καταφρον-έω G2706
To despise, look down upon, treat with contempt — to regard someone or something as unworthy of respect or serious consideration.
Kataphroneo literally means to 'think down upon' (kata + phroneo), and its nine NT occurrences consistently carry the force of active disdain or dismissive contempt. Jesus warns against despising 'one of these little ones' (Matt 18:10) and teaches that no servant can serve two masters without despising one (Matt 6:24; Luke 16:13). Paul asks the Corinthians whether they despise the church of God (1 Cor 11:22) and warns against despising God's kindness (Rom 2:4). The word implies not just passive indifference but a calculated devaluation — treating what deserves honor as if it were worthless. Spanish 'despreciar,' French 'mepriser,' and German 'verachten' all preserve this strong overtone of scorn.
Senses
1. to despise, look down upon — To look down upon with contempt, to regard as unworthy of consideration or respect. The compound kata- ('down') + phroneo ('think') creates a vivid image of mental condescension. In Jesus's teaching, it appears in the warning about despising children/the vulnerable (Matt 18:10) and in the impossibility of serving two masters without contempt for one (Matt 6:24; Luke 16:13). Paul uses it for scorning God's patience (Rom 2:4), despising the church community (1 Cor 11:22), and the Galatians' refusal to despise Paul despite his physical condition (Gal 4:14). Multilingual glosses (Spanish 'despreciar,' French 'mepriser,' German 'verachten') consistently convey active scorn rather than mere neglect, confirming the word's force as deliberate, contemptuous dismissal. 9×
AR["تَحتَقِرونَ", "تَحْتَقِرُوا", "تَستَهينُ", "سَيَحْتَقِرُ", "مُحتَقِرينَ", "مُسْتَهِينًا-بِـ", "يَحتَقِرُ", "يَحْتَقِروهُم", "يَحْتَقِرَنَّ-أَحَدٌ"]·ben["অবজ্ঞা-করবে।", "অবজ্ঞা-করে", "তারা-তুচ্ছ-করুক,", "তুচ্ছ-করবে", "তুচ্ছ-করুক,", "তুচ্ছ-করো", "তুমি-অবজ্ঞা-কর,", "তোমরা-অবমাননা-কর,"]·DE["verachten", "καταφρονήσει", "καταφρονήσητε"]·EN["despising", "do-you-despise", "having-despised", "he-will-despise", "let-despise", "will-despise", "you-despise"]·FR["mépriser"]·heb["בָּזֶה-אַתָּה", "בָּזָה", "הַמְּבַזִּים", "יְבַזֶּה", "יְבַזּוּ", "יִבְזֶה", "מְבַזִּים-אַתֶּם", "תָּבוּזוּ"]·HI["तुचछ-समझो", "तुच्छ-करेगा।", "तुच्छ-जानकर", "तुच्छ-जानने-वाले", "तुच्छ-समझता-है", "तुच्छ-समझते-हो", "तुच्छ-समझेगा", "तुछ-मअने", "तुछ-समझेइन"]·ID["akan-direndahkan", "engkau-meremehkan,", "ia-akan-meremehkan", "kamu-menghina", "mengabaikan,", "menghina.", "meremehkan", "merendahkan"]·IT["disprezzare", "kataphroneitō", "kataphroneitōsan", "kataphronesei", "kataphronesete", "kataphronountas", "kataphronēsas"]·jav["asor", "badhe-nyèpèlèkaken.", "nganggep-boten-wonten", "ngremehi", "ngrèmèhaken,", "nyepelekaken.", "padha-ngrèmèhaken,", "panjenengan-nyepelekaken,", "panjenengan-remehaken,"]·KO["멸시하게-하라,", "멸시하고", "멸시하는-자들을.", "멸시하는도다", "멸시하시고", "멸시하지-게-하라,", "멸시할-것이다", "무시하리라", "업신여기지-말라"]·PT["desprezais,", "desprezando", "desprezará", "desprezas", "despreze", "os-desprezem"]·RU["будет-пренебрегать", "да-не-пренебрегает", "да-пренебрегают", "презирать", "презрите", "пренебрегаете,", "пренебрегаешь", "пренебрегающих", "пренебрегши"]·ES["despreciando", "despreciará", "desprecias", "despreciáis", "despreéis", "habiendo-menospreciado", "menospreciará", "menosprecie", "menosprecien"]·SW["akidharau", "asidharau", "atamdharau", "mdharau", "mnalidharau,", "unadharau", "wadharau", "wakidharau"]·TR["hor-görecek", "hor-görerek", "hor-görmesin", "hor-görmesinler", "kuecuemsueyor-musun,", "küçümsemeyin", "küçümseyecek", "küçümseyenler", "ve-"]·urd["تو-حقیر-سمجھتا-ہے", "حقارت-کرنے-والوں۔", "حقارت-کرے-گا", "حقیر-جانتے-ہو", "حقیر-سمجھو", "حقیر-نہ-جانیں", "حقیر-نہ-جانے", "دوسرے", "ناچیز-جان-کر"]
Related Senses
H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H7451c 1. moral evil or wickedness (234×)H5771 1. iniquity, sin, wrongdoing (222×)H6662 1. righteous person (substantive) (195×)G0266 1. sin, failure, transgression (173×)H2403b 1. sin, transgression (170×)H2617a 1. Covenant faithfulness, steadfast love (167×)H2398 1. Qal: to sin, commit sin (165×)H6666 1. righteousness, moral uprightness (145×)G5485 1. grace, divine favor (141×)H7451a 1. morally evil, wicked (129×)H2403b 2. sin-offering, sacrifice for sin (120×)G2570 1. good, right, excellent (98×)H6588 1. transgression, offense against God (88×)G0018 1. good (moral quality) (85×)H2896b 1. good, what is good (85×)H7451b 1. evil, wickedness (moral) (83×)H7451a 2. evil, harm, calamity (80×)G1342 1. righteous, upright (of persons) (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
καταφρον-έω, look down upon, think slightly of, τινος Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 with accusative, regard slightly, despise, Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, to be despised, ὑπό τινων Refs 5th c.BC+: future - φρονηθήσομαι Refs 5th c.BC+: aorist -εφρονήθην Refs 5th c.BC+ __3 absolutely, to be disdainful, deal contemptuously, Refs 5th c.BC+; τὸ -φρονοῦν contempt, Refs 1st c.BC+ __4 with infinitive, think…