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ἀμελέω

ameléō

G272 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To neglect, to disregard, to show lack of concern or attention for something or someone. The primary sense is to not give proper heed or care, with nuance depending on context—from administrative neglect (failure to attend responsibilities), to personal disregard (paying no attention to someone or something).

Semantic Range

neglect, disregard, pay no attention, show indifference, make light of, be inattentive, be negligent

Root / Etymology

From the alpha privative (ἀ-) denoting negation, and the verb μέλω (to be a care to, to concern oneself with). Thus, ἀμελέω literally means 'not to care about, not to be concerned.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb ἀμελέω appears primarily in Koine Greek sources, including the New Testament (e.g., Matthew 22:5, Hebrews 2:3), where it denotes failure to give due attention to something of consequence (such as an invitation or message). In the Septuagint and post-classical Greek, it similarly describes negligence toward duties, warnings, or obligations. This nuance differs from παριέμαι (to overlook knowingly) or ἀγνοέω (to be unaware, to not recognize), in that ἀμελέω emphasizes a willful neglect or lack of due concern. In later Greek, the term can also have the sense of 'to make light of,' suggesting dismissiveness, not merely omission. English translations sometimes narrow this to 'neglect,' but the underlying Greek may carry both the sense of passive inattention and active disregard. Classical attestations are rare, with more common usage in Hellenistic and later literature.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from Α (as a negative particle) and μέλω; to be careless of:--make light of, neglect, be negligent, no regard.

Root Family

μελ- (epimeléomai) — to care about, to be concerned

Root μελ- to care, to be concerned, to give attention
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G1959 ἐπιμελέομαι he/she took care of
G1960 ἐπιμελῶς carefully
G3192 μέλι honey
G3193 μελίσσιος
G3199 μέλω it was of concern

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G272-02 ἀμελήσαντες amelesantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL having-neglected having neglected having neglected 2
G272-01 ἀμέλει amelei V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG neglect Neglect Neglect 1
G272-03 ἠμέλησα emelesa V AOR ACT IND 1P SG disregarded I neglected I neglected 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G272-02 Matthew 22:5 ἀμελήσαντες amelesantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL having-neglected having neglected having neglected
G272-01 1 Timothy 4:14 ἀμέλει amelei V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG neglect Neglect Neglect
G272-02 Hebrews 2:3 ἀμελήσαντες amelesantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL neglect having neglected having neglected
G272-03 Hebrews 8:9 ἠμέλησα emelesa V AOR ACT IND 1P SG disregarded I neglected I neglected
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