(Not) Be disappointed (2617) (Kataischuno from kata = down but here intensifies meaning of verb aischuno = to shame) means primarily to put to shame, to humiliate, to disgrace (1Cor 11:4, 5) and (as used in the present verse) to disappoint or to frustrate one's hope (Ro 9:33-note, Ro 10:11-note, 1Pe 2:6-note).
To disappoint means to fail to meet the expectation or hope of, to hinder from the possession or enjoyment of that which was intended, to prevent the fulfilment of (a plan, intention, etc.
In the passive voice it can mean to blush with shame at one's predicament.
Richards...
Aischuno and its compound forms kataischuno and epaischunomai are used in the Septuagint as translations of bos and its derivatives. In Greek culture, the focus was not on the objective consequences of actions but on the feeling of shame that might come with exposure of shameful deeds to others. The OT sense of the word is clearly seen in Ro 9:33 and Ro 10:11, each of which quotes from the OT and affirms that anyone "who trusts in him will never be put to shame." (Richards, L O: Expository Dictionary of Bible Words: Regency)
The NIDNTT writes that...
The root aisch- refers originally to that which is ugly and disgraceful. Aischuno (Homer onwards) thus meant originally to disfigure, make ugly. It is found in Greek literature almost exclusively in the mid. or pass. with the meaning to feel shame, be ashamed, or to be confounded, be disconcerted. Epaischunomai (Aesch. onwards) is a strengthened form of the mid., and kataischuno (Homer onwards) of the active and passive meanings of aischuno. (Brown, Colin, Editor. New International Dictionary of NT Theology. 1986. Zondervan)
TDNT on aischuno, kataischuno and epaischunomai [word study]...
This group was in common use and is thus often found in the Septuagint (LXX). The sense is “to shame,” “put to shame” (God mostly as subject), “be shamed or ashamed” (personally rather than publicly). The main point of aischune is not “feeling of shame” but “disgrace” i.e., the shame brought by divine judgment, though sometimes with a stress on “being ashamed.” (Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Eerdmans)
Vine writes that kataischuno...
involves the falsification of ideas, the exposure of pretensions, and the nullification of hopes. (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson or Logos)
Kataischuno - 13x in 12v - NAS = disappoint(1), disappointed(3), disgraces(2), humiliated(1), put to shame(3), shame(3).
Luke 13:17 As He said this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him.
Comment: The critics of our Lord were thoroughly put to shame by His words.
Romans 5:5-note and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Comment: God's hope (absolute assurance of future good) will not bring disappointment because God loves us and enables us to withstand tribulations.
MacDonald: If we were to hope for something but then later find that we were never going to get it, our hope would be put to shame or disappointed. But the hope of our salvation will never be put to shame. We will never be disappointed or find that we have rested on a false confidence. How can we be so sure? Because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts. (MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson or Logos)
Romans 9:33-note just as it is written, "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."
Romans 10:11-note For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."
Comment: MacDonald - "The thought of public confession of Christ might arouse fears of shame, but the opposite is true. Our confession of Him on earth leads to His confession of us in heaven. Ours is a hope that will never be disappointed." (Ibid)
1Corinthians 1:27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
1Corinthians 11:4 Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying disgraces his head. 5 But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved.
1Corinthians 11:22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you.
Comment: The lack of control at the time of the Lord's Supper and the shameful treatment of poorer brethren is most inconsistent with the Christian faith.
2Corinthians 7:14 For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I was not put to shame; but as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting before Titus proved to be the truth.
2Corinthians 9:4 otherwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we-- not to speak of you-- will be put to shame by this confidence.
1Peter 2:6-note For this is contained in Scripture: "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." (See similar uses of kataischuno in the Septuagint translation of some of the Psalms below)
1 Peter 3:16-note and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.
Comment: MacDonald "Even if a believer’s life is blameless, the enemies of the gospel will still find fault with him and bring false charges against him. But when the case comes to trial, and the charges are found to be empty, the accusers will be ashamed." (Ibid)
Kataischuno - 57x in the non-apocryphal Septuagint (LXX) - 18.7" class="scriptRef">Jdg 18:7; Ruth 2:15; 2 Sam 10:6; 16:21; 9.5" class="scriptRef">19:5; 2 Kgs 19:26; Ps 6:10; 14:6; 22:5; 25:2f, 20" class="scriptRef">20" class="scriptRef">20; 31:1, 17; 34:5; 35:4; 37:19; 40:14; 44:7, 9; 53:5; 70:2; 71:1; 74:21; 119:31, 116; 127:5; Pr 19:26; Isa 3:15; 28:16; 54:4; Jer 2:36; 6:15; 7:19; 9:19; 10:14; 15:9; 17:13, 18; 46:24; 48:13, 20; 49:23; 50:2, 38; 51:17; Ezek 24:12; Hos 2:5; 4:19; Joel 2:26f; Mic 3:7; 7:16; Zeph 3:11, 20; Zech 10:5; 13:4.
