αἰτίαaitía
a cause (as if asked for), i.e. (logical) reason (motive, matter), (legal) crime (alleged or proved)
Greek (New Testament) · G156
Meanings
1. cause, reason, occasion, case: Matthew 19:3, Luke 8:47, Acts 10:21, Acts 22:24, Acts 28:20, 2 Timothy 1:6, 2 Timothy 1:12, Titus 1:13, Hebrews 2:11; εἰ οὕτως ἐστιν ἡ αἰ., Matthew 19:10.
2. In forensic sense
(a) accusation: Acts 25:18, Acts 25:27
(b) cause for punishment, crime: Matthew 27:37, Mark 15:26, John 18:38, John 19:4, John 19:6, Acts 13:28, Acts 23:28, Acts 28:18.
Synonyms
ἔλεγχος, a charge, whether moral or judicial, which has been proven, αἰ. is an accusation simply, false or true.
Same root
Where it appears
Appears 20 times in the Bible.
- Matthew 19:3 Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?”
- Matthew 19:10 Jesus’ disciples then said to him, “If this is the case, it is better not to marry!”
- Matthew 27:37 A sign was fastened above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him. It read: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”
- Mark 15:26 A sign announced the charge against him. It read, “The King of the Jews.”
- Luke 8:47 When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed.
- John 18:38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime.
Source: G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), public domain.