στρηνιάω
strēniáō
G4763 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To live in luxury, to indulge in sensual or extravagant pleasures; to lead a life characterized by self-indulgence and excessive comfort. The verb denotes living in a manner marked by ostentatious pleasure-seeking or excess, sometimes with connotations of moral laxity.
Semantic Range
to live in luxury, to pursue pleasure or comfort to excess, to act wantonly; to indulge in sensuality or extravagance
Root / Etymology
From a presumed derivative of στρῆνος (strēnos), which refers to luxury, sensual pleasure, or wantonness. The exact derivational pattern is uncertain, but the form στρηνιάω is a denominative verb built on this root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
στρηνιάω is very rare in extant Greek literature, primarily attested in later and Hellenistic sources, and appears in the New Testament in Revelation 18:7,9 to describe the behavior of 'Babylon' as living or acting luxuriously or wantonly. The concept of στρῆνος (luxury, sensuality) carries negative connotations in Greek moral thought, often associated with excess and effeminacy; στρηνιάω describes behavior or lifestyle that exemplifies these qualities. English translations have sometimes rendered the term as 'live deliciously' (KJV) or 'luxuriate,' but these may not fully capture the moral and social overtones of wanton extravagance implied in the Greek. The verb stands in contrast to temperate or moderate living (σωφροσύνη). Usage in the Septuagint is extremely rare or absent; the term occurs in later Koine but is always colored by its association with opulence, indulgence, and moral excess.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a presumed derivative of στρῆνος; to be luxurious:--live deliciously.
Root Family
στρην- (strēniáō) — to luxuriate, to live in excess, to indulge sensually
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4763-01 |
ἐστρηνίασεν | estreniasen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
lived luxuriously | he luxuriated in excess | she lived luxuriously | 1 |
G4763-02 |
στρηνιάσαντες | streniasantes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
lived luxuriously | having indulged in luxury | having lived in luxury | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4763-01 |
Revelation 18:7 | ἐστρηνίασεν | estreniasen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
lived luxuriously | he luxuriated in excess | she lived luxuriously |
G4763-02 |
Revelation 18:9 | στρηνιάσαντες | streniasantes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
lived luxuriously | having indulged in luxury | having lived in luxury |