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παιδάριον

paidárion

G3808 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Diminutive form of 'child'; a young child, a little boy or girl, often implying smallness, youth, or affectionate diminutive. Used in Hellenistic Greek for children generally, without fixed age, but often suggesting a young or tender age. In some contexts, may also refer to a young servant or attendant.

Semantic Range

little child, young boy, young girl, tender child, small servant, young attendant

Root / Etymology

Diminutive formed from παῖς (país, 'child, boy, girl') with the suffix -άριον, denoting smallness or endearment. Thus, παιδάριον literally means 'little child.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Attested in classical Greek as a term for a young child, often with an affectionate nuance. In the Septuagint, used for Hebrew terms like נַעַר (na‘ar, 'boy, youth') or יֶלֶד (yeled, 'child'), and can refer to both boys and girls, though often masculine. In the New Testament, appears in narratives of healing or resurrection (e.g., Mark 5:39-41), emphasizing youth and dependency. Standard translations render it as 'child' or 'little child,' but it can sometimes lose the diminutive or tender quality of the Greek. Not strongly marked for gender in form, but context may specify (cf. masculine or feminine adjective agreement). Distinct from παῖς (generic 'child,' which can also mean 'servant') and παῖδαριον (an alternate, less common form). In some sources, also used of young servants.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

neuter of a presumed derivative of παῖς; a little boy:--child, lad.

Root Family

παιδ- (paidárion) — child, youth, small child

Root παιδ- child, youth, small child
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G3809 παιδεία with formative discipline
G3811 παιδεύω they were training and disciplining
G3812 παιδιόθεν from childhood
G3813 παιδίον young children
G3814 παιδίσκη young slave girls

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3808-01 παιδάριον paidarion N NOM N SG a boy little child little child 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3808-01 John 6:9 παιδάριον paidarion N NOM N SG a boy little child little child
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