What does ἀδόκιμος (adókimos) mean in the Bible?
ἀδόκιμος describes someone or something that does not pass a test, is not approved, or is disqualified in the matter under review. The word does not identify one universal test in every passage.
Greek · G96
ἀδόκιμος
Failing
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ἀδόκιμος G96
Pronunciation adókimos
What does ἀδόκιμος (adókimos) mean in the Bible?
ἀδόκιμος describes someone or something that does not pass a test, is not approved, or is disqualified in the matter under review. The word does not identify one universal test in every passage.
Reader summary
Full entry for ἀδόκιμος (G96) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G96?
The BSB source-word alignment has 8 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include [and] disqualified (1), [is] worthless (1), a depraved (1), disqualified (1), fail the test (1).
Where does ἀδόκιμος (adókimos) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Romans 1:28. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Corinthians (3), 1 Corinthians (1), 2 Timothy (1), Hebrews (1).
What This Word Actually Means
ἀδόκιμος describes someone or something that does not pass a test, is not approved, or is disqualified in the matter under review. The word does not identify one universal test in every passage. Romans 1:28 uses it for a mind corresponding to humanity's refusal to acknowledge God. First Corinthians 9:27 uses it in Paul's athletic warning about preaching to others and then being disqualified. Second Corinthians 13:5-7 uses it while calling the congregation to examine whether it is in the faith and while distinguishing the apostles' appearance from doing what is right.
The warning is serious, especially for public servants who may mistake ministry activity for spiritual faithfulness. Yet Paul's aim is not endless inward panic. In 2 Corinthians 13 he wants the church to do what is right, to be restored, and to live in the peace and presence of God. The word should therefore expose presumption and summon examination, repentance, disciplined obedience, and persevering faith. It must not be used to convince every tender believer that struggle itself proves rejection.
Lexical sourceCanonical parallelBook contextPastoral application
How the Bible Uses It
G96 names failure under testing, disapproval, or disqualification. Paul's use is morally serious and especially weighty for ministry self-examination.
- Rom.1.28
Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
Paul uses the word in relation to a depraved mind after humanity refuses to acknowledge God. The word carries moral and judicial weight in the argument.
- 1Cor.9.27
No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Paul disciplines his body lest he be disqualified after preaching to others. The word warns ministers without denying grace.
- 2Cor.13.5
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you fail the test?
Paul tells the Corinthians to examine themselves unless they fail the test. The word calls for sober self-examination, not morbid despair.
Book contextPassage context
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 [and] disqualified 1× 2 Timothy 3:8
[is] worthless 1× Hebrews 6:8
a depraved 1× Romans 1:28
disqualified 1× 1 Corinthians 9:27
fail the test 1× 2 Corinthians 13:5
failed the test 1× 2 Corinthians 13:6
have failed 1× 2 Corinthians 13:7
unfit 1× Titus 1:16
Show sample aligned rows
Romans 1:28 ἀδόκιμον to a depraved Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular 1 Corinthians 9:27 ἀδόκιμος to disqualified Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular 2 Corinthians 13:5 ἀδόκιμοί to fail the test Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural 2 Corinthians 13:6 ἀδόκιμοι to failed the test Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural 2 Corinthians 13:7 ἀδόκιμοι to have failed Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural 2 Timothy 3:8 ἀδόκιμοι to [and] disqualified Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural Titus 1:16 ἀδόκιμοι to unfit Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural Hebrews 6:8 ἀδόκιμος to [is] worthless Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Romans 1:28
Aligned rows 8
Books represented 6
Romans 1 1 Corinthians 1 2 Corinthians 3 2 Timothy 1 Titus 1 Hebrews 1
Source forms
ἀδόκιμοι 4x adokimoi 2 Corinthians 13:6, 2 Corinthians 13:7, 2 Timothy 3:8, Titus 1:16
ἀδόκιμος 2x adokimos 1 Corinthians 9:27, Hebrews 6:8
ἀδόκιμοί 1x adokimoi 2 Corinthians 13:5
ἀδόκιμον 1x adokimon Romans 1:28
Parsing patterns
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural 5x 2 Corinthians 13:5, 2 Corinthians 13:6, 2 Corinthians 13:7, 2 Timothy 3:8
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular 1x Romans 1:28
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular 1x Hebrews 6:8
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular 1x 1 Corinthians 9:27
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Aim self-examination toward repentance and faithfulness, not spiraling despair.
- Apply the warning first to leaders and teachers who may confuse public usefulness with spiritual health.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not use G96 to make every struggling believer think they are rejected by God. Paul's testing language must be applied with pastoral care.
