τολμητής
tolmētḗs
G5113 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A daring or audacious person; one who acts with boldness, often implying recklessness or presumption. The term most commonly characterizes someone who acts or speaks with courageous resolve, but can also carry the nuance of overstepping social or moral norms, suggesting rashness or presumptuousness depending on context.
Semantic Range
one who is daring, courageous person, audacious person, one who oversteps boundaries, presumptuous person, rash individual
Root / Etymology
From τολμάω (tolmaō, 'to dare, to have courage'); τολμητής is an agent noun formed with the -της suffix, denoting a person characterized by daring.
Historical & Contextual Notes
τολμητής is a relatively rare term in extant Greek literature, including in the New Testament (appearing once in Romans 9:20 as a descriptor of one who speaks to the Creator with presumptuous boldness). In classical Greek, nouns from τολμάω often describe those who display bravery or resolve, but these terms can also have a negative sense—one who is rash or impudent. In Hellenistic and Koine usage, particularly in moral or philosophical contexts, τολμητής may denote someone whose boldness is viewed as excessive or socially disruptive. English translations sometimes use terms such as 'presumptuous man,' 'audacious person,' or 'one who dares,' which may not fully convey the range of possible evaluation (from commendable courage to dangerous hubris). Compared to related terms like θαρραλέος ('courageous'), τολμητής more often accents a readiness to transgress boundaries. In the Septuagint and non-biblical Koine literature, its usage remains sparse, so connotations may be inferred primarily from broader use of the root τολμάω and analogous agentives.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from τολμάω; a daring (audacious) man:--presumptuous.
Root Family
τολμητής (tolmētēs) — to dare, to have courage, to act boldly
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5113-01 |
τολμηταὶ | tolmetai | N NOM M PL |
daring | audacious ones | daring ones | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5113-01 |
2 Peter 2:10 | τολμηταὶ | tolmetai | N NOM M PL |
daring | audacious ones | daring ones |