Crooked (4646) (skolios, English = scoliosis = an abnormal curvature and misalignment of the spine) describes something as literally crooked, bent, deformed or warped (as a piece of wood becomes from dryness). It stands opposed to that which is straight.
Figuratively skolios refers to anything that deviates from a standard or norm, and in Scripture, it is often used of things that are morally or spiritually corrupt. Thus skolios refers to being morally bent or twisted, crooked, unscrupulous (without moral scruples), dishonest. We speak of someone's behavior as "crooked" or dishonest. Here Paul describes the outward perverted conduct of every unregenerate generation, crooked in mind, heart, and action, bent in all directions.
Peter uses skolios to mean hard to deal with, describing a harsh taskmaster in 1Pet 2:18 (see note), one who is cruel, wicked, unreasonable, or unjust.
TDNT adds that skolios is...
1. Used literally of rivers and roads, this term, meaning “winding,” “twisted,” relates also to the movements of snakes, and may refer, too, to a labyrinth or to ringlets or matted hair. 2. In a transferred sense the term denotes what is “crooked.” Deceit spoils things, bondage leads to crooked action, and an ambiguous oracle is skoliós...
In the main (skolios) in the Greek OT (LXX) expresses the nature of those who do not walk in the straightness and uprightness that God commands but walk in a cramped and crooked way that merits punishment. (Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Eerdmans)
Skolios is curved as opposed to orthos, straight. The unsaved world is crooked in the sense of turning away from the straight path of the truth.
Skolios - 4x in 4v. NAS = crooked, 2; perverse, 1; unreasonable, 1.
'EVERY RAVINE SHALL BE FILLED UP, AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL SHALL BE BROUGHT LOW; AND THE CROOKED (skolios) SHALL BECOME STRAIGHT, AND THE ROUGH ROADS SMOOTH; (Luke 3:5 quoting Isaiah 40:4 where the LXX uses skolios)
(Peter preaching to Jews from every nation on Pentecost) "And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse (skolios) generation!" (Acts 2:40)
(Peter instructing born again servants) "Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable (skolios)." (see note 1Peter 2:18)
Skolios is used 18 times in the LXX (Deut. 32:5; Job 4:18; 9:20; Ps. 78:8; Pr 2:15; 4:24; 8:8; 16:26, 28; 21:8; 22:5, 14; 23:33; 28:18; Isa. 27:1; 40:4; 42:16; Hos. 9:8). Solomon records for example that...
The way of a guilty man is crooked (LXX = skolios), but as for the pure, his conduct is upright. (Pr 21:8)
He who walks blamelessly will be delivered, but he who is crooked (LXX = skolios) will fall all at once. (Pr 28:18)
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Greek Word Studies ( - )
Read freely Greek Word Studies from the Austin Precept text commentary of the Bible in text and pdf format. Precept Austin is an online free dynamic bible commentary similar to wikipedia with updated content and many links to excellent biblical resources around the world. You can browse the entire collection of Commentaries by Verse on the Precept Austin website.We have been "bought with a price" to be "ambassadors for Christ" and our "salvation is nearer to us than when we believed" so let us "cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" "so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming." (1Cor 6:20, 2Cor 5:20, Ro 13:11, 2Cor 7:1, 1Jn 2:28)