◄ 2585. kapéleuó ►
Strong's Lexicon kapéleuó: To peddle, to huckster, to trade deceitfully Original Word: καπηλεύω Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kapéleuó Pronunciation: kah-peh-LOO-oh Phonetic Spelling: (kap-ale-yoo'-o) Definition: I hawk, trade in, deal in for purposes of gain. Meaning: To act as a retailer or peddler; to trade or barter. In a metaphorical sense, it refers to corrupting or adulterating something for personal gain, particularly in the context of handling the word of God. Word Origin: Derived from κάπηλος (kapēlos), meaning "a huckster" or "a retailer." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There is no direct Hebrew equivalent for καπηλεύω in the Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, as the concept of peddling or corrupting the word of God in this specific manner is more explicitly addressed in the New Testament context. However, related themes of deceit and falsehood can be found in Hebrew words such as שֶׁקֶר (sheqer, Strong's 8267) meaning "falsehood" or "deception," and רָמָה (ramah, Strong's 7411) meaning "to beguile" or "to deceive." Usage: The term is used in the New Testament to describe the act of corrupting or peddling the word of God for profit or personal advantage. It appears in 2 Corinthians 2:17. Context: The Greek verb καπηλεύω (kapēleuō) is used in the New Testament to convey the idea of handling something with a mercenary spirit, particularly in the context of the gospel message. In 2 Corinthians 2:17, the Apostle Paul contrasts his own ministry with those who "peddle" the word of God. The Berean Standard Bible translates this verse as: "For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God." The term carries a negative connotation, suggesting the adulteration or commercialization of sacred teachings for selfish purposes. In the ancient world, a κάπηλος (kapēlos) was a small-scale merchant or retailer, often associated with deceitful practices to maximize profit. Paul uses this imagery to criticize those who exploit the gospel for financial gain, contrasting their insincerity with his own genuine and God-honoring approach to ministry. The use of καπηλεύω highlights the importance of integrity and sincerity in the proclamation of the gospel. It serves as a warning against the temptation to compromise the truth for material benefits and underscores the responsibility of believers to handle the word of God with reverence and honesty. HELPS Word-studies 2585 kapēleúō – properly, to act as an unscrupulous merchant, i.e. "a huckster" who profits by "peddling the Word of God" for personal gain. 2585 /kapēleúō ("peddler") is only used in 2 Cor 2:17 – of people "marketing the ministry" (the Word of God) for fast gain. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin from kapélos (a huckster, peddler) Definition to make a trade of NASB Translation peddling (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2585: καπηλεύω καπηλεύω; (κάπηλος, i. e. a. an inn-keeper, especially a vintner; b. a petty retailer, a huckster, pedler; cf. Sir. 26:29 οὐ δικαιωθήσεται κάπηλος ἀπό ἁμαρτίας); a. to be a retailer, to peddle; b. with the accusative of the thing, "to make money by selling anything; to get sordid gain by dealing in anything, to do a thing for base gain" (οἱ τά μαθήματα περιαγοντες κατά πόλεις καί πωλοῦντες καί καπηλεύοντες, Plato, Prot., p. 313 d.; μάχην, Aeschylus the Sept. 551 (545); Latincauponari bellum, i. e. to fight for gain, trade in war, Ennius quoted in Cicero, offic. 1, 12, 38; ἑταιραν τό τῆς ὥρας ἄνθος καπηλευουσαν, Philo de caritat. § 14, cf. leg. ad Gaium § 30, and many other examples in other authors). Hence, some suppose that καπηλεύειν τόν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ in 2 Corinthians 2:17 is equivalent to to trade in the word of God, i. e. to try to get base gain by teaching divine truth. But as pedlers were in the habit of adulterating their commodities for the sake of gain (οἱ κάπηλοί σου μίσγουσι τόν οἶνον ὕδατι, Isaiah 1:22 the Sept.; κάπηλοί, οἱ τόν οἶνον κεραννύντες, Pollux, onomast. 7, 193; οἱ φιλοσοφοι ἀποδιδονται τά μαθήματα, ὥσπερ οἱ κάπηλοί, κερασάμενοι γέ οἱ πολλοί καί δολωσαντες καί κακομετρουντες, Lucian. Hermot. 59), καπηλεύειν τί was also used as synonymous with to corrupt, to adulterate (Themistius, or. 21, p. 247, Hard. edition says that the false philosophers τό θειοτατον τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων ἀγαθῶν κιβδηλεύειν τέ καί αἰσχύνειν καί καπηλεύειν); and most interpreters rightly decide in favor of this meaning (on account of the context) in 2 Corinthians 2:17, cf. δολουν τόν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ, 2 Corinthians 4:2. (Cf. Trench, § lxii.) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance corrupt. From kapelos (a huckster); to retail, i.e. (by implication) to adulterate (figuratively) -- corrupt. Forms and Transliterations εκαπνίζετο καπηλευοντες καπηλεύοντες κάπηλοί καπνιζόμενον καπνιζόμενος καπνιζομένων καπνίζον καπνίζονται καπνισθήσονται kapeleuontes kapeleúontes kapēleuontes kapēleúontes Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts Englishman's Concordance 2 Corinthians 2:17 V-PPA-NMP GRK: οἱ πολλοὶ καπηλεύοντες τὸν λόγον NAS: many, peddling the word KJV: many, which corrupt the word INT: the many are peddling the word Strong's Greek 2585 1 Occurrence καπηλεύοντες — 1 Occ.