ψεύδομαι
To utter an untruth or attempt to deceive by falsehood
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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What does ψεύδομαι (pseúdomai) mean in the Bible?
ψεύδομαι (pseúdomai) is a Greek word meaning "to utter an untruth or attempt to deceive by falsehood". ψεύδω to deceive by lies; more frequently in the depon. The central sin is deliberate deception within the covenant community. This term runs through the canonical themes of Covenant, Revelation.
Full entry for ψεύδομαι (G5574) · Browse the biblical lexicon
Meaning
To lie or deceive; in NT always middle voice, emphasizing the liar's own deception rather than external deception
Why This Word Matters
The central sin is deliberate deception within the covenant community. Acts 5:1-11
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
Indicative states a fact or reality 7×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 2×
Imperative command or strong request 2×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 12 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Canonical Themes
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
New Testament Witnesses
Word Pictures (Robertson)
A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain