The Word "Addiction" Is NOT in the Bible!

8/15/2025

DID YOU KNOW, that the excuse-word “addiction” is nowhere in the Bible?

No—the word “addiction” does not appear in the original languages of the Bible (Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek), and accurate translations therefore do not use it at all.

In the Bible, the modern concept of addiction is referred to in more appropriate ways, implying human responsibility rather than excuses, such as:

• Bondage: John 8:34—“Whoever commits sin is the servant of sin.”
• Slavery: Romans 6:16—You are slaves of the one you obey...”
• Given to or devoted to something: Titus 1:7—“not given to wine”
• Lusts or desires that control a person: James 1:14-15
• Drunkenness: Galatians 5:21 as a specific example of compulsive, destructive behavior

Yes, of course, we can get ourselves into a “reward loop” of bad behavior chemically—but that too is a choice, and we are never tempted beyond what we can bear, always given a way out.

Both modern Hebrew and modern Greek do have words that directly mean “addiction,” because these languages have evolved to include concepts previously nonexistent.

Modern Hebrew
• התמכרות (hitmakrut)—addiction (general)
• Root: מכר (makar)—“to sell.”
• Literally “selling oneself,” which fits the sense of giving yourself over to something.
• Example: התמכרות לסמים (hitmakrut le-samim)—“drug addiction.”
• Other uses: התמכרות לאלכוהול (alcohol addiction), התמכרות לאינטרנט (internet addiction).

Modern Greek
• εθισμός (ethismós)—addiction (general)
• Comes from the ancient root ἐθίζω (ethizō)—“to accustom, to habituate.”
• Example: εθισμός στα ναρκωτικά (ethismós sta narkotiká)—“drug addiction.”
• Other uses: εθισμός στο αλκοόλ (alcohol addiction), εθισμός στο διαδίκτυο (internet addiction).

“To accustom” !!
• training your mind, body, or feelings to become comfortable with something

This seemed related to the above messages... Very Clear

“That which is contrary to the world, and crucifies to the world, that is the Cross. The Cross hath this power and nothing else; and so there is nothing else to glory in. The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary one to the other. Mind here is the Cross: the Spirit which is contrary to the flesh, which mortifies the flesh, through the obedience whereof the flesh is crucified. ‘If ye through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.’ Whatsoever is of and in the Spirit is contrary to the flesh. The light of the Spirit is contrary to the darkness of the flesh. The holiness of the Spirit is contrary to the unholiness of the flesh. The life of the Spirit is contrary to the life (or rather death) that is in sin. The power of the Spirit is contrary to the power that is in Satan and in his kingdom. The wisdom of God is contrary and a foolish thing to the wisdom of man. Yea, the new creature which springs from God’s Holy Spirit is contrary and death to the old.” (ISAAC PENNINGTON)