ἀνθρώπινος
anthrṓpinos
G442 attributive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Pertaining to human beings; of or belonging to people as distinct from the divine or supernatural. The term describes something characteristic of, originating from, or associated with human beings in contrast to what is considered divine, spiritual, or exceptional. Semantic range includes: (1) human, relating to humans; (2) adapted to or marked by human limitations or frailty; (3) by human standard or custom, in the sense of ordinary or typical among people.
Semantic Range
human, human-like, pertaining to or characteristic of humans, of human origin, as opposed to divine or exceptional, ordinary among humans, done in a human manner, by human custom
Root / Etymology
From ἄνθρωπος (human being, person) + adjectival suffix -ινος, denoting 'pertaining to' or 'of the nature of.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
ἀνθρώπινος appears in Hellenistic Greek and is attested in classical sources but is more common in Koine and later periods. In the LXX and New Testament, it typically draws a contrast between what is of human origin or character and what belongs to the divine or supernatural sphere (e.g., 1 Corinthians 2:13, 'not in words taught by human wisdom'). The term can emphasize human limitation, ordinariness, or what is typical for people as opposed to what is unique to God or the gods. English translations sometimes use 'human,' 'mortal,' or 'of men,' but may obscure nuance in contrasts (for example, human custom vs. divine command). Related adjectives (e.g., ἀνθρωπώδης, 'humanoid') do not carry the same contrastive value. Use does not necessarily imply a moral judgment, but rather category: of, relating to, or characteristic of humans. Context determines whether the focus is on limitation, universality, or customary human behavior.
Translation Consistency
Most natural and common English rendering of ἀνθρώπινος; it captures the primary sense of belonging to or characteristic of people (as opposed to divine), covers senses of human origin, limitation, and ordinary/customary among people, and matches the majority of existing renderings. 'Human' is concise, natural, and will read well in all adjectival forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἄνθρωπος; human:--human, common to man, man(-kind), (man-)kind, men's, after the manner of men.
Root Family
ἀνθρώπινος (anthrōpinos) — human, pertaining to people
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G442-02 |
ἀνθρωπίνης | anthropines | ADJ.A GEN F SG |
human | of human | of human | 2 |
G442-03 |
ἀνθρωπίνων | anthropinon | ADJ.A GEN F PL |
human | of human | of human | 2 |
G442-01 |
ἀνθρωπίνῃ | anthropine | ADJ.R DAT F SG |
human | to/for a human | human | 2 |
G442-04 |
ἀνθρώπινος | anthropinos | ADJ.S NOM M SG |
human | a human one | human | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G442-03 |
Acts 17:25 | ἀνθρωπίνων | anthropinon | ADJ.A GEN F PL |
human | of human | of human |
G442-03 |
Romans 6:19 | ἀνθρώπινον | anthropinon | ADJ.S ACC N SG |
human terms | of human | of human |
G442-02 |
1 Corinthians 2:13 | ἀνθρωπίνης | anthropines | ADJ.A GEN F SG |
human | of human | of human |
G442-02 |
1 Corinthians 4:3 | ἀνθρωπίνης | anthropines | ADJ.A GEN F SG |
human | of human | of human |
G442-04 |
1 Corinthians 10:13 | ἀνθρώπινος | anthropinos | ADJ.S NOM M SG |
human | a human one | human |
G442-01 |
James 3:7 | ἀνθρωπίνῃ | anthropine | ADJ.R DAT F SG |
human | to/for a human | human |
G442-01 |
1 Peter 2:13 | ἀνθρωπίνῃ | anthropine | ADJ.A DAT F SG |
human | to/for a human | human |