ἅρπαξ G0727
Rapacious, greedy, predatory; as a noun, a robber, swindler, or extortioner.
This adjective-turned-noun describes someone who seizes by force or takes what belongs to others -- a predatory, grasping person. Jesus uses it memorably of wolves in sheep's clothing who are 'ravenous' (Matt 7:15), and the Pharisee in the temple thanks God that he is not like 'robbers' (Luke 18:11). Paul lists the harpax alongside the greedy, idolaters, and drunkards in his catalogs of those excluded from God's kingdom (1 Cor 5:10-11; 6:10). Spanish captures the range well with 'rapaz' (predatory) and 'ladrones' (thieves), while French 'ravisseur' emphasizes the violent seizure at the word's core. The underlying verb harpazo ('to snatch') reveals the etymological force: these are people who grab what is not theirs.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Rapacious, predatory, or swindling; describing someone who seizes others' property by violence or fraud. In Matt 7:15, Jesus warns of false prophets who come as sheep but are 'ravenous' (harpax) wolves -- the most vividly metaphorical usage. Luke 18:11 places robbers in the Pharisee's self-righteous prayer as a category of sinners. Paul's vice lists in 1 Cor 5:10-11 and 6:10 pair the harpax with the greedy (pleonektai), indicating both violent and cunning forms of taking. The word's root in harpazo ('to snatch, seize') gives all five occurrences a visceral, physical quality. Spanish 'rapaz/ladrones' and French 'ravisseur' preserve the predatory connotation effectively. 5×
AR["الخاطِفونَ", "الخاطِفينَ", "خاطِفينَ", "خاطِفٍ", "خاطِفَةٌ"]·ben["ছিনতাইকারী", "ছিনতাইকারী;", "ছিনতাইকারীদের,", "ছিনতাইকারীরা,", "হিংস্র"]·DE["ἅρπαγες", "ἅρπαξ", "ἅρπαξιν"]·EN["ravenous", "robbers", "swindler", "swindlers"]·FR["ravisseur"]·heb["גּוֹזְלִים", "חוֹטְפִים", "חוֹטֵף", "טוֹרְפִים"]·HI["फाड़नेवाले", "लुटेरा", "लुटेरे", "लुटेरों"]·ID["perampas", "perampas,", "perampas;", "yang-buas"]·IT["rapace"]·jav["ingkang-galak", "rampog,", "tiyang-rampog,", "tiyang-rampog;"]·KO["강탈하는-자", "강탈하는-자들", "탐욕스러운", "탐욕스러운-자들"]·PT["ladrão", "ladrões", "roubadores", "vorazes"]·RU["грабители", "хищник;", "хищниками,", "хищники,", "хищные"]·ES["ladrones", "rapaces", "rapaz"]·SW["mnyang'anyi;", "wanyang'anyi,", "wanyanganyaji", "waporaji."]·TR["böylesiyle-", "gaspcılar", "soyguncular", "soygunculara", "yırtıcı"]·urd["لوٹیرا", "لوٹیروں", "لوٹیرے", "چیرنے-والے"]
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
ἅρπαξ, ᾰγος, ὁ, ἡ, (ἁρπάζω) robbing, rapacious, Refs 5th c.BC+: also with substantive neuter, ἅρπαγι χείλειRefs: superlative ἁρπαγίστατοςRefs 5th c.BC+ __II mostly as substantive, __II.1 ἅρπαξ, ἡ, rapine, Refs 8th c.BC+ __II.2 ἅρπαξ, ὁ, robber, peculator, τῶν δημοσίωνRefs 5th c.BC+; πάντες εἰσὶν ἅρπαγες (i.e. οἱ Ὠρώπιοι) Refs __II.3 species of wolf, Refs 3rd c.AD+ __II.4 grappling-iron, used in sea-fights, Refs 4th c.BC+; flesh-hook, Refs 1st c.AD+