Understanding δολόω (doloó) Strong’s G1389: The Deceptive Corruption that Distorts Truth and Undermines Godly Integrity

Pronunciation Guide: dol-o’-o (with emphasis on the second syllable)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1389: δολόω (doloó) refers to the act of deliberately corrupting, adulterating, or falsifying something—particularly truth—with deceptive intent. It describes the process of mixing something pure with inferior elements to deceive others about its true nature. In New Testament usage, it specifically relates to the corrupting or distorting of God’s Word through dishonest manipulation, often for personal gain or agenda.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of speech: Verb
• Root word: δόλος (dolos) – meaning “deceit,” “craft,” or “guile”
• Language origin: Classical Greek
• Primary usage: In teaching and ethical contexts addressing truthfulness and integrity
• Appears only once in the New Testament (2 Corinthians 4:2)
• Found rarely in the Septuagint, primarily in passages addressing deception

δολόω Morphology:

• δολόω (present active indicative, 1st person singular) – I corrupt/adulterate
• δολοῖς (present active indicative, 2nd person singular) – you corrupt/adulterate
• δολοῖ (present active indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it corrupts/adulterates
• δολοῦμεν (present active indicative, 1st person plural) – we corrupt/adulterate
• δολοῦντες (present active participle, masculine nominative plural) – corrupting/adulterating (ones)
• δολῶσαι (aorist active infinitive) – to corrupt/adulterate

Origin & History

The verb δολόω derives from the noun δόλος (dolos), a term with deep roots in ancient Greek culture where it originally referred to a fishing bait or lure—something designed to deceive fish. This concrete image evolved into a metaphorical concept of deception, trickery, or craftiness. In classical Greek literature, Herodotus used related forms to describe the adulteration of metals, particularly when inferior metals were mixed with gold to deceive buyers (Herodotus, Histories 4.166).

In the Septuagint, the related noun δόλος appears frequently to translate the Hebrew מִרְמָה (mirmah), describing deceitful speech or fraudulent actions. The verbal form δολόω appears in Psalm 14:3 (LXX 13:3) describing the deceptive use of one’s tongue. By New Testament times, the word family had established strong connotations of moral corruption and intentional falsification. Early Church Father Origen employed the term when discussing those who corrupted the Scriptures through misinterpretation or alteration (Origen, Commentary on John 10.2).

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Deliberate corruption of something pure by mixing it with inferior elements
• Adulteration of truth with falsehood to mislead others
• Falsification of information through subtle manipulation
• Deceptive handling of important matters, particularly divine truths
• Crafty distortion that maintains appearances while altering substance

δολόω Translation Options:

• “Adulterate” – Emphasizes the mixing of pure with impure elements, preserving the original metaphor of corrupting through mixture
• “Falsify” – Highlights the deliberate act of making something appear true when it is not
• “Corrupt” – Captures the moral dimension of deteriorating something’s integrity
• “Handle deceitfully” – Conveys the manipulative action while emphasizing the method (deceit)
• “Distort craftily” – Communicates both the change in form and the cunning method

Biblical Usage

The verb δολόω appears explicitly only once in the New Testament, in 2 Corinthians 4:2, where Paul emphatically denies engaging in such behavior regarding God’s Word. The context is powerful—Paul contrasts the open proclamation of truth that characterizes his ministry with the secretive, shameful, and deceptive practices he rejects. This singular usage highlights the seriousness with which the early followers of the Messiah viewed the corrupting of divine truth.

While the verbal form is rare, the related noun δόλος (dolos) and adjective δόλιος (dolios) appear multiple times throughout the New Testament, creating a semantic field that reinforces the concept of deceptive corruption. Yeshua (Jesus) praises Nathanael as a man “in whom there is no δόλος” (John 1:47), establishing honesty and integrity as quintessential characteristics of true followers of the Messiah.

• “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating [δολοῦντες] the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:2
• “Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving [ἐδολιοῦσαν – imperfect of δολιόω, related form].” Romans 3:13 (quoting Psalm 5:9)

Cultural Insights

In the ancient Mediterranean world, the adulteration of valuable commodities was a common form of fraud. Wine merchants would dilute their product with water, metalworkers would mix precious metals with base ones, and grain sellers would add cheaper fillers to their merchandise. These practices were not only economically damaging but were considered deeply dishonorable. Roman law specifically addressed such fraud through the actio de dolo malo (action concerning bad deception), demonstrating society’s recognition of the harm caused by such deceptive practices.

This cultural context illuminates Paul’s rhetorical power when he denies “adulterating the word of God” in 2 Corinthians 4:2. His audience would immediately recognize the metaphor—just as merchants might dilute wine for profit while claiming it was pure, false teachers might mix human philosophies or self-serving interpretations with divine truth while claiming to present God’s unadulterated message. Paul’s declaration of integrity would resonate strongly in a culture where such deceptive adulteration was both common and condemned.

Theological Significance

The theological implications of δολόω reach to the heart of how believers should handle divine revelation. When Paul renounces any adulterating of God’s Word, he establishes a fundamental principle: the message of יהוה (Yahweh) must be transmitted with absolute integrity, without manipulation, dilution, or distortion. This principle reflects the character of God Himself, who is described as the “God of truth” (Psalm 31:5) in whom there is no deception.

The singular New Testament occurrence of δολόω in 2 Corinthians 4:2 stands as a powerful warning against any attempt to alter divine truth for personal advantage or to make it more palatable to human preferences. Such manipulation constitutes a form of unfaithfulness to God and dishonesty toward others. By contrast, faithful handling of God’s Word involves transparency (“manifestation of truth”), integrity (renouncing shameful secrets), and directness (not walking in craftiness). This reveals a profound theological truth: that God’s message needs no human “improvement” through clever manipulation—its power lies precisely in its unadulterated purity.

Personal Application

Examining δολόω in our lives invites us to consider the integrity with which we handle truth—both divine and everyday. We live in an age where “spin,” selective presentation of facts, and strategic omissions are often considered normal communication strategies. Yet the biblical principle challenges us to a higher standard: do we present God’s Word in its fullness, even when certain truths might be unpopular or challenging? Do we adapt the message to make it more appealing, inadvertently adulterating its essence?

This word also calls us to self-examination regarding our motivations in ministry and communication. Paul’s rejection of δολόω was part of his broader commitment to serving “in the sight of God.” When we remember that our ultimate audience is not other people but יהוה (Yahweh) Himself, it transforms how we handle truth. We become less concerned with impression management and more focused on faithful representation of what God has actually said. Today, commit to being a person who handles truth—especially divine truth—with unwavering integrity, resisting any temptation to corrupt it for convenience, popularity, or personal gain.

Related Words

• ἀπάτη (apaté, ap-at’-ay) – deception or deceitfulness, especially that which misleads; while δολόω focuses on the act of corrupting through mixture, ἀπάτη emphasizes the result of being led astray. See G539
• πλανάω (planaó, plan-ah’-o) – to cause to wander, to lead astray; differs from δολόω in that it focuses on directional error rather than corruption of essence. See G4105
• καπηλεύω (kapéleuó, kap-ale-yoo’-o) – to peddle for profit, to huckster; similar to δολόω in retail contexts where sellers might adulterate their goods, but specifically refers to those who make merchandise of something for personal gain. See G2585
• παραφθείρω (paraphtheiró, par-af-thi’-ro) – to corrupt, to spoil completely; more intensive than δολόω, suggesting total rather than partial corruption. See G3860
• ψεύδομαι (pseudomai, psyoo’-dom-ahee) – to lie, to speak deliberate falsehoods; relates to δολόω but focuses on false statements rather than corruption of existing truth. See G5574

Did you Know?

• Did you know that in ancient Greek marketplaces, special officials called “agoranomoi” were appointed to detect and punish merchants who adulterated (δολόω) their goods? These market inspectors would test wines for water content, check weights and measures for accuracy, and even verify the purity of metals. Paul’s use of δολόω would thus evoke not just the idea of corruption but also the specter of judgment upon those who practiced such deception.
• Did you know that in ancient Jewish religious practice, mixing certain substances was explicitly forbidden? The Torah prohibits mixing different types of seed, materials in garments, and even animals in yoking (Leviticus 19:19, Deuteronomy 22:9-11). This concept of maintaining purity through separation rather than mixture provides a rich Jewish cultural backdrop to Paul’s rejection of δολόω in his ministry—he preserves the distinctive purity of God’s Word rather than mixing it with incompatible human elements.
• Did you know that modern food labeling laws regarding “adulteration” continue the ancient concern reflected in the term δολόω? Just as Paul rejected adulterating God’s Word with human philosophy or self-serving interpretation, today’s regulatory bodies reject food products that have been mixed with undisclosed or inferior ingredients. This parallel shows how the ethical concern about deceptive mixing has remained consistent across millennia.

Remember This

δολόω reminds us that God’s truth is too precious to be diluted, too powerful to require our embellishment, and too pure to be mixed with the inferior elements of human deception—those who handle it faithfully will renounce corruption and embrace transparent integrity.