"to inform against; to accuse falsely; by impl. to wrong by false accusations; to extort money by false informations, Lk. 3:14; 19:8*"
Definition and meaning
to inform against; to accuse falsely; by impl. to wrong by false accusations; to extort money by false informations, Lk. 3:14; 19:8*
In the original Greek the word is written: συκοφαντέω
Historical context
Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.
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 sykophanteo (G4811) across the King James Bible.
And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
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Common questions
Strong's G4811 (sykophanteo) is a Greek word that means: to inform against; to accuse falsely; by impl. to wrong by false accusations; to extort money by false informations, Lk. 3:14; 19:8* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word sykophanteo (G4811) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4811 is sykophanteo, a Greek word defined as: to inform against; to accuse falsely; by impl. to wrong by false accusations; to extort money by false informations, Lk. 3:14; 19:8*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
sykophanteo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.