"ill, badly; physically ill, sick, Mt. 4:24; 8:16; grievously, vehemently, Mt. 15:22; wretchedly, miserably, Mt. 21:41; wickedly, reproachfully, Acts 23:5; wrongly, criminally, Jn. 18:23; amiss, Jas. 4:3"
Definition and meaning
ill, badly; physically ill, sick, Mt. 4:24; 8:16; grievously, vehemently, Mt. 15:22; wretchedly, miserably, Mt. 21:41; wickedly, reproachfully, Acts 23:5; wrongly, criminally, Jn. 18:23; amiss, Jas. 4:3
In the original Greek the word is written: κακῶς
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 (G2560) across the King James Bible.
And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;
And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
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.
And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.
And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
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Common questions
Strong's G2560 (kakos) is a Greek word that means: ill, badly; physically ill, sick, Mt. 4:24; 8:16; grievously, vehemently, Mt. 15:22; wretchedly, miserably, Mt. 21:41; wickedly, reproachfully, Acts 23:5; wrongly, criminally, Jn. 18:23; amiss, Jas. 4... It appears 16 times in the King James Bible.
The word kakos (G2560) appears 16 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2560 is kakos, a Greek word defined as: ill, badly; physically ill, sick, Mt. 4:24; 8:16; grievously, vehemently, Mt. 15:22; wretchedly, miserably, Mt. 21:41; wickedly, reproachfully, Acts 2. 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.