Original Word: κατηγορέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: katégoreó
Pronunciation: kat-ay-gor-eh'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (kat-ay-gor-eh'-o)
Definition: To accuse, to charge
Meaning: I accuse, charge, prosecute.

Word Origin: From κατά (kata, meaning "against") and ἀγορεύω (agoreuó, meaning "to speak in the assembly")

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew equivalent often used in similar contexts is שָׂטָן (satan, Strong's H7853), which means "to oppose" or "to accuse."

Usage: The verb κατηγορέω (katégoreó) is used in the New Testament to denote the act of accusing or bringing charges against someone. It often carries a legal connotation, implying formal accusations made in a court or public setting. The term is used both in the context of human legal proceedings and in spiritual or moral accusations, such as those made by Satan against believers.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, public speaking and formal accusations were common in legal and civic contexts. The agora, or marketplace, was not only a place of commerce but also a venue for public discourse and legal proceedings. Accusations were a significant part of maintaining social order and justice. In Jewish culture, accusations were also a part of the legal system, with the Sanhedrin serving as the highest court of justice.

Word Origin
from kata and agoreuó (to speak in the assembly)
Definition
to make accusation
NASB Translation
accusation against (1), accuse (10), accused (3), accuses (2), accusing (3), bring against (1), charges they bring against (1), charges you make (1), make accusation (1), prosecute (1).

STRONGS NT 2723: κατηγορέω

κατηγορέω, κατηγόρω; imperfect κατηγόρουν; future κατηγορήσω; 1 aorist κατηγόρησα; present passive κατηγοροῦμαι; (κατά and ἀγορεύω, properly, to speak against (cf. κατά, III. 7) in court, in the assembly of the people), to accuse;

a. before a judge: absolutely (to make accusation), Acts 24:2, 19; τίνος, to accuse one, Matthew 12:10; Mark 3:2; Luke 6:7 T Tr text WH; R L Tr brackets; ; John 8:6; Acts 25:5; Acts 28:19; with the addition of a genitive of the thing of which one is accused (as Demosthenes 515 at the end): Acts 24:8; Acts 25:11 (unless it be thought preferable to regard the relative in these instances as in the genitive by attraction (so Buttmann, § 132, 16 at the end), since the common construction in Greek authors is κατηγόρουν τί τίνος, cf. Matthiae, § 370 Anm. 2, p. 849f, and § 378, p. 859; cf. Winer's Grammar, § 30, 9a.); τίνος περί τίνος, Acts 24:13 (Thucydides 8, 85; Xenophon, Hell. 1, 7, 2); with the genitive of person and accusative of the thing, Mark 15:3 (unless πολλά should be taken adverbially: much, vehemently); πόσα, Mark 15:4 L T Tr WH (Euripides, Or. 28); followed by κατά with the genitive of person, Luke 23:14 (Xenophon, Hell. 1, 7, 9 (cf. Winers Grammar, § 28, 1; p. 431 (402); Buttmann, § 132, 16)); passive to be accused (as 2 Macc. 10:13; Xenophon, Hell. 3, 5, 25; cf. Buttmann, § 134, 4): ὑπό τίνος, Matthew 27:12; Acts 22:30 L T Tr WH for Rec. παρά (τό τί κτλ., why (A. V. wherefore) he was accused; unless it is to be explained, what accusation was brought forward etc.); ὁ κατηγορούμενος, Acts 25:16.

b. of an extra-judicial accusation (Xenophon, mem. 1, 3, 4): absolutely, Romans 2:15; τίνος, John 5:45 (cf. Buttmann, 295 (254)); Revelation 12:10 R G Tr: solecistically τινα, Revelation 12:10 L T WH (cf. Buttmann, § 132, 16). [SYNONYMS: αἰτίασθαι, διαβάλλειν, ἐγκάλειν, ἐπικάλειν, κατηγορεῖν: αἰτίασθαι to accuse with primary reference to the ground of accusation (αἰτία), the crime; κατηγορεῖν to accuse formally and before a tribunal bring a charge against (κατά suggestive of animosity) publicly; ἐγκάλειν, to accuse with publicity (καλεῖν), but not necessarily formally or before a tribunal; ἐπικάλειν 'to cry out upon' suggestive of publicity and hostility; διαβάλλειν, properly, to make a verbal assault which reaches its goal (διά); in distinction from the words which allude to authorship (αἰτιάομαι), to judicial procedure (κατηγορέω), or to open averment (ἐγκαλέω, ἐπικαλέω), διαβάλλω expresses the giving currency to a damaging insinuation. διάβολος a secret and calumnious, in distinction from κατήγορος an open and formal, accuser. Schmidt, chapter 5.]

accuse, object.

From kategoros; to be a plaintiff, i.e. To charge with some offence -- accuse, object.

see GREEK kategoros

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