What does ἔπαινος (épainos) mean in the Bible?
G1868 names praise, commendation, or approval. Its eleven uses do not all point in one direction.
Greek · G1868
ἔπαινος
Laudation; concretely, a commendable thing
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ἔπαινος G1868
Pronunciation épainos
What does ἔπαινος (épainos) mean in the Bible?
G1868 names praise, commendation, or approval. Its eleven uses do not all point in one direction.
Reader summary
Full entry for ἔπαινος (G1868) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G1868?
The BSB source-word alignment has 11 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include praise (4), [the] praise (3), approval (1), is praised (1), praiseworthy (1).
Where does ἔπαινος (épainos) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Romans 2:29. Its strongest book concentrations include Ephesians (3), 1 Peter (2), Philippians (2), Romans (2).
What This Word Actually Means
G1868 names praise, commendation, or approval. Its eleven uses do not all point in one direction. Romans contrasts approval from people with approval from God, but it also speaks of civil authorities commending good conduct. First Corinthians reserves final disclosure and fitting praise for the Lord, while 2 Corinthians notes the churches' commendation of a trusted brother.
Ephesians and Philippians direct praise toward God's grace, glory, and the fruit of righteousness, and Philippians 4 includes whatever is worthy of praise among things believers should consider. First Peter connects praise with tested faith at Christ's revelation and with authorities commending good conduct. The source and object of praise must therefore be identified in each passage.
How the Bible Uses It
The distribution includes human, civil, ecclesial, divine, moral, and doxological commendation. Romans 2 and 1 Corinthians 4 warn against letting present human evaluation replace God's judgment. Romans 13, 2 Corinthians 8, and 1 Peter 2 show that creaturely commendation can still have a legitimate setting. Ephesians repeatedly directs praise to God's glory and grace.
Philippians joins praise to righteous fruit and morally excellent reflection, while 1 Peter 1 places praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
- Rom.2.29
Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God
Paul contrasts approval from human observers with approval from God in an argument about inward reality and the Spirit.
- Rom.13.3
Do what is right, and you will receive their approval
The noun can describe commendation by governing authority for good conduct. This prevents a blanket rejection of all human praise.
- 1Cor.4.5
At that time each will receive his praise from God
The Lord's coming disclosure governs final evaluation; present observers do not know hidden motives.
- 2Cor.8.18
The brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in the gospel
Churches may responsibly commend a brother's recognized gospel service within accountable ministry practice.
- Eph.1.6
To the praise of His glorious grace
The object is God's glorious grace, beginning the chapter's repeated doxological refrain.
- Phil.4.8
If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think on these things
Praise-worthiness belongs to the moral field Paul calls believers to consider, not merely to public applause.
- 1Pet.1.7
May result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ
Tested faith is oriented toward eschatological praise, glory, and honor when Christ is revealed.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It praise 4× Romans 2:29, 1 Corinthians 4:5, Philippians 1:11, 1 Peter 1:7
[the] praise 3× Ephesians 1:6, Ephesians 1:12, Ephesians 1:14
approval 1× Romans 13:3
is praised 1× 2 Corinthians 8:18
praiseworthy 1× Philippians 4:8
to praise 1× 1 Peter 2:14
Show sample aligned rows
Romans 2:29 ἔπαινος to praise Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Romans 13:3 ἔπαινον to approval Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular 1 Corinthians 4:5 ἔπαινος to praise Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular 2 Corinthians 8:18 ἔπαινος to is praised Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Ephesians 1:6 ἔπαινον to [the] praise Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Ephesians 1:12 ἔπαινον to [the] praise Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Ephesians 1:14 ἔπαινον to [the] praise Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Philippians 1:11 ἔπαινον to praise Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Philippians 4:8 ἔπαινος to praiseworthy Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular 1 Peter 1:7 ἔπαινον to praise Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Romans 2:29
Aligned rows 11
Books represented 6
Romans 2 1 Corinthians 1 2 Corinthians 1 Ephesians 3 Philippians 2 1 Peter 2
Source forms
ἔπαινον 7x epainon Romans 13:3, Ephesians 1:6, Ephesians 1:12, Ephesians 1:14
ἔπαινος 4x epainos Romans 2:29, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Corinthians 8:18, Philippians 4:8
Parsing patterns
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular 7x Romans 13:3, Ephesians 1:6, Ephesians 1:12, Ephesians 1:14
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular 4x Romans 2:29, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Corinthians 8:18, Philippians 4:8
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Receive responsible encouragement without making public approval the measure of faithfulness.
