νήπιος
nḗpios
G3516 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
An infant or very young child; by extension, someone lacking maturity, understanding, or experience, especially in matters of speech, knowledge, or discernment. Primarily denotes a child too young to speak or express themselves fully. Figuratively used of a person seen as immature, inexperienced, or naïve (in knowledge, understanding, or faith), particularly contrasted with one considered mature or fully developed.
Semantic Range
infant, very young child, person too young to speak, immature or naïve person, one lacking experience or understanding, spiritually immature individual
Root / Etymology
From the negative prefix νη- (implying negation) and ἔπος (word, speech), thus literally 'not speaking' or 'unable to speak.' The root ἔπος refers to 'a word, utterance.' The word therefore originally describes one incapable of articulate speech.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, νήπιος was used to indicate a very young child, especially one too young to speak, but could also denote childishness or a lack of developed reason. In Homeric and subsequent Hellenistic usage, the word could bear a pejorative sense—someone acting with the naivety or lack of understanding of a young child. In the Septuagint, νήπιος usually translates Hebrew terms for infants or very young children, maintaining the primary meaning. In the New Testament and early Christian writings, the term often takes on a metaphorical nuance for those who are immature in faith, undeveloped in spiritual understanding, or not yet fully instructed (e.g., 1 Corinthians 3:1; Hebrews 5:13; Galatians 4:1-3). English translations such as 'babe' or 'childish' capture part of the meaning but may miss nuance, especially when the context is about immaturity in knowledge or spiritual development rather than literal age. The contrast is sometimes drawn with τέλειος (adult, mature), highlighting the theme of development from infancy to maturity both physically and metaphorically.
Translation Consistency
'Child' is the most natural, widely understood single-word equivalent that covers both the literal sense (infant/very young person) and the frequent figurative sense (an immature or inexperienced person). It reads naturally in modern English, fits the typical usage across contexts, and is preferable to more formal ('infant') or archaic ('babe') options.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an obsolete particle (implying negation) and ἔπος; not speaking, i.e. an infant (minor); figuratively, a simple-minded person, an immature Christian:--babe, child (+ -ish).
Root Family
νηπ- (nḗpios) — not speaking, child, immature
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3516-04 |
νήπιος | nepios | ADJ.P NOM M SG |
a child | speechless infant | a child | 6 |
G3516-01 |
νήπιοι | nepioi | ADJ.P NOM M PL |
children | infants | infants | 3 |
G3516-02 |
νηπίοις | nepiois | ADJ.S DAT M PL |
to infants | to immature ones | to child(ren) | 3 |
G3516-03 |
νηπίων | nepion | ADJ.S GEN M PL |
of babes | of infants | of infants | 2 |
G3516-05 |
νηπίου | nepiou | ADJ.S GEN M SG |
child | of an infant | infant | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
15 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3516-02 |
Matthew 11:25 | νηπίοις | nepiois | ADJ.S DAT M PL |
to infants | to immature ones | to child(ren) |
G3516-03 |
Matthew 21:16 | νηπίων | nepion | ADJ.S GEN M PL |
of babes | of infants | of infants |
G3516-02 |
Luke 10:21 | νηπίοις | nepiois | ADJ.S DAT M PL |
to infants | to immature ones | to child(ren) |
G3516-03 |
Romans 2:20 | νηπίων | nepion | ADJ.S GEN M PL |
of babes | of infants | of infants |
G3516-02 |
1 Corinthians 3:1 | νηπίοις | nepiois | ADJ.S DAT M PL |
babes | to immature ones | to child(ren) |
G3516-04 |
1 Corinthians 13:11 | νήπιος | nepios | ADJ.P NOM M SG |
a child | speechless infant | a child |
G3516-04 |
1 Corinthians 13:11 | νήπιος | nepios-2 | ADJ.S NOM M SG |
a child | speechless infant | a child |
G3516-04 |
1 Corinthians 13:11 | νήπιος | nepios-3 | ADJ.S NOM M SG |
a child | speechless infant | a child |
G3516-04 |
1 Corinthians 13:11 | νήπιος | nepios-4 | ADJ.S NOM M SG |
a child | speechless infant | a child |
G3516-05 |
1 Corinthians 13:11 | νηπίου | nepiou | ADJ.S GEN M SG |
child | of an infant | infant |
G3516-04 |
Galatians 4:1 | νήπιός | nepios | ADJ.P NOM M SG |
child | speechless infant | a child |
G3516-01 |
Galatians 4:3 | νήπιοι | nepioi | ADJ.P NOM M PL |
children | infants | infants |
G3516-01 |
Ephesians 4:14 | νήπιοι | nepioi | ADJ.S NOM M PL |
children | infants | infants |
G3516-01 |
1 Thessalonians 2:7 | νήπιοι | nepioi | ADJ.P NOM M PL |
infants | infants | infants |
G3516-04 |
Hebrews 5:13 | νήπιος | nepios | ADJ.P NOM M SG |
an infant | speechless infant | a child |