Νυμφᾶς
Nymphâs
G3564 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name, likely a masculine personal name meaning 'gift of a bride' or 'given by the bride,' depending on the interpretation of its elements. As a proper name, it refers specifically to an individual in the early assemblies, known from the Pauline epistles.
Semantic Range
proper personal name; possibly 'gift of the bride' or 'bride's gift' by etymology
Root / Etymology
Formed likely as a compound of νύμφη ('bride; young woman of marriageable age') and δῶρον ('gift'). The formation may suggest 'given by the bride' or 'bridegroom's gift.' However, the exact compounding and truncation process is uncertain, and some scholars regard the etymology as uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Νυμφᾶς appears in the New Testament only in Colossians (Col 4:15), likely referring to a prominent host or leader of a household congregation. There is substantive manuscript variation: some manuscripts read the name as Νυμφᾶν (accusative singular masculine), while others as Νυμφαίαν or similar (possibly a feminine form, Nympha). The context does not clarify gender unambiguously. As a proper name, its semantic content is less relevant for translation, but its likely etymology provides clues to Hellenistic naming conventions, where names often derive from themes of marriage, gift, or divine favor. The name is characteristic of the broader Greco-Roman world and does not indicate ethnic, religious, or geographic identity. English translations traditionally render the name as 'Nymphas' or 'Nympha' depending on manuscript evidence. There is no evidence for symbolic or metaphorical uses of this personal name in ancient literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably contracted for a compound of νύμφη and δῶρον; nymph-given (i.e. -born); Nymphas, a Christian:--Nymphas.
Root Family
νυμφ-, δῶρ- (Nymphâs) — bride, young woman; gift, offering
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3564-01 |
Νύμφαν | numphan | N ACC F SG |
Nymphas/Nympha | Nymphas | Nymphas | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3564-01 |
Colossians 4:15 | Νύμφαν | numphan | N ACC F SG |
Nymphas/Nympha | Nymphas | Nymphas |