ψυχρός
psychrós
G5593 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Having a low temperature; cold to the touch, cool. In extended or figurative usage, lacking warmth, enthusiasm, or emotional engagement; indifferent, unfeeling. In metaphorical contexts, especially in New Testament usage, denotes spiritual apathy or a lack of fervor.
Semantic Range
cold in temperature, cool, chilly, lacking emotional warmth, lacking spiritual enthusiasm, spiritually apathetic or indifferent
Root / Etymology
From the nominal root ψυχ- (psych-) meaning 'cold' or 'cool', with the adjectival suffix -ρός. Cognate with the noun ψῦχος ('coldness; chill').
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ψυχρός primarily denotes physical coldness—cool in temperature, cold to the body or touch. The term is found in medical and philosophical texts to indicate temperature (as opposed to θερμός, 'hot'). In figurative usage, ψυχρός came to describe persons or attitudes characterized by a lack of emotional warmth, zeal, or involvement. In the New Testament (e.g., Revelation 3:15-16), it is used metaphorically to refer to someone lacking spiritual fervor or commitment, as contrasted with θερμός ('hot', ardent, zealous) or χλιαρός ('lukewarm'). English renderings like 'cold' often translate both literal and figurative senses, but may understate emotional or evaluative nuances present in Koine contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ψύχος; chilly (literally or figuratively):--cold.
Root Family
ψυχ- (ekpsýchō) — to breathe, to blow, to expire
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G1634 | ἐκψύχω | expired |
| G2711 | καταψύχω | may cool down |
| G404 | ἀναψύχω | he revived |
| G5590 | ψυχή | living beings |
| G5591 | ψυχικός | soulish |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5593-01 |
ψυχρὸς | psuchros | ADJ.S NOM M SG |
cold | cold (masculine singular) | cold | 3 |
G5593-02 |
ψυχροῦ | psuchrou | ADJ.S GEN N SG |
of cold | of coldness | of coldness | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5593-02 |
Matthew 10:42 | ψυχροῦ | psuchrou | ADJ.S GEN N SG |
of cold | of coldness | of coldness |
G5593-01 |
Revelation 3:15 | ψυχρὸς | psuchros | ADJ.S NOM M SG |
cold | cold (masculine singular) | cold |
G5593-01 |
Revelation 3:15 | ψυχρὸς | psuchros-2 | ADJ.S NOM M SG |
cold | cold (masculine singular) | cold |
G5593-01 |
Revelation 3:16 | ψυχρός | psuchros | ADJ.S NOM M SG |
cold | cold (masculine singular) | cold |