αἰσθητήριον (aisthētērion)
aisthētērion
sense
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun aisthētērion refers to the faculty of perception or the organ of sense. Derived from the verb aisthanomai, it denotes the capacity by which a person perceives, understands, and judges reality. In the New Testament, this term appears only once, in Hebrews 5:14.
Here it describes the mature believer whose "senses" or perceptive faculties have been trained through practice to distinguish between good and evil. The word suggests an active, developed ability rather than a passive state. It implies that spiritual discernment is not merely innate but is sharpened by experience and intentional engagement with God’s word.
This usage highlights the connection between physical perception and moral understanding. Just as the eyes see light or the ears hear sound, the trained mind perceives spiritual truths. The term underscores the idea that growth in faith involves refining one's inner capacity to recognize what is truly good.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word aisthētērion points to the inner faculty that helps us perceive spiritual reality. It is not about passive reception but active training. Just as physical senses require practice to function well, our spiritual discernment grows through consistent engagement with God’s truth.
In Hebrews 5:14, this term describes believers who have exercised their perception to distinguish good from evil. This suggests that maturity in faith is a skill developed over time. It invites us to view our spiritual journey as one of refining our ability to recognize what aligns with God’s character and purposes.
This perspective encourages patience with ourselves as we grow. We do not need to have perfect insight immediately. Instead, we can trust that regular exposure to Scripture and faithful practice will gradually sharpen our understanding. This process helps us navigate life with greater clarity and confidence in God's guidance.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- senses1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- αἰσθητήρια1×
Key Verses
-
Hebrews 5:14
But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.
This verse uniquely applies the term to mature believers whose perceptual faculties have been trained through practice to distinguish moral truth.