ἐντρέφω (entrephō)
entrephō
be reared
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb entrephō describes the process of bringing up or nurturing someone, often with a focus on feeding them until they are fully formed. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in First Timothy 4:6. Here, Paul uses it metaphorically to describe how believers should be "nourished" in the words of faith and sound teaching.
Its structure combines the prefix en ("in") with trephō ("to feed" or "nourish"), suggesting a continuous process of internal sustenance rather than a single act. This word highlights that spiritual maturity is not automatic; it requires consistent intake of truth, much like a child grows through regular care and feeding.
Translators typically render this as "be nurtured" or "brought up," emphasizing the passive role of the learner who receives instruction. The term underscores the communal responsibility to feed others with doctrine, ensuring they are strengthened in their understanding rather than left to develop independently.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word entrephō paints a picture of steady, ongoing care. It combines the idea of being inside something with the act of feeding, suggesting that spiritual growth happens through constant nourishment rather than sudden bursts of energy. In First Timothy 4:6, Paul uses this term to describe how believers are sustained by the words of faith and sound teaching. This reminds us that our spiritual lives depend on regular intake of truth, much like a child relies on consistent meals to grow strong.
This process is not solitary; it involves being nurtured within a community that values good doctrine. When we engage with Scripture and faithful instruction, we are actively feeding our souls. This perspective shifts the focus from trying to manufacture spiritual maturity on our own to trusting in the steady provision of God’s word. It offers comfort, knowing that growth is a gradual work supported by the church around us.
As you continue in your faith journey, remember that being entrephō is about receiving and absorbing what is good and true. Let this truth encourage you to seek out reliable sources of teaching and to stay connected with others who share this commitment. May you find strength and stability in the daily bread of God’s word.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- being nourished1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐντρεφόμενος1×
Key Verses
-
I Timothy 4:6
If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine which you have followed.
This verse uniquely uses entrephō to describe believers being internally sustained by sound doctrine, highlighting the passive reception of spiritual nourishment.