460. anomós
Lexical Summary
anomós: Lawless, without law

Original Word: ἄνομος
Part of Speech: Adverb
Transliteration: anomós
Pronunciation: ah'-no-mos
Phonetic Spelling: (an-om'-oce)
KJV: without law
NASB: without the law
Word Origin: [adverb from G459 (ἄνομος - lawless)]

1. lawlessly
2. (specially) not amenable to (the Jewish) law

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
lawlessly

Adverb from anomos; lawlessly, i.e. (specially) not amenable to (the Jewish) law -- without law.

see GREEK anomos

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 460 anómōs (an adverb) – lawlessly, acting without God's light (the written revelation of the Bible). 460 (anómōs) particularly refers to pagan behavior (perspective). See 458 (anomia).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
adverb from anomos
Definition
lawlessly
NASB Translation
without the law (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 460: ἀνόμως

ἀνόμως, adverb, without the law (see ἄνομος, 1), without a knowledge of the law: ἀνόμως ἁμαρτάνειν, to sin in ignorance of the Mosaic law, Romans 2:12; ἀπολλυσθαι to perish, but not by sentence of the Mosaic law, ibid. (ἀνόμως ζῆν to live ignorant of law and discipline, Isoc. panegyr. c. 10 § 39; ἀνόμως ἀπολλυσθαι to be slain contrary to law, as in wars, seditions, etc., ibid. c. 44 § 168. In Greek writings generally unjustly, wickedly, as 2 Macc. 8:17.)

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Strong’s Greek 460 (ἀνόμως) describes action that takes place in a sphere where the written code of God’s Law is absent or disregarded. Paul employs the adverb twice in Romans 2:12, using it to draw a sharp line between sin committed without the Mosaic revelation and sin committed with it.

Biblical Usage

Romans 2:12 reads, “For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.” The double use of ἀνόμως (“without the law”) underscores two distinct yet equally serious classes of sinners:

1. Gentiles who sin apart from possessing the Torah.
2. Jews who sin while possessing it.

Paul’s Argument in Romans 2

1. Universal Accountability. By pairing “without law” with “under law,” Paul affirms that sin brings divine judgment regardless of whether one has explicit Scripture. Creation and conscience leave no one excused (Romans 2:14-15).
2. Equality of Condemnation. Jews could not presume safety merely because they carried the Law (Romans 2:17-24). Gentiles, lacking the Law, could not plead ignorance. Both groups need the righteousness revealed in the gospel (Romans 1:16-17).
3. Preparation for the Gospel. The contrast between ἀνόμως and “under the law” sets the stage for the revelation that justification is “apart from the law” yet “attested by the Law and the Prophets” (Romans 3:21).

Historical Interpretation

Early church writers such as Chrysostom took ἀνόμως to show God’s impartiality: Gentiles perish not because they never received the Law but because they transgressed the internal witness given to them. Reformation commentators (Luther, Calvin) highlighted the word to demonstrate that legal privilege cannot save; only faith in Christ can.

Ministry Implications

• Evangelism. Mission work among unreached peoples must reckon with real guilt before God even where Scripture is unknown. ἀνόμως reminds believers that the gospel is urgent for all.
• Discipleship. Believers saved from “law-less” backgrounds often grasp grace keenly; churches should cultivate doctrinal depth so they grow beyond moral relativism.
• Apologetics. The term supports arguments for objective morality grounded in God’s character rather than societal norms, explaining why judgment is just even where biblical literacy is lacking.

Contemporary Application

In pluralistic societies, many live functionally ἀνόμως—outside conscious regard for God’s commands. Romans 2:12 warns that ignorance is no shield against judgment and urges the church to proclaim Christ crucified and risen as the sole remedy for every sinner, whether living with or without direct exposure to God’s written Law.

Forms and Transliterations
ανομως ανόμως ἀνόμως anomos anomōs anómos anómōs
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Romans 2:12 Adv
GRK: Ὅσοι γὰρ ἀνόμως ἥμαρτον ἀνόμως
NAS: have sinned without the Law
KJV: have sinned without law shall
INT: as many as indeed without law sinned without law

Romans 2:12 Adv
GRK: ἀνόμως ἥμαρτον ἀνόμως καὶ ἀπολοῦνται
NAS: without the Law will also
KJV: perish without law: and
INT: without law sinned without law also will perish

Strong's Greek 460
2 Occurrences


ἀνόμως — 2 Occ.

459
Top of Page
Top of Page