What does ἀδόκιμος (adókimos) mean in the Bible?
G96 describes what fails testing, is disapproved, or is disqualified. Paul uses it in morally serious settings.
Greek · G96
ἀδόκιμος
Failing
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ἀδόκιμος G96
Pronunciation adókimos
What does ἀδόκιμος (adókimos) mean in the Bible?
G96 describes what fails testing, is disapproved, or is disqualified. Paul uses it in morally serious settings.
Reader summary
Full entry for ἀδόκιμος (G96) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G96?
The BSB source-word alignment has 8 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include [and] disqualified (1), [is] worthless (1), a depraved (1), disqualified (1), fail the test (1).
Where does ἀδόκιμος (adókimos) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Romans 1:28. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Corinthians (3), 1 Corinthians (1), 2 Timothy (1), Hebrews (1).
What This Word Actually Means
G96 describes what fails testing, is disapproved, or is disqualified. Paul uses it in morally serious settings. Romans 1 speaks of a mind given over after refusing the knowledge of God. First Corinthians 9 uses the word as Paul warns himself while disciplining his body for faithful ministry. Second Corinthians 13 calls the church to examine itself rather than assume spiritual health without evidence.
The word should sober teachers, especially those who speak publicly, but it must not be used to crush tender consciences. Paul uses testing language to call for repentance, endurance, and examined faith. The warning is real, and the aim is faithfulness under Christ, not despair.
How the Bible Uses It
G96 names failure under testing, disapproval, or disqualification. Paul's use is morally serious and especially weighty for ministry self-examination.
- Rom.1.28
Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
Paul uses the word in relation to a depraved mind after humanity refuses to acknowledge God. The word carries moral and judicial weight in the argument.
- 1Cor.9.27
No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Paul disciplines his body lest he be disqualified after preaching to others. The word warns ministers without denying grace.
- 2Cor.13.5
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you fail the test?
Paul tells the Corinthians to examine themselves unless they fail the test. The word calls for sober self-examination, not morbid despair.
Book contextPassage 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 [and] disqualified 1× 2 Timothy 3:8
[is] worthless 1× Hebrews 6:8
a depraved 1× Romans 1:28
disqualified 1× 1 Corinthians 9:27
fail the test 1× 2 Corinthians 13:5
failed the test 1× 2 Corinthians 13:6
have failed 1× 2 Corinthians 13:7
unfit 1× Titus 1:16
Show sample aligned rows
Romans 1:28 ἀδόκιμον to a depraved Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular 1 Corinthians 9:27 ἀδόκιμος to disqualified Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular 2 Corinthians 13:5 ἀδόκιμοί to fail the test Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural 2 Corinthians 13:6 ἀδόκιμοι to failed the test Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural 2 Corinthians 13:7 ἀδόκιμοι to have failed Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural 2 Timothy 3:8 ἀδόκιμοι to [and] disqualified Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural Titus 1:16 ἀδόκιμοι to unfit Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural Hebrews 6:8 ἀδόκιμος to [is] worthless Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Romans 1:28
Aligned rows 8
Books represented 6
Romans 1 1 Corinthians 1 2 Corinthians 3 2 Timothy 1 Titus 1 Hebrews 1
Source forms
ἀδόκιμοι 4x adokimoi 2 Corinthians 13:6, 2 Corinthians 13:7, 2 Timothy 3:8, Titus 1:16
ἀδόκιμος 2x adokimos 1 Corinthians 9:27, Hebrews 6:8
ἀδόκιμοί 1x adokimoi 2 Corinthians 13:5
ἀδόκιμον 1x adokimon Romans 1:28
Parsing patterns
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural 5x 2 Corinthians 13:5, 2 Corinthians 13:6, 2 Corinthians 13:7, 2 Timothy 3:8
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular 1x Romans 1:28
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular 1x Hebrews 6:8
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular 1x 1 Corinthians 9:27
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Aim self-examination toward repentance and faithfulness, not spiraling despair.
