ἐλεεινός (eleeinos)
eleeinos
pitiful
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective eleeinos describes a state of being pitiable or wretched. It derives from the root for mercy (eleos), but focuses on the condition that provokes pity rather than the act of showing it. In Scripture, this word appears only twice, both times to highlight profound human misery.
In Revelation 3:17, Jesus addresses the church in Laodicea with a sharp diagnosis. The believers claim they are rich and need nothing, yet He calls them wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Here, eleeinos underscores the tragic gap between their self-perception and their actual spiritual poverty.
The second occurrence is in 1 Corinthians 15:19. Paul argues that if hope in Christ is limited to this life only, believers are "of all people most pitiable." The word emphasizes the absurdity and sorrow of a faith that yields no eternal reward. It paints a picture of lives wasted on something temporary.
Translators often render eleeinos as "pitiable" or "miserable." This captures the sense of being an object of compassion due to dire circumstances. The word serves as a sobering reminder that true blessedness comes not from material wealth or temporal hope, but from the resurrection life.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word eleeinos paints a picture of deep spiritual poverty. It describes a state where we feel self-sufficient but are actually in need of help. Jesus uses this term to show that our own efforts cannot save us. When we rely on wealth or status, we miss the true richness found in God.
Paul also uses this word to highlight the importance of hope beyond this life. If faith only brings temporary comfort, it leaves us wretched. But because Christ rose from the dead, our hope is secure. This truth invites us to look past our struggles and trust in eternal life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- more to be pitied1×
- miserable1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐλεεινότεροι1×
- ἐλεεινὸς1×
Key Verses
-
Revelation of John 3:17
Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing,’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked;
Jesus uses this word to expose the tragic gap between the Laodiceans' self-perception of wealth and their actual spiritual poverty.
-
I Corinthians 15:19
If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.
Paul argues that if Christ's resurrection is false, believers are most pitiable because their hope yields no eternal reward.