ὀλιγόπιστος
oligópistos
G3640 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Having little trust or confidence; describes a state of insufficient faith or wavering trust (especially in relation to God's ability or promises). Used in contexts where someone exhibits hesitancy, doubt, or a lack of full conviction, particularly in situations requiring dependence on divine help.
Semantic Range
having insufficient faith, being of little trust, displaying wavering confidence, hesitant in trust, lacking full conviction
Root / Etymology
Compound of ὀλίγος ('little, few') and πίστις ('faith, trust'). The term combines these to describe one whose faith is minimal or inadequate.
Historical & Contextual Notes
ὀλιγόπιστος is a relatively rare adjective, only attested in post-classical Greek and predominantly in early Christian literature; outside the New Testament, it appears almost exclusively in patristic writings, with rare Hellenistic or non-Christian usage. In the New Testament (notably in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke), it functions as a gentle rebuke—addressed by Jesus to disciples when they express fear, anxiety, or doubt about God's ability to provide or act. Unlike ἄπιστος ('unbelieving, faithless'), which suggests a total lack of faith, ὀλιγόπιστος denotes insufficient, fragile, or wavering faith. Standard English translations often render it as 'of little faith,' which captures the quantitative aspect but may miss the nuance of hesitancy or timidity. The term is not used of people outside the disciple group, and never denotes total rejection or hostility, but rather a deficient or insufficient degree of trust. No equivalent classical Greek adjective exists; the concept reflects the increased focus in Hellenistic and later Jewish Greek on personal faith and dependence on God.
Translation Consistency
Most natural and flexible English word to render ὀλιγόπιστος’ sense of insufficient faith or wavering trust. Covers hesitation/lack of conviction better than awkward coinages like “little-trusting,” and is a common, idiomatic rendering of ‘of little faith’ in context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ὀλίγος and πίστις; incredulous, i.e. lacking confidence (in Christ):--of little faith.
Root Family
ὀλιγόπιστος (oligopistos) — little trust, minimal faith, wavering confidence
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3640-02 |
ὀλιγόπιστοι | oligopistoi | ADJ.S VOC M PL |
you men of little faith | little-trusting ones | little-trusting ones | 4 |
G3640-01 |
ὀλιγόπιστε | oligopiste | ADJ.S VOC M SG |
you of little faith | O little-trusting one | O little-trusting one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3640-02 |
Matthew 6:30 | ὀλιγόπιστοι | oligopistoi | ADJ.S VOC M PL |
you of little faith | little-trusting ones | little-trusting ones |
G3640-02 |
Matthew 8:26 | ὀλιγόπιστοι | oligopistoi | ADJ.S VOC M PL |
you men of little faith | little-trusting ones | little-trusting ones |
G3640-01 |
Matthew 14:31 | ὀλιγόπιστε | oligopiste | ADJ.S VOC M SG |
you of little faith | O little-trusting one | O little-trusting one |
G3640-02 |
Matthew 16:8 | ὀλιγόπιστοι | oligopistoi | ADJ.S VOC M PL |
little faith | little-trusting ones | little-trusting ones |
G3640-02 |
Luke 12:28 | ὀλιγόπιστοι | oligopistoi | ADJ.S VOC M PL |
you men of little faith | little-trusting ones | little-trusting ones |