Given the fact that the Septuagint has many more uses of kataischuno, below are most (but not all) of these passages to help discern the meaning of this verb.
Ruth 2:15-note When she rose to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not insult (Heb = kalam = to humiliate, cause to blush; Lxx = kataischuno) her.
2Sa 16:21 Ahithophel said to (David's son) Absalom, “Go in to (have sexual relations with) your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious (Heb = baash = have a bad smell, to stink!; Lxx = kataischuno) to your father. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened.”
Psalm 22:5-note To You they cried out and were delivered; In You they trusted and were not disappointed. (Hebrew = bos/bosh = to be ashamed; Lxx = kataischuno)
Psalm 25:2-note O my God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed (Hebrew = bos/bosh = to be ashamed; Lxx = kataischuno); Do not let my enemies exult over me.
Spurgeon: O my God, I trust in thee. Faith is the cable which binds our boat to the shore, and by pulling at it we draw ourselves to the land; faith unites us to God, and then draws us near to him. As long as the anchor of faith holds there is no fear in the worst tempest; if that should fail us there would be no hope left. We must see to it that our faith is sound and strong, for otherwise prayer cannot prevail with God. Woe to the warrior who throws away his shield; what defence can be found for him who finds no defence in his God?
Let me not be ashamed. Let not my disappointed hopes make me feel ashamed of my former testimonies of thy faithfulness. Many were on the watch for this. The best of men have their enemies, and should pray against them that they may not see their wicked desires accomplished.
Let not mine enemies triumph over me. Suffer no wicked mouth to make blasphemous mirth out of my distresses by asking, "Where is thy God?" There is a great jealousy in believers for the honour of God, and they cannot endure that unbelievers should taunt them with the failure of their expectations from the God of their salvation. All other trusts will end in disappointment and eternal shame, but our confidence shall never be confounded.
Psalm 25:3-note Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed (Hebrew = bos/bosh = to be ashamed; Lxx = kataischuno); Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed (Lxx = aischuno).
Psalm 25:20-note (This is a great prayer to pray, as are the next two entries below!) Guard my soul and deliver me; Do not let me be ashamed (Hebrew = bos/bosh = to be ashamed; Lxx = kataischuno), for I take refuge in You.
Spurgeon " Let me not be ashamed. This is the one fear which like a ghost haunted the psalmist's mind. He trembled lest his faith should become the subject of ridicule through the extremity of his affliction. Noble hearts can brook anything but shame. David was of such a chivalrous spirit, that he could endure any torment rather than be put to dishonour. For I put my trust in thee. And therefore the name of God would be compromised if his servants were deserted; this the believing heart can by no means endure."
Psalm 31:1-note For the choir director. A Psalm of David. In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed (Hebrew = bos/bosh = to be ashamed; Lxx = kataischuno); In Your righteousness deliver me.
Spurgeon "Let me never be ashamed. How can the Lord permit the man to be ultimately put to shame who depends alone upon him? This would not be dealing like a God of truth and grace. It would bring dishonour upon God himself if faith were not in the end rewarded. It will be an ill day indeed for religion when trust in God brings no consolation and no assistance."
Psalm 31:17-note Let me not be put to shame (Hebrew = bos/bosh = to be ashamed; Lxx = kataischuno), O LORD, for I call upon You; Let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol.
Psalm 34:5-note They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces will never be ashamed (Hebrew = bos/bosh = to be ashamed; Lxx = kataischuno);.
David Smith, 1792-1867: They looked unto him. The more we can think upon our Lord, and the less upon ourselves, the better. Looking to him, as he is seated upon the right hand of the throne of God, will keep our heads, and especially our hearts, steady when going through the deep waters of affliction. Often have I thought of this when crossing the water opposite the old place of Langholm. I found, when I looked down on the water, I got dizzy; I therefore fixed my eyes upon a steady object on the other side, and got comfortably through.
