αἰσχρο-κερδής G0146
greedily seeking dishonest gain, sordidly pursuing profit
This compound adjective describes those who are greedily seeking dishonest gain—pursuing profit through shameful or sordid means. It appears in Paul's qualifications for church leaders: deacons must not be 'greedy for dishonest gain' (1 Timothy 3:8), and elders must not be such either (Titus 1:7). The word combines 'shameful' and 'gain,' emphasizing not merely desire for money but willingness to pursue it through improper means. It's the character of one who will compromise integrity for profit, who values money above honor or righteousness.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Cross-linguistic glosses emphasize shameful gain-seeking—Spanish 'codicioso de ganancia deshonesta' (greedy for dishonest gain) and 'de ganancias deshonestas,' French preserving Greek forms, German 'gewinnsuechtig' (profit-addicted). Both pastoral epistles use this in leadership qualifications, disqualifying those marked by sordid greed. The multilingual evidence supports this as pursuit of gain through shameful means, greedy desire that compromises integrity. It's not merely loving money but being willing to obtain it dishonestly—a character flaw that disqualifies from spiritual leadership. 2×
AR["طامِعاً-بِ-رِبْحٍ-قَبيحٍ", "طامِعينَ-بِ-رِبْحٍ-قَبيحٍ"]·ben["কুলাভী,", "লোভী"]·DE["gewinnsuechtig"]·EN["greedy-for-gain"]·FR["αἰσχροκερδεῖς", "αἰσχροκερδῆ"]·heb["בֹּצֵעַ-בֶּצַע", "חוֹמְדֵי-בֶּצַע"]·HI["नेएच-लअभ-के", "लअभ-लोभि;"]·ID["serakah", "serakah;"]·IT["aischrokerdeis", "aischrokerdē"]·jav["cethil;", "murka-pangentukan;"]·KO["더러운-이익을-추구하는,", "부끄러운-이득-을-좋아하는-자"]·PT["ganancioso;", "gananciosos"]·RU["корыстолюбивым", "корыстолюбцем"]·ES["codicioso-de-ganancia-deshonesta", "de-ganancias-deshonestas"]·SW["mpenda-fedha-chafu", "wenye-tamaa-ya-fedha-chafu"]·TR["haksız-kazanç-düşkünü;", "haksız-kazanç-seven"]·urd["ناجائز-نفع-کا-لالچی", "ناجائز-نفع-کے-لالچی۔"]
Related Senses
G2309 1. want, desire (166×)G0025 1. to love actively (133×)H0157 1. love (verb, active Qal) (129×)H8055 1. Qal: rejoice, be glad (123×)H7453 1. neighbor, fellow man (120×)G0026 1. of love (115×)H1058 1. Qal: to weep, cry (112×)H0954 1. to be ashamed, feel shame (Qal) (95×)H8057 1. joy, gladness, delight (90×)H2781 1. disgrace, shame, dishonor (68×)G2307 1. will, desire, purpose (63×)G5463 1. rejoice, be glad (63×)G0027 1. beloved (61×)H8130 1. Qal: to hate, detest (60×)G5479 1. (59×)G1680 1. (53×)H8130 2. Qal ptcp: hater, enemy (53×)H0014 1. be willing, want (51×)H0157 2. lover, friend (Qal participle substantive) (51×)H1945 1. woe (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
αἰσχρο-κερδής, ές, sordidly greedy of gain, Refs 5th c.BC+ adverb -δῶςNT