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τρέφω

tréphō

G5142 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To feed or provide nourishment to living beings, especially with the aim of supporting growth or sustaining life; by extension, to care for or rear (children or animals). In various contexts, can also mean to maintain, support, or foster development. The core meaning centers on supplying what is necessary for proper physical development, but in some cases broadens metaphorically to include nurturing, cherishing, or sustaining more generally.

Semantic Range

to feed, to nurse, to nourish, to bring up (rear), to care for, to maintain, to foster, to support

Root / Etymology

Derived from the Greek root τρεφ-, with the basic sense of nourishing or causing to grow. Not directly related to τροπή ('turn'), despite similar roots; no certain connection to a more primary verb beyond the standard Greek development. The etymology is thus from Greek τρέφω, 'to feed, nourish'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, τρέφω primarily denotes feeding or nourishing, especially of children (to rear), animals, or plants. The verb also carries the sense of sustaining, maintaining, or taking care of someone or something, whether physically (food, provisions) or, in some usages, more abstractly (upbringing, education, fostering). In the Septuagint, τρέφω often translates Hebrew verbs related to feeding or caring for livestock, children, or dependents, emphasizing the aspect of provision and care. In the New Testament, the sense remains closely aligned with its classical usage—feeding, caring for, or rearing, sometimes with overtones of cherishing or showing kindness by means of provision. Unlike verbs that mean only 'to give food' (e.g., σιτίζω), τρέφω more broadly includes the whole process of upbringing and care, especially in familial or caretaking contexts. English translations often render τρέφω as 'bring up,' 'nurture,' or 'feed,' but the full sense includes both the act of providing food and the broader care that enables growth and wellbeing. There is no direct tie to the idea of fattening or stiffening except in specific specialized contexts; rather, nurturing and sustaining are primary.

Translation Consistency

primary "nourish" 7 occurrences

The primary sense of τρέφω is to feed or provide nourishment and by extension to rear, care for, or sustain. 'Nourish' naturally covers physical feeding, nursing, and broader nurturing/maintenance senses in everyday English, so it best fits the full semantic range and typical usage across contexts.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"brought up" (1x) "nursed" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary verb (properly, ; but perhaps strengthened from the base of τροπή through the idea of convolution); properly, to stiffen, i.e. fatten (by implication, to cherish (with food, etc.), pamper, rear):--bring up, feed, nourish.

Root Family

τρέφω (trephō) — to feed, to nourish, to rear, to sustain

Root τρἐφ- to feed, to nourish, to rear, to sustain

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5142-05 τρέφει trephei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG feeds he/she/it nourishes he/she/it nourishes 2
G5142-03 ἐθρέψατε ethrepsate V AOR ACT IND 2P PL you have nourished you nourished you nourished 1
G5142-08 τρέφωσιν trephosin V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P PL they should feed they may nourish they may nourish 1
G5142-01 ἐθρέψαμεν ethrepsamen V AOR ACT IND 1P PL fed we nourished we nourished 1
G5142-06 τρέφεσθαι trephesthai V PRS PASS INF be nourished to be nourished to be nourished 1
G5142-07 τρέφεται trephetai V PRS PASS IND 3P SG she is nourished is being nourished she is nourished 1
G5142-04 τεθραμμένος tethrammenos V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M SG brought up having been nourished brought up 1
G5142-02 ἔθρεψαν ethrepsan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL nursed they nourished nursed 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5142-05 Matthew 6:26 τρέφει trephei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG feeds he/she/it nourishes he/she/it nourishes
G5142-01 Matthew 25:37 ἐθρέψαμεν ethrepsamen V AOR ACT IND 1P PL fed we nourished we nourished
G5142-04 Luke 4:16 τεθραμμένος tethrammenos V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M SG brought up having been nourished brought up
G5142-05 Luke 12:24 τρέφει trephei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG feeds he/she/it nourishes he/she/it nourishes
G5142-02 Luke 23:29 ἔθρεψαν ethrepsan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL nursed they nourished nursed
G5142-06 Acts 12:20 τρέφεσθαι trephesthai V PRS PASS INF be nourished to be nourished to be nourished
G5142-03 James 5:5 ἐθρέψατε ethrepsate V AOR ACT IND 2P PL you have nourished you nourished you nourished
G5142-08 Revelation 12:6 τρέφωσιν trephosin V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P PL they should feed they may nourish they may nourish
G5142-07 Revelation 12:14 τρέφεται trephetai V PRS PASS IND 3P SG she is nourished is being nourished she is nourished
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