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φθόνος

phthónos

G5355 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

An attitude of resentful discontent or ill-will toward another’s advantages, possessions, qualities, or success; typically associated with a desire to see them deprived of such benefits or to possess them oneself. In various contexts, it can refer to envious resentment, hostile rivalry, or spiteful jealousy. The term may carry the sense of both passive longing for what another possesses and active malice against them.

Semantic Range

envy, resentful jealousy, begrudging dislike, spiteful ill-will, hostile rivalry, malice arising from another's good fortune

Root / Etymology

From the root φθόν-; the exact origin is uncertain, but it is possibly related to the verb φθίω/φθείρω (to decay, perish, destroy), suggesting a semantic connection to the destructive or corrosive nature of envy.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, φθόνος commonly describes envy as a negative emotion involving begrudging others' happiness or success, often with an implication of hostility or a wish for their misfortune. Unlike πόθος, which denotes desire, φθόνος inherently involves ill-will against the person who is the object of envy. In Hellenistic and Koine contexts, including the Septuagint and New Testament, φθόνος maintains its primary sense of resentful envy or spite, frequently appearing in lists of vices (e.g., Gal 5:21; Rom 1:29; Mark 7:22). Greek philosophical literature sometimes contrasts φθόνος with ζῆλος (zeal, emulation, or sometimes jealousy), the latter potentially having a neutral or even positive sense depending on context. English translations typically render φθόνος as 'envy,' but this can fail to capture its association with active malice or social destructiveness in Greco-Roman thought. The concept is largely attitudinal and should not be confused with actions motivated by envy, though context may indicate such consequences.

Translation Consistency

primary "envy" 7 occurrences

φθόνος primarily denotes the attitude or state of envious resentment or hostile jealousy. 'Envy' is the natural, widely-used English noun (and verb) that best captures the core sense—longing combined with ill will—and will read naturally and consistently across contexts. It also covers related senses (resentment, spite) while remaining concise and familiar.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"resentful envies" (1x) "envies" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably akin to the base of φθείρω; ill-will (as detraction), i.e. jealousy (spite):--envy.

Root Family

φθόνος (phthonos) — resentful envy, ill-will, begrudging jealousy, hostile rivalry

Root φθόν- to begrudge, to hold ill-will, to feel resentful envy

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5355-03 φθόνον phthonon N ACC M SG envy resentful envy resentful envy 4
G5355-02 φθόνοι phthonoi N NOM M PL envyings resentful envies resentful envies 1
G5355-04 φθόνος phthonos N NOM M SG envy resentful envy resentful envy 1
G5355-06 φθόνους phthonous N ACC M PL envies resentful envies envies 1
G5355-01 φθόνῳ phthono N DAT M SG envy in resentful envy in resentful envy 1
G5355-05 φθόνου phthonou N GEN M SG of envy of resentful envy envy 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5355-03 Matthew 27:18 φθόνον phthonon N ACC M SG envy resentful envy resentful envy
G5355-03 Mark 15:10 φθόνον phthonon N ACC M SG envy resentful envy resentful envy
G5355-05 Romans 1:29 φθόνου phthonou N GEN M SG of envy of resentful envy envy
G5355-02 Galatians 5:21 φθόνοι phthonoi N NOM M PL envyings resentful envies resentful envies
G5355-03 Philippians 1:15 φθόνον phthonon N ACC M SG envy resentful envy resentful envy
G5355-04 1 Timothy 6:4 φθόνος phthonos N NOM M SG envy resentful envy resentful envy
G5355-01 Titus 3:3 φθόνῳ phthono N DAT M SG envy in resentful envy in resentful envy
G5355-03 James 4:5 φθόνον phthonon N ACC M SG envy resentful envy resentful envy
G5355-06 1 Peter 2:1 φθόνους phthonous N ACC M PL envies resentful envies envies
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