UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: dog

Semantic entry: 4.34

Semantic domains: Animals

Subdomains: Animals

Definition: relatively small light brown domestic animal, feeding on anything from household refuse to animal carcasses and excreta; Canis familiaris putiatini; associated with all sorts of uncleanness, aggression, greediness, low status

Notes: In Greek outside the NT κύων may be either masculine or feminine and in the plural may refer to both male and female dogs.

Further resources: fauna:2.12

Sense 2: bad person, dog

Semantic entry: 88.122

Semantic domains: Moral and Ethical Qualities and Related Behavior

Subdomains: Bad, Evil, Harmful, Damaging

Definition: (a figurative extension of meaning of κύων[a] ‘dog,’ 4.34: κύων) a particularly bad person, perhaps specifically one who ridicules what is holy

Notes: It is also possible that κύων in OET PHP 3:2 (RV-only PHP 3:2 · LV-only PHP 3:2) may be interpreted as meaning ‘pervert’ (see 88.282: κύων).|A term for ‘dog’ may have quite a different connotation than it does in English. For example, to call a person ‘a dog’ in some languages is to compliment him for his faithfulness, but in other languages it may be merely a way of attributing promiscuous sexual behavior.

Sense 3: pervert

Semantic entry: 88.282

Semantic domains: Moral and Ethical Qualities and Related Behavior

Subdomains: Sexual Misbehavior

Definition: (a figurative extension of meaning of κύων[a] ‘dog,’ 4.34: κύων) one who is a sexual pervert or possibly one who is sexually promiscuous

Notes: It is also possible, however, that in OET REV 22:15 (RV-only REV 22:15 · LV-only REV 22:15) κύων means ‘a wicked person’ who might have complete contempt for what is holy, a meaning which parallels the significance of the adage in OET MAT 7:6 (RV-only MAT 7:6 · LV-only MAT 7:6) (see 88.122: κύων).