- Do not soften G96 into a minor disappointment. Paul uses it for real moral and ministry danger.
Pastoral applicationPassage context
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Rejected after failing a test of genuineness or worthiness; morally or spiritually disqualified.
Strong's G96
Lexical occurrences 8 verses Greek text appearances 8 times Word forms 4 forms 8 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Source Gloss
failing
Extended definition Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Rejected after failing a test of genuineness or worthiness; morally or spiritually disqualified.
1of things (prop. of metals: LXX, ll. with), not standing the test, rejected: γῆ, Heb.6:8.
2Of persons, rejected after testing, reprobate: Rom.1:28, 1Co.9:27, 2Co.13:5-7, 2Ti.3:8, Tit.1:16 (Cremer, 212).
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
8 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Romans 1:28 Adjective Accusative Singular Masculine
ἀδόκιμον adokimon
failing to pass the test
Read verse 1 Corinthians 9:27 Adjective Nominative Singular Masculine
ἀδόκιμος adokimov
failing to pass the test
Read verse 2 Corinthians 13:5 Adjective Nominative Plural Masculine
ἀδόκιμοί adokimoi
failing to pass the test
Read verse 2 Corinthians 13:6 Adjective Nominative Plural Masculine
ἀδόκιμοι. adokimoi
failing to pass the test
Read verse 2 Corinthians 13:7 Adjective Nominative Plural Masculine
ἀδόκιμοι adokimoi
failing to pass the test
Read verse 2 Timothy 3:8 Adjective Nominative Plural Masculine
ἀδόκιμοι adokimoi
failing to pass the test
Read verse Titus 1:16 Adjective Nominative Plural Masculine
ἀδόκιμοι. adokimoi
failing to pass the test
Read verse Hebrews 6:8 Adjective Nominative Singular Feminine
ἀδόκιμος adokimov
failing to pass the test
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 4 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 4 Aligned forms 8 Case pattern Nominative (7) Number pattern Plural (5)
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Nominative · Plural · Masculine 2 Cor 13:5 · 2 Cor 13:6 · 2 Cor 13:7 · 2 Tim 3:8 · Titus 1:16 5×
Nominative · Singular · Masculine 1 Cor 9:27 1×
Nominative · Singular · Feminine Heb 6:8 1×
Accusative · Singular · Masculine Rom 1:28 1×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
rejected or failing to meet the standard in athletic competition, spiritual discipline
metal that fails assaying, unfit for use, representing reprobate people
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 8 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
ἀδόκιμος 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
ἀδόκιμος places approval and failure inside concrete tests. Romans 1 connects a disapproved mind with refusing to acknowledge God and with conduct that follows that refusal. First Corinthians 9 places the warning in an athletic argument about disciplined freedom, gospel service, and the danger that the preacher himself could fail the test. Second Corinthians 13 calls a contentious congregation to examine itself and recognize Christ's presence, but Paul's stated desire is that they do what is right and move toward restoration.
These settings make the word useful against presumption, especially when visible gifts or ministry success are treated as automatic proof of health. They also restrain manipulative preaching. Honest self-examination looks toward Christ, repentance, obedience, tested character, and restored community; it is not a demand for anxious believers to manufacture certainty by repeatedly inspecting their feelings.
Anchor passage
1Cor.9.27
Doctrinal connections
- Romans 1:18-32: a disapproved mind appears within humanity's refusal to honor and acknowledge God.
- 1 Corinthians 9:19-27: gospel freedom, athletic discipline, and ministerial warning belong to one argument.
- 2 Corinthians 13:5-10: self-examination serves recognition of Christ, right action, restoration, and constructive authority.
- 2 Timothy 3:1-9: corrupted minds and disapproved faith are exposed as resistance to the truth.
- Titus 1:15-16: profession of knowing God can be contradicted by works and unfitness for good work.
- Hebrews 6:7-12: productive and rejected ground supplies a related testing image while urging diligence and hope.
Failing the test or disqualified is the reviewed display gloss for G96. In this Pauline-focused companion, local STEP TAGNT evidence shows about 7 Pauline use(s), with common forms including A-NPM 5, A-ASM 1, A-NSM 1. Treat these form signals as support for reading the passage, not as a replacement for context.
From Old to New Testament
Israel's Scriptures repeatedly test professed allegiance by covenant faithfulness, truthful worship, justice, and enduring trust. Images of assayed metal, fruitful ground, and hearts examined by God prepare readers for New Testament approval language. Paul applies testing to minds, ministry, conduct, and congregational faith while directing the hearer toward Christ and restoration rather than self-salvation.
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