"free from evil, innocent, blameless; simple, Rom. 16:18; Heb. 7:26*"
Definition and meaning
free from evil, innocent, blameless; simple, Rom. 16:18; Heb. 7:26*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἄκακος
Historical context
Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, one of the most important commercial cities in the empire. Rome had a Jewish population of around 50,000. The letter addresses real tensions between Jewish believers with centuries of Torah tradition and Gentile believers with no such background. Emperor Nero was on the throne. Within ten years he would execute both Paul and Peter.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of akakos (G172) across the King James Bible.
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
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Common questions
Strong's G172 (akakos) is a Greek word that means: free from evil, innocent, blameless; simple, Rom. 16:18; Heb. 7:26* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word akakos (G172) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G172 is akakos, a Greek word defined as: free from evil, innocent, blameless; simple, Rom. 16:18; Heb. 7:26*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
akakos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.