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πενθερά

pentherá

G3994 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Mother of one's spouse, specifically a woman's mother-in-law; that is, the mother of a husband or wife, most commonly the mother of one's husband, but in some contexts can refer to the mother of one's wife. The term highlights the familial relationship established by marriage rather than blood connection, and in Koine Greek it is used almost exclusively for a wife's mother.

Semantic Range

wife's mother, mother-in-law, parent-in-law (female), mother of a spouse

Root / Etymology

Feminine form of πενθερός (pentherós, 'father-in-law'). The root is connected to marriage and affinal relationships. The ultimate Indo-European etymology is uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

πενθερά appears rarely in classical Greek literature and primarily in later and Hellenistic sources, gaining more currency in the Koine period as family/affinal terminology became more standardized. In the New Testament (e.g., Matthew 8:14, Mark 1:30, Luke 4:38), it refers specifically to Simon Peter's mother-in-law, clearly designating the mother of one's spouse, and commonly rendered 'mother-in-law' in English translations. Greek distinguishes in-law relationships with specific terms, unlike some languages where a single word may cover both parents-in-law. The term conveys an extended kinship tie as mediated by marriage, not sororal or consanguineal lineage. The standard English translation 'mother-in-law' is accurate in most New Testament and Septuagint occurrences, though the word can be ambiguous for which spouse is meant. In Koine usage, context almost always specifies the relationship. Contrast with πενθερός (father-in-law), νύμφη (daughter-in-law), and γαμβρός (son-in-law). No direct evidence that the term carried connotations beyond familial relation in antiquity.

Translation Consistency

primary "mother-in-law" 6 occurrences

This noun directly matches the SILEX primary sense (the wife’s mother/mother of a spouse) and is the natural, common English term used in all six P2 occurrences. It captures the familial relationship established by marriage and aligns with Koine usage, which most often denotes a wife’s mother.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of πενθερός; a wife's mother:--mother in law, wife's mother.

Root Family

πενθερ- (pentherá) — marriage relation, spouse's mother, mother-in-law

Root πενθερ- marriage relation, spouse's mother, mother-in-law
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G3995 πενθερός father-in-law

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3994-01 πενθερὰ penthera N NOM F SG mother-in-law mother-in-law mother-in-law 3
G3994-02 πενθερὰν pentheran N ACC F SG mother-in-law mother-in-law mother-in-law 2
G3994-03 πενθερᾶς pentheras N GEN F SG mother-in-law of a mother-in-law mother-in-law 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3994-02 Matthew 8:14 πενθερὰν pentheran N ACC F SG mother-in-law mother-in-law mother-in-law
G3994-03 Matthew 10:35 πενθερᾶς pentheras N GEN F SG mother-in-law of a mother-in-law mother-in-law
G3994-01 Mark 1:30 πενθερὰ penthera N NOM F SG mother-in-law mother-in-law mother-in-law
G3994-01 Luke 4:38 πενθερὰ penthera N NOM F SG mother-in-law mother-in-law mother-in-law
G3994-01 Luke 12:53 πενθερὰ penthera N NOM F SG mother-in-law mother-in-law mother-in-law
G3994-02 Luke 12:53 πενθεράν pentheran N ACC F SG mother-in-law mother-in-law mother-in-law
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