"pr. badness, bad condition; in NT evil disposition of mind, wickedness, mischief, malignity, Mt. 22:18; pl. πονηρίαι, wicked deeds, villanies, Mk. 7:23; Acts 3:26"
Definition and meaning
pr. badness, bad condition; in NT evil disposition of mind, wickedness, mischief, malignity, Mt. 22:18; pl. πονηρίαι, wicked deeds, villanies, Mk. 7:23; Acts 3:26
In the original Greek the word is written: πονηρία
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 poneria (G4189) across the King James Bible.
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.
Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
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Common questions
Strong's G4189 (poneria) is a Greek word that means: pr. badness, bad condition; in NT evil disposition of mind, wickedness, mischief, malignity, Mt. 22:18; pl. πονηρίαι, wicked deeds, villanies, Mk. 7:23; Acts 3:26 It appears 7 times in the King James Bible.
The word poneria (G4189) appears 7 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4189 is poneria, a Greek word defined as: pr. badness, bad condition; in NT evil disposition of mind, wickedness, mischief, malignity, Mt. 22:18; pl. πονηρίαι, wicked deeds, villanies, Mk. 7:2. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
poneria is a Greek word found in the New Testament.