εὐτραπελία (G2160) — Greek Lexicon

εὐτραπελία

eutrapelía

G2160 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Skillful or clever talk, particularly speech that displays ready wit or turns of phrase; in some contexts, facetious, jesting, or playful speech—sometimes with the nuance of indecency or ribald humor. The primary meaning centers on verbal dexterity or wit, but may extend to humor that crosses boundaries of decorum, especially in moralizing contexts.

Semantic Range

wittiness, clever or skillful speech, jesting, facetiousness, playful banter; ribald joking, indecent jesting (in some moral contexts)

Root / Etymology

From εὖ ('well') and a derivative of τροπή ('turn' or 'change'), literally 'well-turned' (speech or phrase). Formed from the root τροπ- with the prefix εὖ to indicate positive or skillful character.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, εὐτραπελία typically referred to wittiness, a cheerful or good-humored disposition—especially in conversation, as a valued social trait indicative of quick and pleasant replies or repartee. Aristotle lists it among virtues of social interaction, meaning well-judged humor and social ease, contrasted with both boorishness (ἀγροικία) and buffoonery (βωμολοχία). In later Hellenistic and Roman periods, the term retains positive connotations in philosophical discourse. However, in New Testament and moralizing literature (e.g., Ephesians 5:4), εὐτραπελία takes on a pejorative sense, indicating inappropriate jesting, vulgar wit, or ribald joking, likely reflecting anxieties about impropriety within the community. Standard English renderings like 'jesting' often fail to capture this shift between positive classical and negative NT usage, nor the specific nuance of clever or witty repartee versus offensive levity.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a compound of εὖ and a derivative of the base of τροπή (meaning well-turned, i.e. ready at repartee, jocose); witticism, i.e. (in a vulgar sense) ribaldry:--jesting.

Root Family

εὐ + τροπ- (eutrapelía) — to turn, to change, to speak skillfully, to jest

Root εὐ + τροπ- to turn, to change, to speak skillfully, to jest

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2160-01`	εὐτραπελία	eutrapelia	`N NOM F SG`	jesting	well-turned wit	well-turned wit	1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2160-01`	Ephesians 5:4	εὐτραπελία	eutrapelia	`N NOM F SG`	jesting	well-turned wit	well-turned wit

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