- Commend service in truthful and accountable ways that direct attention toward grace rather than celebrity.
- Leave final disclosure of motives and final fitting praise to the Lord.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that every human commendation is sinful or spiritually worthless.
- Do not claim that visible success proves the Lord's final approval.
- Do not collapse praise directed to God's grace into praise bestowed on a human person.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Praise that recognizes and commends virtue or excellence in another person or God
Strong's G1868
Lexical occurrences 11 verses Greek text appearances 11 times Word forms 2 forms 11 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Ephesians 1:11-14 Source Gloss
laudation; concretely, a commendable thing
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
11 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Romans 2:29 Noun Nominative Singular Masculine
ἔπαινος epainov
commendation, praise
Read verse Romans 13:3 Noun Accusative Singular Masculine
ἔπαινον epainon
commendation, praise
Read verse 1 Corinthians 4:5 Noun Nominative Singular Masculine
ἔπαινος epainov
commendation, praise
Read verse 2 Corinthians 8:18 Noun Nominative Singular Masculine
ἔπαινος epainov
commendation, praise
Read verse Ephesians 1:6 Noun Accusative Singular Masculine
ἔπαινον epainon
commendation, praise
Read verse Ephesians 1:12 Noun Accusative Singular Masculine
ἔπαινον epainon
commendation, praise
Read verse Ephesians 1:14 Noun Accusative Singular Masculine
ἔπαινον epainon
commendation, praise
Read verse Philippians 1:11 Noun Accusative Singular Masculine
ἔπαινον epainon
commendation, praise
Read verse Philippians 4:8 Noun Nominative Singular Masculine
ἔπαινος, epainov
commendation, praise
Read verse 1 Peter 1:7 Noun Accusative Singular Masculine
ἔπαινον epainon
commendation, praise
Read verse 1 Peter 2:14 Noun Accusative Singular Masculine
ἔπαινον epainon
commendation, praise
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 2 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Form patterns 2 Aligned forms 11 Case pattern Accusative (7) Number pattern Singular (11)
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Nominative · Singular · Masculine Rom 2:29 · 1 Cor 4:5 · 2 Cor 8:18 · Phil 4:8 4×
Accusative · Singular · Masculine Rom 13:3 · Eph 1:6 · Eph 1:12 · Eph 1:14 · Phil 1:11 · 1 Pet 1:7 · 1 Pet 2:14 7×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Divine praise or glory given to God for redemption and salvation
Commendation or approval that tests and reveals human character
Loss of renown or honor, the cessation of laudation among nations
Showing 3 selected witnesses from 11 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
ἔπαινος is built from these roots:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
The noun asks two questions: who gives the praise, and what receives it? Romans 2 and 1 Corinthians 4 warn that public approval cannot reveal the heart or replace the Lord's judgment. Yet Romans 13, 2 Corinthians 8, and 1 Peter 2 show that human institutions and churches may commend conduct or service in fitting ways. Ephesians turns the word toward the glory of God's grace, and Philippians connects praise both with righteous fruit and with reflection on what is morally worthy.
First Peter 1 looks toward the revelation of Christ. A sermon should therefore resist both approval addiction and cynical refusal of all encouragement. Commendation is limited, accountable, and subordinate to God, but it can still recognize good. Final praise belongs within God's truthful judgment, while doxological praise directs attention away from human status and toward grace.
Anchor passage
Rom.2.29
Doctrinal connections
- Rom.13.3 - civil commendation for good conduct is a legitimate but limited human use.
- 1Cor.4.5 - the Lord alone discloses hidden motives and gives final fitting praise.
- 2Cor.8.18 - the churches commend recognized gospel service within accountable mission.
- Eph.1.6 - praise is directed to the glory of God's freely given grace.
- Phil.4.8 - believers are told to consider what is morally worthy of praise.
- 1Pet.1.7 - tested faith is oriented toward praise, glory, and honor at Christ's revelation.
G1868 is a noun occurring in nominative and accusative forms. The same lexical item can name praise given by God, people, churches, or authorities, or praise directed toward grace and glory. Case form does not settle the source or object; syntax and context do.
From Old to New Testament
The broader biblical canon repeatedly contrasts praise that serves human image with praise that belongs to God, while also commending wisdom, courage, and faithfulness in appropriate settings. The direct G1868 evidence remains the eleven New Testament uses. Canonical parallels should clarify the moral direction of praise without erasing those distinct speakers and objects.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain