νηπιάζω (nēpiazō)
nēpiazō
be childlike
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb nēpiazō means to act like a baby or remain in a state of childishness. It appears only once in the New Testament, in 1 Corinthians 14:20. Paul uses it to urge believers to stop thinking about spiritual matters with immature, infantile reasoning.
Its root is nēpios, which refers to an infant who cannot yet speak clearly. The word carries a negative connotation of immaturity rather than the positive innocence often associated with children in Jesus’ teachings. Here, it describes a lack of discernment that hinders clear communication and order in worship.
Paul contrasts this childish thinking with mature understanding. He does not reject all childlike qualities but specifically targets the inability to grasp complex spiritual truths. The call is to grow up in thought while maintaining innocence in harmlessness, balancing wisdom with purity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word nēpiazō describes a state of mental infancy, where one lacks the capacity for clear reasoning or discernment. In 1 Corinthians 14:20, Paul urges believers not to be childish in their thinking. This is a call to move beyond superficial or confused interpretations of spiritual truths and to engage with Scripture using mature understanding. It reminds us that faith requires growth in how we process God's word.
While we are often encouraged to keep a childlike heart, this passage highlights the difference between innocence and intellectual immaturity. We can remain pure in motive while still developing the ability to think deeply about our beliefs. This balance allows us to serve others with wisdom rather than confusion.
As you study the Bible, ask God for clarity. Let your faith be rooted in a thoughtful engagement with His truth, trusting that He guides your mind as well as your heart toward greater understanding and peace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- do be little children,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- νηπιάζετε,1×
Key Verses
-
I Corinthians 14:20
Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.
Paul uses this unique verb to contrast immature reasoning with mature spiritual discernment in the context of church worship.