παίζω
paízō
G3815 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To engage in play, sport, or amuse oneself, often with a sense of childlike or youthful activity; in some contexts, to jest or act in a playful, sometimes flirtatious manner. The primary sense involves recreational or lively activity, especially characteristic of children, but in extended usage can refer to social games, joking, merrymaking, or, less commonly, dancing or courtship behaviors.
Semantic Range
to play (as a child), to amuse oneself, to jest, to sport, to mock, to dance, to engage in playful or flirtatious banter
Root / Etymology
From the noun παῖς (pais), meaning 'child' or 'boy,' with the verbal suffix -ζω, forming a verb that denotes 'doing as a child.' The verb thus literally relates to the activities characteristic of children.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, παίζω regularly referred both to the spontaneous play of children and, more generally, to playful or sportive actions by adults (whether in jest, games, dancing, or amorous banter). By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, the word continued to denote physical play, jesting, or acting in a lively manner. In some contexts, the verb could refer to entertainment, such as dancing or festivities, or even, especially in participial forms, to jesting that included laughter or mockery (see, e.g., LXX Genesis 21:9, where the sense can include mockery or derisive play). The term is not limited to innocent recreation; in some settings (particularly in Greek literature and inscriptions), παίζω may carry a suggestive or flirtatious nuance. English translations that render παίζω simply as 'play' may fail to capture this full range of possibilities, especially where playful social interaction, mockery, or banter are involved. Distinct from more formal verbs for contests or organized sport.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from παῖς; to sport (as a boy):--play.
Root Family
παίζω (paizō) — to play, to amuse oneself, to jest, to sport
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3815-01 |
παίζειν | paizein | V PRS ACT INF |
to play | to engage in play | to engage in play | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3815-01 |
1 Corinthians 10:7 | παίζειν | paizein | V PRS ACT INF |
to play | to engage in play | to engage in play |