κνήθω (knēthō)
knēthō
to itch
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb knēthō describes the physical act of scratching or rubbing to relieve an itch, derived from a root meaning "to scrape." In the New Testament, it appears only once, in 2 Timothy 4:3, where Paul warns that people will accumulate teachers specifically to tickle their ears. Here, the word shifts from a bodily sensation to a metaphor for seeking messages that are pleasant and agreeable rather than challenging or truthful.
This usage highlights a desire for comfort over conviction. Just as scratching provides temporary relief, listeners in this context crave words that soothe their existing preferences. The image suggests a superficial engagement with teaching, where the goal is entertainment or validation rather than spiritual growth or correction.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word knēthō describes the physical act of scratching an itch. In 2 Timothy 4:3, Paul uses this image to describe ears that crave pleasant sounds. People often seek teachers who confirm their existing views rather than those who challenge them with truth. This desire for comfort can lead us away from spiritual growth.
When we look for messages that feel good, we may miss the correction we need. Just as scratching an itch provides only temporary relief, seeking easy answers offers no lasting peace. True teaching often requires us to listen even when it is difficult or uncomfortable.
This passage invites us to examine our own hearts. Do we prefer words that soothe our preferences or those that guide us toward truth? We are encouraged to seek wisdom that strengthens our faith, even when it demands change. May we find joy in hearing what is right, not just what is pleasant.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having an itching1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κνηθόμενοι1×
Key Verses
-
II Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts,
Paul uses 'itching ears' to warn that people will seek teachers who validate their own desires rather than those who speak sound doctrine.