φείδομαι (G5339) — Greek Lexicon

φείδομαι

pheídomai

G5339 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To refrain or hold back, especially from inflicting harm or punishment; to spare or show restraint toward someone or something. In various contexts, φείδομαι can indicate the act of holding back, not using, or not imposing something (such as punishment, force, or resources), and, by extension, to show mercy, forbearance, or leniency. It often conveys the sense of deciding not to do something one might otherwise have a right or cause to do, especially with regard to negative action or retribution.

Semantic Range

to refrain from harming or using, to spare (from punishment or destruction), to show leniency or mercy, to abstain, to withhold

Root / Etymology

Etymology uncertain. Not directly derived from any commonly attested Greek root, though sometimes associated in meaning with roots conveying notions of sparing or holding back.

Historical & Contextual Notes

φείδομαι appears in both classical and Koine Greek with the core sense of refraining or sparing. In early Greek literature (e.g., Homer, Herodotus, Plato), it often means 'to spare (someone),' 'to hold back from,' or 'to refrain (from doing something).' In Hellenistic and Koine usage, including the Septuagint and New Testament, φείδομαι retains this basic meaning but can also imply mercy, leniency, or the withholding of deserved harm or resources. In the Septuagint, it frequently translates Hebrew roots such as חוס (to spare, show compassion). In the New Testament, it is rare but carries a similar sense of refraining or sparing (e.g., Romans 8:32). Standard English translations as 'spare' or 'forbear' typically capture the essential meaning, but may not fully communicate the sense of active restraint or conscious decision to withhold action. The verb can express either subjective restraint (self-control) or objective leniency (treating another with mercy). Related terms include ἐλεέω (to have mercy) and ἀνέχομαι (to endure, put up with), but φείδομαι especially emphasizes restraint in action.

Translation Consistency

primary "spare" 10 occurrences

'Spare' is the natural, common English verb that best captures the primary sense of φείδομαι—refraining from harming or punishing, showing mercy or leniency, and withholding action. It matches the majority of attested renderings (spared/sparing) and will yield consistent, idiomatic translations across all forms.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain affinity; to be chary of, i.e. (subjectively) to abstain or (objectively) to treat leniently:--forbear, spare.

Root Family

φείδομαι (pheídomai) — to spare, to refrain, to hold back

Root φείδ- to spare, to refrain, to hold back

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G5339-01`	ἐφείσατο	epheisato	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	spared	he spared	he spared	4
`G5339-02`	φείδομαι	pheidomai	`V PRS MID IND 1P SG`	I refrain	I am sparing	I am sparing	2
`G5339-04`	φειδόμενος	pheidomenos	`V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG`	sparing	holding himself back	sparing	1
`G5339-03`	φειδόμενοι	pheidomenoi	`V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL`	sparing	refraining	sparing	1
`G5339-05`	φείσεται	pheisetai	`V FUT MID IND 3P SG`	spare	he will hold himself back	he will spare	1
`G5339-06`	φείσομαι	pheisomai	`V FUT MID IND 1P SG`	I will spare	I will spare	I will spare	1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G5339-03`	Acts 20:29	φειδόμενοι	pheidomenoi	`V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL`	sparing	refraining	sparing
`G5339-01`	Romans 8:32	ἐφείσατο	epheisato	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	spare	he spared	he spared
`G5339-01`	Romans 11:21	ἐφείσατο	epheisato	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	spared	he spared	he spared
`G5339-05`	Romans 11:21	φείσεται	pheisetai	`V FUT MID IND 3P SG`	spare	he will hold himself back	he will spare
`G5339-02`	1 Corinthians 7:28	φείδομαι	pheidomai	`V PRS MID IND 1P SG`	spare	I am sparing	I am sparing
`G5339-04`	2 Corinthians 1:23	φειδόμενος	pheidomenos	`V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG`	sparing	holding himself back	sparing
`G5339-02`	2 Corinthians 12:6	φείδομαι	pheidomai	`V PRS MID IND 1P SG`	I refrain	I am sparing	I am sparing
`G5339-06`	2 Corinthians 13:2	φείσομαι	pheisomai	`V FUT MID IND 1P SG`	I will spare	I will spare	I will spare
`G5339-01`	2 Peter 2:4	ἐφείσατο	epheisato	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	spared	he spared	he spared
`G5339-01`	2 Peter 2:5	ἐφείσατο	epheisato	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	spared	he spared	he spared

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