ἀνήμερος
anḗmeros
G434 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Not tame, wild, untamed; primarily describes an animal that is not domesticated or accustomed to human control. In a figurative sense, it can refer to a person or persons who are fierce, brutal, or savage in behavior, lacking restraint typical of civilized or acculturated individuals.
Semantic Range
untamed, wild (of animals); savage, brutal, fierce, uncivilized (of persons or behaviors)
Root / Etymology
From the privative prefix ἀ- (alpha, meaning 'not') and ἥμερος (hḗmeros, meaning 'tame, gentle, domesticated'). Thus, ἀνήμερος means 'not tame' or 'untamed.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
ἀνήμερος is rare in the Greek corpus and is attested notably in the New Testament (2 Timothy 3:3), used figuratively to describe human behaviors as 'uncontrollable' or 'savage.' In Classical and Hellenistic Greek, the base ἥμερος refers to animals domesticated or individuals who are gentle or cultured; the prefix ἀ- negates these qualities. In New Testament usage, it conveys a sense of social or moral wildness, an absence of self-restraint or civility. English Bible translations often render the term as 'fierce,' 'brutal,' or 'savage,' but these do not capture the full nuance of its original sense about being untameable both literally and metaphorically. The term is not found in the Septuagint.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from Α (as a negative particle) and (lame); savage:--fierce.
Root Family
ἀνήμερος (anēmeros) — untamed, wild, savage, uncivilized
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G434-01 |
ἀνήμεροι | anemeroi | ADJ.S NOM M PL |
brutal | untamed ones | untamed ones | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G434-01 |
2 Timothy 3:3 | ἀνήμεροι | anemeroi | ADJ.S NOM M PL |
brutal | untamed ones | untamed ones |