- Apply the warning first to leaders and teachers who may confuse public usefulness with spiritual health.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not use G96 to make every struggling believer think they are rejected by God. Paul's testing language must be applied with pastoral care.
- Do not soften G96 into a minor disappointment. Paul uses it for real moral and ministry danger.
Pastoral applicationPassage context
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Rejected after failing a test of genuineness or worthiness; morally or spiritually disqualified.
Strong's G96
Lexical occurrences 8 verses Greek text appearances 8 times Word forms 4 forms 8 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Source Gloss
failing
Extended definition Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Rejected after failing a test of genuineness or worthiness; morally or spiritually disqualified.
1of things (prop. of metals: LXX, ll. with), not standing the test, rejected: γῆ, Heb.6:8.
2Of persons, rejected after testing, reprobate: Rom.1:28, 1Co.9:27, 2Co.13:5-7, 2Ti.3:8, Tit.1:16 (Cremer, 212).
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
8 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Romans 1:28 Adjective Accusative Singular Masculine
ἀδόκιμον adokimon
failing to pass the test
Read verse 1 Corinthians 9:27 Adjective Nominative Singular Masculine
ἀδόκιμος adokimov
failing to pass the test
Read verse 2 Corinthians 13:5 Adjective Nominative Plural Masculine
ἀδόκιμοί adokimoi
failing to pass the test
Read verse 2 Corinthians 13:6 Adjective Nominative Plural Masculine
ἀδόκιμοι. adokimoi
failing to pass the test
Read verse 2 Corinthians 13:7 Adjective Nominative Plural Masculine
ἀδόκιμοι adokimoi
failing to pass the test
Read verse 2 Timothy 3:8 Adjective Nominative Plural Masculine
ἀδόκιμοι adokimoi
failing to pass the test
Read verse Titus 1:16 Adjective Nominative Plural Masculine
ἀδόκιμοι. adokimoi
failing to pass the test
Read verse Hebrews 6:8 Adjective Nominative Singular Feminine
ἀδόκιμος adokimov
failing to pass the test
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 8 Case pattern Nominative (7) Number pattern Plural (5)
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Nominative · Plural · Masculine 2 Cor 13:5 · 2 Cor 13:6 · 2 Cor 13:7 · 2 Tim 3:8 · Titus 1:16 5×
Nominative · Singular · Masculine 1 Cor 9:27 1×
Nominative · Singular · Feminine Heb 6:8 1×
Accusative · Singular · Masculine Rom 1:28 1×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
rejected or failing to meet the standard in athletic competition, spiritual discipline
metal that fails assaying, unfit for use, representing reprobate people
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 8 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
ἀδόκιμος is built from these roots:
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
G96 gives teachers a category for tested faithfulness. Paul does not treat Christian profession as a performance game, but neither does he treat ministry activity as automatic proof of health. A person can preach and still need discipline. A church can be gifted and still need examination. A mind can become disapproved when it refuses the knowledge of God. This word should therefore be handled with sober tenderness.
It warns public servants, exposes presumption, and calls believers to examine themselves before the Lord. But it should not be turned into a weapon against tender consciences. Paul's purpose is not panic. It is tested faith, repentance, and perseverance in Christ.
Anchor passage
1Cor.9.27
Doctrinal connections
- Rom.1.28 - Paul uses the word in relation to a depraved mind after humanity refuses to acknowledge God. The word carries moral and judicial weight in the argument.
- 1Cor.9.27 - Paul disciplines his body lest he be disqualified after preaching to others. The word warns ministers without denying grace.
- 2Cor.13.5 - Paul tells the Corinthians to examine themselves unless they fail the test. The word calls for sober self-examination, not morbid despair.
Failing the test or disqualified is the reviewed display gloss for G96. In this Pauline-focused companion, local STEP TAGNT evidence shows about 7 Pauline use(s), with common forms including A-NPM 5, A-ASM 1, A-NSM 1. Treat these form signals as support for reading the passage, not as a replacement for context.
From Old to New Testament
The Pauline trajectory moves from judgment on a refused knowledge of God to ministerial discipline and church self-examination. The word is warning language in service of faithfulness.
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