ἐλεεινός
eleeinós
G1652 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Deserving of pity; wretched or pitiable, often describing a state that evokes compassion or sympathy due to suffering, misfortune, or deprivation. In various contexts, it can refer to external circumstances of hardship or internal feelings of misery or distress.
Semantic Range
pitiable, wretched, deserving of compassion, miserable, in a lamentable or distressing state
Root / Etymology
From the noun ἔλεος (eleos, 'pity, compassion, mercy'), with the adjectival suffix -ινός. The formation denotes belonging to, or characterized by, the quality of eliciting pity or mercy.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The adjective ἐλεεινός occurs sparingly in Koine Greek, found in the New Testament (notably Revelation 3:17 and 1 Corinthians 15:19) with the sense of a pitiable or wretched condition. Classical Greek usage also attests to its emotional resonance, where it describes people, situations, or conditions that stir strong feelings of sympathy. In the Septuagint, it can occur as the translation of Hebrew terms denoting hardship or misery, further tying it to contexts of compassion. The English translation 'miserable' (used in some English Bibles) can miss the nuance of emotional appeal for compassion; 'pitiable' or 'wretched' often better capture the full scope. Usage does not carry a technical or religious sense, but rather expresses a general human condition warranting mercy or compassion. Related terms: ἐλεήμων (showing mercy, merciful), ἔλεος (pity, mercy).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἔλεος; pitiable:--miserable.
Root Family
ἐλεε- (eleeinós) — to show pity, to elicit compassion
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G1653 | ἐλεέω | show mercy |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1652-01 |
ἐλεεινὸς | eleeinos | ADJ.S NOM M SG |
miserable | pitiable one | pitiable one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1652-01 |
Revelation 3:17 | ἐλεεινὸς | eleeinos | ADJ.S NOM M SG |
miserable | pitiable one | pitiable one |