What does μωραίνω (mōraínō) mean in the Bible?
μωραίνω (mōraínō): Metaphorically shifts from literal saltiness-loss to spiritual/moral degradation or loss of effectiveness.
Greek · G3471
μωραίνω
To become insipid; figuratively, to make (passively, act) as a simpleton
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μωραίνωG3471
Pronunciationmōraínō
What does μωραίνω (mōraínō) mean in the Bible?
μωραίνω (mōraínō): Metaphorically shifts from literal saltiness-loss to spiritual/moral degradation or loss of effectiveness.
Full entry for μωραίνω (G3471) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G3471?
The BSB source-word alignment has 4 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include loses its savor (2), made foolish (1), they became fools (1).
Where does μωραίνω (mōraínō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 5:13. Its strongest book concentrations include 1 Corinthians (1), Luke (1), Matthew (1), Romans (1).
Are there verse guides for μωραίνω (mōraínō)?
This entry includes 1 verse guide that explain exact original-language forms in 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 Itloses its savor2×Matthew 5:13, Luke 14:34
made foolish1×1 Corinthians 1:20
they became fools1×Romans 1:22
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 5:13μωρανθῇtoloses its savorVerb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person SingularLuke 14:34μωρανθῇtoloses its savorVerb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person SingularRomans 1:22ἐμωράνθησανtothey became foolsVerb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural1 Corinthians 1:20ἐμώρανενtomade foolishVerb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowMatthew 5:13
Aligned rows4
Books represented4
Matthew1Luke1Romans11 Corinthians1
Source forms
μωρανθῇ2xmōranthēMatthew 5:13, Luke 14:34
ἐμώρανεν1xemōranen1 Corinthians 1:20
ἐμωράνθησαν1xemōranthēsanRomans 1:22
Parsing patterns
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular2xMatthew 5:13, Luke 14:34
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular1x1 Corinthians 1:20
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural1xRomans 1:22
Key Verse and Form Guides
Verse-level guides showing how this original-language form works in its specific context, including grammar, verse function, and guarded interpretation.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Metaphorically shifts from literal saltiness-loss to spiritual/moral degradation or loss of effectiveness.
Source Gloss
to become insipid; figuratively, to make (passively, act) as a simpleton
Extended definitionSource: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Metaphorically shifts from literal saltiness-loss to spiritual/moral degradation or loss of effectiveness.
(μωρός), [in LXX: Isa.19:11, Jer.10:14 51:17 (בָּעַר ni.), 2Ki.24:10, Isa.44:25 R (שָׂכַל ni., pi.)* ;]
1cl., to be foolish, play the fool.
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
4 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
mwranqh
I make foolish, taint, make useless
Read verseLuke 14:34Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Passive Subjunctive
μωρανθῇ,mwranqh
I make foolish, taint, make useless
Read verseRomans 1:22Verb Third Person Plural Aorist Passive Indicative
ἐμωράνθησαν,emwranqhsan
I make foolish, taint, make useless
Read verse1 Corinthians 1:20Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
ἐμώρανενemwranen
I make foolish, taint, make useless
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 mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms4TensesAoristVoicesPassive, Active
Tenses
Voices
Subjunctivepossibility, probability, or purpose2×
Indicativestates a fact or reality2×
Aorist PassiveRom 1:221×
Aorist Active1 Cor 1:201×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 4 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
aorist4
Voice
passive3active1
Mood
indicative2subjunctive2
NT Occurrences
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Witnesses
Luke 14:25–35μωρανθῇmōraínō
Become foolish, lose taste
Showing 1 selected witness from 4 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
μωραίνω is built from this root: