Abarim Publications' online Biblical Greek Dictionary
ονειδος
The grim noun ονειδος (oneidos) means reproach or rebuke, particularly by someone's confronting words (rather than, say, subliminal gossip or a simmering reputation). This word conveys hate expressed, but it doesn't explain why the hate exists (because that is implied). Insults stem mostly from a combination of ignorance and xenophobia, or else from envy and impotence. Insults are mostly felt by outliers who neither created themselves, nor forged their opinions against their own better judgment, tastes against proper decorum or hope against all odds. Insults are mostly given by dimwits, who believe that all would be well if everybody would just simply be more like them (i.e. normal, typical, average).
Theology is tricky business but fortunately for all of us, Jesus made certain things very easy to comprehend. His disciples are not recognized by their superiority but rather by their weakness (2 Corinthians 12:10), not by their intellectual purity but by their conversation (Matthew 19:14, 1 Corinthians 1:21), not by their victory but by their love (John 13:35). Followers of Jesus never mock, deride or violently silence others. Their only dogma is that of hospitality.
Our noun ονειδος (oneidos) stems directly from the ancient Proto-Indo-European root "hneydos-", to revile, insult or curse, or to detest or loathe. This root is broadly attested but appears to have left very few traces in modern languages, with the possible exception of the German noun Neid, jealousy, and the Dutch verb benijden, to envy, and the noun nijd, which likewise describes a static and caustic kind of anger. This latter noun is part of the proverbial duo haat en nijd, or "hate and ..."
This word occurs in the New Testament in Luke 1:25 only, but from it come:
- The verb ονειδιζω (oneidizo), meaning to revile, reproach or rebuke. Pagans like to believe that a perfect society can only come about by merit of the violent oppression of subversives, but the people of God understand that a weak minority sees the way, where the strong majority doesn't. The majority, thereupon, demands compliance with what it's familiar with, even though the familiar will prove useless or even fatal in the long run. And that means that the seeing minority will always be rebuked and brutalized by the ignorant majority, which at heart abhors novelty, even when this novelty is salvation. That's perhaps of limited comfort to the minority, but still, comfort and agreement characterize a dead end, whereas progress requires change and change discomfort. Dominance, violent oppression and enforced standards never pay off, but personal weakness inspires the formation of social networks, and inclusivity promotes diversity and diversity resilience. Not all getting yelled at is a positive sign, but very little progress occurs without initial derision. This tough verb is used 10 times, see full concordance, and from it in turn comes:
- The noun ονειδισμος (oneidismos), meaning a getting yelled at, a derision, a verbal trashing by people who fear the change one is proposing, or who envy the freedom one is enjoying. This noun occurs 5 times; see full concordance.