μάμμη (mammē)
mammē
grandmother
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun mamme refers to a grandmother, though its roots lie in the intimate sounds of early childhood. In classical Greek, it was primarily a child’s affectionate name for their mother, similar to "mummy" or "mommy." By the time of the New Testament, usage had shifted, and the word specifically denoted a maternal grandmother.
This single verse appears in 2 Timothy 1:5, where Paul recalls the sincere faith that first lived in Lois, his grandmother, and then was passed down to her daughter Eunice. The choice of this familiar, domestic term highlights the personal nature of spiritual heritage. It suggests that faith is often nurtured in the everyday warmth of family life, transmitted from one generation to the next through close, loving relationships.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mamme brings a quiet warmth to our understanding of faith. It is not a formal title found in theological debates, but an intimate term for a grandmother. In 2 Timothy 1:5, Paul uses this simple word to describe Lois. He remembers how her sincere faith first took root in her heart and then flowed naturally into her daughter Eunice, and finally into Timothy himself.
This passage reminds us that spiritual heritage is often built in the everyday moments of family life. It is not always about grand sermons or public declarations. Sometimes it is about the quiet consistency of a grandmother’s love and trust in God. We see that faith can be passed down through generations, carried like a gentle flame from one person to another.
When we think about our own lives, we might remember those who first showed us what it means to trust God. Their example may have shaped our beliefs in subtle but lasting ways. This word invites us to value those personal connections and to consider how we might nurture that same sincere faith in those around us today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- grandmother1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μάμμῃ1×
Key Verses
-
II Timothy 1:5
having been reminded of the sincere faith that is in you, which lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, in you also.
This is the only New Testament occurrence, where Paul traces his own faith back through Lois to show how spiritual sincerity can be inherited across generations.