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ἄῤῥην

árrhēn

G730 substantive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Male, specifically of biological sex; designates an individual of the masculine sex, as opposed to female. Used primarily to denote male animals or humans, especially in contexts emphasizing gender distinctiveness.

Semantic Range

male, a male person, a male animal, masculine (in reference to sex); as an adjective, pertaining to the male sex

Root / Etymology

Related to the root ἀρρην-, possibly linked to earlier Indo-European roots signifying male (cf. Sanskrit 'ṛṣabha-', Latin 'mas', etc.), but the specific derivation is uncertain. Earlier etymological suggestions connecting ἄῤῥην to αἴρω ('to lift') are not firmly established or widely accepted in modern scholarship. Thus, etymology uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

ἄῤῥην appears in both classical and Koine Greek as the standard adjective for 'male', often in contrast to θῆλυς (thēlys, 'female'). It is used in the Septuagint to translate Hebrew terms for male animals or persons; this usage continues into the New Testament (e.g., Matt 19:4, Gal 3:28). It is emphatically biological/sex-based, not social or ethnic. Occasionally as a substantive ('the male'). In Hellenistic Greek, ἄῤῥην is alongside the poetic ἄρσην, which appears in some manuscripts; Koine normalizes to ἄῤῥην. Standard English translations ('male') accurately capture its referential scope, though context may further specify animals, children, or adults. The meaning does not shift significantly between periods, but the form and spelling become more standardized in Koine. The term is distinct from ἀνήρ (anēr, 'man'), which can imply social, marital, or age status, and from παῖς (pais, 'child/servant'), as ἄῤῥην is restricted to biological sex distinction.

Translation Consistency

primary "male" 9 occurrences

'Male' is the natural, common English word that captures the primary sense (biological/sex distinction) across human and animal references. It matches the majority of existing renderings, works as both adjective and substantive, and ensures consistent, natural phrasing throughout the translation.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably from αἴρω; male (as stronger for lifting):--male, man.

Root Family

ἄῤῥην (arrhēn) — male, masculine in sex

Root ἀρρην- male, masculine in sex

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G730-02 ἄρσεν arsen ADJ.S ACC N SG male a male a male 4
G730-04 ἄρσενες arsenes ADJ.S NOM M PL men males males 2
G730-05 ἄρσεσιν arsesin ADJ.S DAT M PL men to males with males 1
G730-01 ἄρρενα arrena ADJ.A ACC M SG a male child male male 1
G730-03 ἄρσενα arsena ADJ.S ACC M SG man child a male male 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G730-02 Matthew 19:4 ἄρσεν arsen ADJ.S ACC N SG male a male a male
G730-02 Mark 10:6 ἄρσεν arsen ADJ.S ACC N SG male a male a male
G730-02 Luke 2:23 ἄρσεν arsen ADJ.S NOM N SG male a male male
G730-04 Romans 1:27 ἄρσενες arsenes ADJ.S NOM M PL men males males
G730-04 Romans 1:27 ἄρσενες arsenes-2 ADJ.S NOM M PL men males males
G730-05 Romans 1:27 ἄρσεσιν arsesin ADJ.S DAT M PL men to males with males
G730-02 Galatians 3:28 ἄρσεν arsen ADJ.S NOM N SG male a male a male
G730-01 Revelation 12:5 ἄρρενα arrena ADJ.A ACC M SG a male child male male
G730-03 Revelation 12:13 ἄρσενα arsena ADJ.S ACC M SG man child a male male
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