Spurgeon: And their faces were not ashamed. Their faces were covered with joy but not with blushes. He who trusts in God has no need to be ashamed of his confidence, time and eternity will both justify his reliance.
Psalm 37:19-note They will not be ashamed (Hebrew = bos/bosh = to be ashamed; Lxx = kataischuno) in the time of evil, And in the days of famine they will have abundance.
Spurgeon: They shall not be ashamed in the evil time. Calamities will come, but deliverances will come also. As the righteous never reckoned upon immunity from trouble, they will not be disappointed when they are called to take their share of it, but the rather they will cast themselves anew upon their God, and prove again his faithfulness and love. God is not a friend in the sunshine only, he is a friend indeed and a friend in need.
Psalm 44:7-note But You have saved us from our adversaries, And You have put to shame (Hebrew = bos/bosh = to be ashamed; Lxx = kataischuno) those who hate us.
Spurgeon: And hast put them to shame that hated us. With the back of thy saving hand thou hast given them a cuff which has made them hide their faces; thou hast defeated them in such a manner as to make them ashamed of themselves to be overthrown by such puny adversaries as they thought the Israelites to be. The double action of God in blessing his people and confounding his enemies is evermore to be observed; Pharaoh is drowned, while Israel passes through the sea; Amalek is smitten, while the tribes rejoice; the heathen are chased from their abodes, while the sons of Jacob rest beneath their vine and fig tree.
Psalm 53:5-note There they were in great fear where no fear had been; For God scattered the bones of him who encamped against you; You put them to shame, because God had rejected them.
Psalm 71:1-note In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed (Hebrew = bos/bosh = to be ashamed; Lxx = kataischuno).
Psalm 74:21YLT-note Let not the oppressed return dishonored; Let the afflicted and needy praise Your name.
Psalm 119:31-note I cling to Your testimonies; O LORD, do not put me to shame! (Hebrew = bos/bosh = to be ashamed; Lxx = kataischuno)
Spurgeon: O LORD, put me not to shame. This would happen if God's promises were unfulfilled, and if the heart of God's servant were suffered to fail. This we have no reason to fear, since the Lord is faithful to his word. But it might also happen though the believer's acting in an inconsistent manner, as David had himself once done, when he fell into the way of lying, and pretended to be a madman. If we are not true to our profession we may be left to reap the fruit of our folly, and that will be the bitter thing called "shame." It is evident from this that a believer ought never to be ashamed, but act the part of a grave man who has done nothing to be ashamed of in believing his God, and does not mean to adopt a craven tone in the presence of the Lord's enemies. If we beseech the Lord not to put us to shame, surely we ought not ourselves to be ashamed without cause.
Psalm 119:116-note Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed (Hebrew = bos/bosh = to be ashamed; Lxx = kataischuno) of my hope.
Spurgeon: And let me not be ashamed of my hope. In Psalm 119:114 he had spoken of his hope as founded on the word, and now he begs for the fulfilment of that word that his hope might be justified in the sight of all. A man would be ashamed of his hope if it turned out that it was not based upon a sure foundation; but this will never happen in our case (cp Ro 5:5). We may be ashamed of our thoughts, and our words, and our deeds for they spring from ourselves; but we never shall be ashamed of our hope, for that springs from the Lord our God. Such is the frailty of our nature that unless we are continually upheld by grace, we shall all so foully as to be ashamed of ourselves, and ashamed of all those glorious hopes which are now the crown and glory of our life. The man of God had uttered the most positive resolves, but he felt that he could not trust in his own solemn determination: hence these prayers. It is not wrong to make resolutions, but it will be useless to do so unless we salt them well with believing cries to God. David meant to keep the law of the Lord, but he first needed the Lord of the law to keep him.
Psalm 127:5-note How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed (Hebrew = bos/bosh = to be ashamed; Lxx = kataischuno) When they speak with their enemies in the gate.
Proverbs 19:26 He who assaults his father and drives his mother away Is a shameful (Hebrew = bos/bosh = to be ashamed; Lxx = kataischuno) and disgraceful son.
Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.
Isaiah 54:4 "Fear not, for you will not be put to shame; And do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced; But you will forget the shame of your youth, And the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
Jeremiah 2:36 "Why do you go around so much Changing your way? Also, you will be put to shame by Egypt As you were put to shame by Assyria.
