κατήγορ-ος G2725
Accuser; one who brings formal charges against another, especially in a legal or judicial proceeding.
Katēgoros is the standard Greek legal term for a prosecutor or accuser—the person who stands up in court to speak against the defendant. In the NT it appears exclusively in judicial settings. Jesus asks the woman caught in adultery 'Where are your accusers?' (John 8:10). In Acts, Roman legal procedure requires accusers to be present: Paul's accusers are summoned (Acts 23:30, 35), Tertullus serves as accuser before Felix (Acts 24:8), and Festus insists the accused must face his accusers (Acts 25:16). Revelation 12:10 calls Satan 'the accuser of our brothers.' Spanish acusador and German Ankläger match the forensic register precisely.
Senses
1. accuser — Accuser, prosecutor—one who formally brings charges or speaks against another in a judicial setting. The word belongs to the courtroom vocabulary of Greek law. In John 8:10, Jesus asks the woman if any accuser remains to condemn her. Acts repeatedly uses it in Roman legal contexts: Lysias sends Paul's accusers to Felix (Acts 23:30, 35), Tertullus presents the prosecution (Acts 24:8), and Festus upholds the right to face one's accusers (Acts 25:16). Revelation 12:10 applies the term cosmically to Satan as the accuser of the saints. Spanish acusadores and French accusateur confirm the consistent forensic-legal sense. 7×
AR["المُتَّهِمُونَ", "المُتَّهِمِينَ", "مُتَّهِمُوكَ", "مُشتَكونَ", "مُشتَكي"]·ben["অভিযোগকারী", "অভিযোগকারীদিগকে", "অভিযোগকারীরা"]·DE["Anklaeger", "κατήγοροί", "κατήγοροι", "κατηγόροις", "κατηγόρους"]·EN["accuser", "accusers"]·FR["accusateur", "accusation"]·heb["מַאֲשִׁימִים", "מַאֲשִׁימֶיךָ", "מַשְׂטִין"]·HI["दोष-लगानेवाला", "दोष-लगानेवाले", "दोषलगानेवाले", "दोषलगानेवालोंको", "दोषलगानेवालोंने"]·ID["pendakwa", "penuduh"]·IT["accusatore", "kategoroi", "katēgōr"]·jav["ingkang-ndakwa", "ingkang-nganggep", "pendakwa"]·KO["고발자가", "고발자들이", "고소인들-이", "고소인들에게도", "고소인들을", "고소인들이"]·PT["acusador", "acusadores"]·RU["обвинителей", "обвинители", "обвинитель", "обвинителям"]·ES["acusador", "acusadores"]·SW["mshitaki", "washtaki"]·TR["suçlayanlargın", "suçlayıcılar", "suçlayıcılara", "suçlayıcılarının", "suçlayıcısı"]·urd["الزام-لگانے-والا", "تیرے-الزام-لگانے-والے", "مدعی", "مدعیوں-نے", "مدعیوں-کو", "موقع"]
Related Senses
H4941 1. justice, righteousness (134×)H4941 2. judgment, judicial decision (119×)H4941 3. ordinances, statutes (plural) (110×)H8199 1. to judge, adjudicate (98×)G2919 1. judge, pass judgment (76×)H8199 2. judge (person, office-holder) (61×)G2920 1. judgment / condemnation (48×)H7378 1. Qal: quarrel, contend, strive (42×)H4941 4. prescribed ordinance, regulation (34×)G1832 1. it is lawful, it is permitted (32×)G2917 1. judgment, condemnation (27×)G2919 2. be judged, stand trial (27×)H5360 1. vengeance, retribution (27×)H7378 2. Qal: plead, defend, litigate (22×)G2723 1. accuse, bring charges against (20×)G2923 1. judge (one who judges/decides) (19×)G2632 1. condemn, pass judgment against (18×)H1777 1. judge, adjudicate (18×)H1576 1. recompense, retribution (17×)H5359 1. vengeance, retribution (17×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
κατήγορ-ος, ὁ, accuser, NT+5th c.BC+; δημόσιος κ. public prosecutor, Refs 3rd c.AD+; betrayer, φρονημάτων ἡ γλῶσσ᾽ ἀληθὴς γίγνεται κ. Refs 5th c.BC+; πνεῦμα ὧν κατήγορον,.. δρόμοις [ἡ φύσις] ἐκβιᾶται κατηγορέειν what the respiration reveals, Refs 5th c.BC+