ἄλυπος (alupos)
alupos
without anxiety
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective alupos means being free from grief or anxiety. It describes a state of mind untouched by sorrow or distress. This word appears only once in the New Testament, in Philippians 2:28.
Paul uses it to explain why he is sending Timothy back to the Philippian church. He wants their hearts to rejoice and not feel burdened by worry. The term combines a negative prefix with a root meaning pain or grief, creating a simple but powerful image of emotional peace.
Its rarity in Scripture highlights its specific use here. Paul is not speaking about the absence of all hardship, but rather the removal of anxious sorrow. This single occurrence offers a clear glimpse into the kind of comfort he desired for his readers during a difficult time.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word alupos describes a heart free from anxious sorrow. In Philippians 2:28, Paul uses this rare term to express his desire for the believers in Philippi. He sends Timothy so that their joy might be complete and his own grief lessened. This offers a gentle reminder that our relationships with fellow Christians can bring deep comfort during difficult seasons.
When we feel burdened by worry, we can look to this example of mutual care. Paul did not ask for a life without hardship, but for a spirit undisturbed by unnecessary anxiety. We find peace not by avoiding trouble, but by sharing our burdens with others who love Christ. This shared joy strengthens the bonds of faith and brings light to dark days.
May you experience this kind of quiet confidence in your own walk. Let the support of your church family lift your spirits when life feels heavy. Trust that God provides the peace that surpasses understanding, anchoring your heart in His steady love.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- less anxious1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀλυπότερος1×
Key Verses
-
Philippians 2:28
I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that when you see him again, you may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
Paul uses this unique adjective to specify that his sending of Timothy is intended to replace sorrow with rejoicing for the Philippian believers.