal label becomes an ironic public testimony to the truth of His identity.
- Mark.15.26
And the charge inscribed against Him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Mark records the inscription of the charge against Jesus. Aitia here belongs to Roman execution procedure and Gospel irony.
- John.18.38
“What is truth?” Pilate asked. And having said this, he went out again to the Jews and told them, “I find no basis for a charge against Him.
Pilate says he finds no basis for a charge against Jesus. John places the word beside the truth question and the innocence of Christ.
- John.19.4
Once again Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing Him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against Him.”
Pilate repeats that he finds no basis for a charge. The repetition heightens the injustice of the condemnation that follows.
- Acts.13.28
And though they found no ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have Him executed.
Paul says they found no ground for a death sentence yet asked Pilate to execute Jesus. Aitia exposes the gap between guilt and condemnation.
- Acts.28.20
So for this reason I have called to see you and speak with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”
Paul explains that the hope of Israel is the reason he is bound. The word can name a stated cause, not only a criminal charge.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itreason4×Matthew 19:3, Acts 28:20, 2 Timothy 1:6, 2 Timothy 1:12
basis for a charge3×John 18:38, John 19:4, John 19:6
. . .2×Acts 10:21, Hebrews 2:11
charge2×Matthew 27:37, Mark 15:26
charges2×Acts 23:28, Acts 25:27
basis1×Acts 28:18
case1×Matthew 19:10
ground1×Acts 13:28
the reason1×Acts 22:24
Therefore1×Titus 1:13
they did not charge [him]1×Acts 25:18
why1×Luke 8:47
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 19:3αἰτίανtoreasonNoun - Accusative Feminine SingularMatthew 19:10αἰτίαtocaseNoun - Nominative Feminine SingularMatthew 27:37αἰτίανtochargeNoun - Accusative Feminine SingularMark 15:26αἰτίαςtochargeNoun - Genitive Feminine SingularLuke 8:47αἰτίανtowhyNoun - Accusative Feminine SingularJohn 18:38αἰτίανtobasis for a chargeNoun - Accusative Feminine SingularJohn 19:4αἰτίανtobasis for a chargeNoun - Accusative Feminine SingularJohn 19:6αἰτίανtobasis for a chargeNoun - Accusative Feminine SingularActs 10:21αἰτίαto. . .Noun - Nominative Feminine SingularActs 13:28αἰτίανtogroundNoun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowMatthew 19:3
Aligned rows20
Books represented8
Matthew3Mark1Luke1John3Acts82 Timothy2Titus1Hebrews1
Source forms
αἰτίαν16xaitianMatthew 19:3, Matthew 27:37, Luke 8:47, John 18:38
αἰτία2xaitiaMatthew 19:10, Acts 10:21
αἰτίας2xaitiasMark 15:26, Acts 25:27
Parsing patterns
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular16xMatthew 19:3, Matthew 27:37, Luke 8:47, John 18:38
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular2xMatthew 19:10, Acts 10:21
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural1xActs 25:27
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular1xMark 15:26
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Use the word to teach careful attention to accusation, evidence, and stated reasons.
- Let the innocence of Christ and the irony of His charge govern passion applications.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that aitia always means accusation; in Acts 28 it names Paul's reason or cause.
- Do not claim that the inscription over Jesus proves Pilate understood Christ's kingship in faith.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Accusation or crime charged against someone, whether proven guilty or merely alleged in court.
Strong'sG156
Lexical occurrences20 versesGreek text appearances20 times16 shown belowWord forms4 forms20 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Source Gloss
cause/charge
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 20 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 19:3Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
αἰτίαν;aitian
a cause, reason, charge
Read verseMatthew 19:10Noun Nominative Singular Feminine
αἰτίαaitia
a cause, reason, charge
Read verseMatthew 27:37Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
αἰτίανaitian
a cause, reason, charge
Read verseMark 15:26Noun Genitive Singular Feminine
αἰτίαςaitiav
a cause, reason, charge
Read verseLuke 8:47Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
αἰτίανaitian
a cause, reason, charge
Read verseJohn 18:38Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
αἰτίανaitian
a cause, reason, charge
Read verseJohn 19:4Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
αἰτίανaitian
a cause, reason, charge
Read verseJohn 19:6Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
αἰτίαν.aitian
a cause, reason, charge
Read verseActs 10:21Noun Nominative Singular Feminine
αἰτίαaitia
a cause, reason, charge
Read verseActs 13:28Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
αἰτίανaitian
a cause, reason, charge
Read verseActs 22:24Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
αἰτίανaitian
a cause, reason, charge
Read verseActs 23:28Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
αἰτίανaitian
a cause, reason, charge
Read verseActs 25:18Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
αἰτίανaitian
a cause, reason, charge
Read verseActs 25:27Noun Accusative Plural Feminine
αἰτίαςaitiav
a cause, reason, charge
Read verseActs 28:18Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
αἰτίανaitian
a cause, reason, charge
Read verseActs 28:20Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
αἰτίανaitian
a cause, reason, charge
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 patterns4Aligned forms20Case patternAccusative (17)Number patternSingular (19)
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Nominative · Singular · FeminineMatt 19:10 · Acts 10:212×
Genitive · Singular · FeminineMark 15:261×
Accusative · Singular · FeminineMatt 19:3 · Matt 27:37 · Luke 8:47 · John 18:38 · John 19:4 · John 19:6 · Acts 13:28 · Acts 22:24 · Acts 23:28 · Acts 25:18 · Acts 28:18 · Acts 28:20 · 2 Tim 1:6 · 2 Tim 1:12 · Titus 1:13 · Heb 2:1116×
Accusative · Plural · FeminineActs 25:271×
Word Origins
αἰτία is built from this root:
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
Aitia invites readers to ask whether the stated reason is true. In the passion narratives, the charge against Jesus is both unjust and ironically true. He is condemned without a valid basis, yet the public inscription announces His kingship. In Acts, the same vocabulary helps the apostolic witness explain why Jesus was executed unjustly and why Paul is bound for the hope of Israel.
For teaching, the word should sharpen attention to public claims, evidence, motives, and testimony. It also points to the innocence of Christ: no valid charge stands against Him, yet He bears condemnation for sinners according to God's saving purpose.
Anchor passage
John.19.4
Doctrinal connections
- G2724 Kategoria: accusation language belongs near aitia but is not identical to cause or reason language.
- G935 Basileus: the charge over Jesus names His kingship in bitter Gospel irony.
- John 18:38 and 19:4: Pilate's no-basis statements intensify the innocence theme.
- Acts 13:28-30: unjust execution is answered by God raising Jesus from the dead.
- Acts 28:20: Paul's chains are explained by the hope of Israel, not ordinary criminal guilt.
- Isaiah 53:9: the innocent suffering servant background helps frame the passion without replacing the Gospel text.
Aitia can mean cause, reason, basis, or charge. English translation varies because the word can function in legal and explanatory contexts. In each passage, ask whether the emphasis is an accusation, a stated reason, or the ground for an action.
From Old to New Testament
The Old Testament repeatedly warns against false accusation and unjust judgment, while also promising a righteous servant who suffers innocently. The New Testament passion narratives show the innocent King condemned under a public charge, and Acts proclaims that God overturned that unjust sentence by raising Him from the dead.