Jeremiah 6:15 "Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; They did not even know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time that I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the LORD.
Jeremiah 7:19 "Do they spite Me?" declares the LORD. "Is it not themselves they spite, to their own shame?"
Jeremiah 9:19 "For a voice of wailing is heard from Zion, 'How are we ruined! We are put to great shame, For we have left the land, Because they have cast down our dwellings.'"
Jeremiah 10:14 Every man is stupid, devoid of knowledge; Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols; For his molten images are deceitful, And there is no breath in them.
Jeremiah 15:9 "She who bore seven sons pines away; Her breathing is labored. Her sun has set while it was yet day; She has been shamed and humiliated. So I will give over their survivors to the sword Before their enemies," declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 17:13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You will be put to shame. Those who turn away on earth will be written down, Because they have forsaken the fountain of living water, even the LORD.
Jeremiah 17:18 Let those who persecute me be put to shame, but as for me, let me not be put to shame; Let them be dismayed, but let me not be dismayed. Bring on them a day of disaster, And crush them with twofold destruction!
Jeremiah 46:24 "The daughter of Egypt has been put to shame, Given over to the power of the people of the north."
Jeremiah 48:13 "And Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel, their confidence.
Jeremiah 48:20 "Moab has been put to shame, for it has been shattered. Wail and cry out; Declare by the Arnon That Moab has been destroyed.
Jeremiah 49:23 Concerning Damascus. "Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, For they have heard bad news; They are disheartened. There is anxiety by the sea, It cannot be calmed.
Jeremiah 50:2 "Declare and proclaim among the nations. Proclaim it and lift up a standard. Do not conceal it but say, 'Babylon has been captured, Bel has been put to shame, Marduk has been shattered; Her images have been put to shame, her idols have been shattered.'
Jeremiah 51:17 All mankind is stupid, devoid of knowledge; Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, For his molten images are deceitful, And there is no breath in them.
Hosea 2:5 "For their mother has played the harlot; She who conceived them has acted shamefully. For she said, 'I will go after my lovers, Who give me my bread and my water, My wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.' (NET Bible note = This statement alludes to the practice of sexual rites in the Canaanite fertility cult which attempted to secure agricultural fertility from the Canaanite gods)
Hosea 4:19 The wind wraps them in its wings, and they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices (Reflects Israel's apostate idolatrous Baal worship)
Joel 2:26 "You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied And praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; Then My people will never be put to shame. 27 "Thus you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, And that I am the LORD your God, And there is no other; And My people will never be put to shame. (Promises to be fulfilled in the Millennium)
Micah 3:7 The seers will be ashamed and the diviners will be embarrassed. Indeed, they will all cover their mouths Because there is no answer from God.
Micah 7:16 Nations will see and be ashamed Of all their might. They will put their hand on their mouth, Their ears will be deaf. (NET Bible note: Apparently this means the opposing nations will be left dumbfounded by the LORD's power. Their inability to respond will make them appear to be deaf mutes.)
Zephaniah 3:11 "In that day you will feel no shame Because of all your deeds By which you have rebelled against Me; For then I will remove from your midst Your proud, exulting ones, And you will never again be haughty On My holy mountain.
Zechariah 10:5 "They will be as mighty men, Treading down the enemy in the mire of the streets in battle; And they will fight, for the LORD will be with them; And the riders on horses will be put to shame.
Zechariah 13:4 "Also it will come about in that day (Millennium) that the prophets will each be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies, and they will not put on a hairy robe in order to deceive;
Spicq on the frequent (when compared to the NT) Septuagint uses of kataischuno...
In the sense “dishonor, taint” (2Sa16:21; 19:6; Pr 19:26; Sir 22:4–5; 42:11; 1Cor 11:5, 22), humiliate and molest (Ruth 2:15), expresses simultaneously the ideas of punishment and derision: Mic 3:7 (linked with katagelao); Ps 44:8; 1Cor 1:27; 1Pet 3:16; (Spicq, C., & Ernest, J. D. Theological Lexicon of the New Testament. Peabody, MA.: Hendrickson)
Warren Wiersbe sums up Romans 9 writing that...
But the main thrust of this chapter is clear: Israel’s rejection of Christ does not deny the faithfulness of God. Romans 9 does not negate Romans 8. God is still faithful, righteous, just, and gracious, and He can be depended on to accomplish His purposes and keep His promises. (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor or Logos)
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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)