"to speak evil of, revile, abuse, insult, Mk. 9:39; Acts 19:9; to address with offensive language, to treat with disrespect, Matt, 15:4; Mk. 7:10*"
Definition and meaning
to speak evil of, revile, abuse, insult, Mk. 9:39; Acts 19:9; to address with offensive language, to treat with disrespect, Matt, 15:4; Mk. 7:10*
In the original Greek the word is written: κακολογέω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
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 kakologeo (G2551) across the King James Bible.
For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
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Common questions
Strong's G2551 (kakologeo) is a Greek word that means: to speak evil of, revile, abuse, insult, Mk. 9:39; Acts 19:9; to address with offensive language, to treat with disrespect, Matt, 15:4; Mk. 7:10* It appears 4 times in the King James Bible.
The word kakologeo (G2551) appears 4 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2551 is kakologeo, a Greek word defined as: to speak evil of, revile, abuse, insult, Mk. 9:39; Acts 19:9; to address with offensive language, to treat with disrespect, Matt, 15:4; Mk. 7:10*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
kakologeo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.