"bad, of a bad quality or disposition, worthless, corrupt, depraved, Mt. 21:41; 24:48; Mk. 7:21; wicked, criminal, morally bad; τὸ κακόν, evil, wickedness, crime, Mt. 27:23; Acts 23:9; deceitful, 1 Pet. 3:10; mischievous, harmful, destructive; τὸ κακόν, evil mischief, harm, injury..."
Definition and meaning
bad, of a bad quality or disposition, worthless, corrupt, depraved, Mt. 21:41; 24:48; Mk. 7:21; wicked, criminal, morally bad; τὸ κακόν, evil, wickedness, crime, Mt. 27:23; Acts 23:9; deceitful, 1 Pet. 3:10; mischievous, harmful, destructive; τὸ κακόν, evil mischief, harm, injury, Tit. 1:12; afflictive; τὸ κακόν, evil, misery, affliction, suffering, Lk. 16;25
In the original Greek the word is written: κακός
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 kakos (G2556) across the King James Bible.
They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.
Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?
Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
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Common questions
Strong's G2556 (kakos) is a Greek word that means: bad, of a bad quality or disposition, worthless, corrupt, depraved, Mt. 21:41; 24:48; Mk. 7:21; wicked, criminal, morally bad; τὸ κακόν, evil, wickedness, crime, Mt. 27:23; Acts 23:9; deceitful, 1 Pet... It appears 46 times in the King James Bible.
The word kakos (G2556) appears 46 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2556 is kakos, a Greek word defined as: bad, of a bad quality or disposition, worthless, corrupt, depraved, Mt. 21:41; 24:48; Mk. 7:21; wicked, criminal, morally bad; τὸ κακόν, evil, wickedn. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
kakos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.