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νουθεσία

nouthesía

G3559 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

The act of instruction that involves setting the mind in order, primarily by providing counsel, corrective guidance, or warning; a form of teaching that seeks to shape attitudes and behaviors through reasoned appeal, gentle reproof, or advice. The term encompasses both encouragement and corrective admonition, aiming for personal or communal improvement.

Semantic Range

instruction with a corrective aim, admonition, warning, counsel, guidance designed to correct, teaching to prevent error, constructive reproof

Root / Etymology

From νοῦς ('mind, understanding') and a derivative of τίθημι ('to place, to put'), meaning literally 'to put in mind.' The compound suggests an action that places something into another's mind through speech or instruction.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, νουθεσία is rare but appears in philosophical and pedagogical contexts with the sense of instruction or discipline intended to correct or prevent error. In Hellenistic and early Roman Greek, especially in moral philosophy, νουθεσία is associated with exhortation, reproof, or guidance intended to promote virtue and proper conduct, often by making someone aware of a fault or danger. In the Septuagint, the term is not frequent but can render Hebrew concepts of moral instruction or caution. In the New Testament (e.g., 1 Corinthians 10:11; Ephesians 6:4), νουθεσία carries the nuance of parental, communal, or apostolic corrective teaching—distinct from strictly punitive discipline. Unlike general 'teaching' (διδασκαλία), νουθεσία presupposes the need for correction or caution and has a gentle, formative emphasis. Traditional translations as 'admonition' or 'warning' often capture only a part of its semantic field; the term implies not only caution against wrongdoing but also constructive and restorative guidance.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from νοῦς and a derivative of τίθημι; calling attention to, i.e. (by implication) mild rebuke or warning:--admonition.

Root Family

νουθέ- (nouthesía) — to put in mind, to advise, to warn, to instruct

Root νουθέ- to put in mind, to advise, to warn, to instruct

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3559-02 νουθεσίαν nouthesian N ACC F SG admonition corrective instruction corrective instruction 2
G3559-01 νουθεσίᾳ nouthesia N DAT F SG instruction to corrective instruction instruction 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3559-02 1 Corinthians 10:11 νουθεσίαν nouthesian N ACC F SG admonition corrective instruction corrective instruction
G3559-01 Ephesians 6:4 νουθεσίᾳ nouthesia N DAT F SG instruction to corrective instruction instruction
G3559-02 Titus 3:10 νουθεσίαν nouthesian N ACC F SG admonition corrective instruction corrective instruction
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