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ἄνθος

ánthos

G438 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A flower, blossom; primarily refers to the blossom or flower of a plant, with emphasis on its beauty and transience. In extended contexts, can denote the prime, best, or choicest part of something (such as youth or excellence).

Semantic Range

flower, blossom, bloom, prime or peak of life or excellence, passing beauty, transience

Root / Etymology

Root: ἄνθ-. The word ἄνθος is of uncertain Indo-European origin, but is attested from early Greek (Homeric) and is a primary noun in classical usage for 'flower' or 'blossom', with later metaphorical extensions.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἄνθος refers literally to the flower, blossom, or bloom of a plant, often highlighting ephemeral beauty and fragility. The metaphorical use ('the flower of youth', i.e., the prime or best part) is attested from at least the classical period (e.g., Plato, poetry), and continues in Koine and later Greek. In the Septuagint and New Testament, ἄνθος is used in both literal (e.g., describing vegetation) and figurative ways (e.g., as a symbol of transience and mortality, such as the fleeting nature of human life; cf. Jas 1:10-11, 1 Pet 1:24, echoing LXX Isaiah 40:6). English Bible translations often render it simply as 'flower', but in its ancient usage the word frequently conveys additional nuances of beauty, brevity, and excellence, overlapping with metaphors found in Hebrew poetic tradition (e.g., צִיץ, ṣîṣ, 'blossom'). No significant difference in meaning appears between the LXX and NT usage, though metaphoric application is common in both.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary word; a blossom:--flower.

Root Family

ἄνθος (anthos) — blossom, flower, bloom, prime

Root ἄνθ- blossom, to bloom, to be in prime

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G438-01 ἄνθος anthos N NOM N SG flower blossom blossom 4

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G438-01 James 1:10 ἄνθος anthos N NOM N SG flower blossom blossom
G438-01 James 1:11 ἄνθος anthos N NOM N SG flower blossom blossom
G438-01 1 Peter 1:24 ἄνθος anthos N NOM N SG flower blossom flower
G438-01 1 Peter 1:24 ἄνθος anthos-2 N NOM N SG flower blossom flower
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