νήπιος (nēpios)
nēpios
child
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 11 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective nēpios describes someone who is an infant or a minor, lacking the capacity for independent judgment. In its literal sense, it refers to a baby too young to speak, as seen when Jesus quotes Psalm 8 to highlight praise coming from "infants" in Matthew 21:16. The term carries no negative judgment here; instead, it points to a state of pure dependence.
Metaphorically, the word shifts to describe spiritual immaturity or being unskilled in the faith. Paul uses this contrast in 1 Corinthians 3:1, addressing believers as "infants in Christ" because they are still feeding on milk rather than solid food. This usage appears alongside the concept of being under guardians, illustrating a period of growth before reaching full maturity in Galatians 4:1.
Etymologically, the word combines a negative particle with "mouth," suggesting one who has not yet spoken or formed reasoned arguments. This root meaning underscores the distinction between childishness and adulthood, a theme Paul develops by contrasting nēpios with teleios (mature) in Hebrews 5:13. The term thus captures both the vulnerability of early life and the necessary phase of learning before one can fully grasp deeper truths.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word nēpios describes someone who is an infant or a minor, lacking the capacity for independent judgment. In its literal sense, it refers to a baby too young to speak, as seen when Jesus quotes Psalm 8 to highlight praise coming from "infants" in Matthew 21:16. The term carries no negative judgment here; instead, it points to a state of pure dependence.
Metaphorically, the word shifts to describe spiritual immaturity or being unskilled in the faith. Paul uses this contrast in 1 Corinthians 3:1, addressing believers as "infants in Christ" because they are still feeding on milk rather than solid food. This usage appears alongside the concept of being under guardians, illustrating a period of growth before reaching full maturity in Galatians 4:1.
Etymologically, the word combines a negative particle with "mouth," suggesting one who has not yet spoken or formed reasoned arguments. This root meaning underscores the distinction between childishness and adulthood, a theme Paul develops by contrasting nēpios with teleios (mature) in Hebrews 5:13. The term thus captures both the vulnerability of early life and the necessary phase of learning before one can fully grasp deeper truths.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 11 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a child,3×
- to little children.2×
- infants2×
- to infants1×
- of infants,1×
- of babes1×
- children,1×
- child.1×
- an infant1×
- a child;1×
- a child1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- νήπιος,3×
- νήπιοι2×
- νηπίοις.2×
- νήπιός1×
- νήπιος·1×
- νήπιος1×
- νήπιοι,1×
- νηπίων,1×
- νηπίων1×
- νηπίου.1×
- νηπίοις1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 21:16
and said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes. Did you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of children and nursing babies, you have perfected praise’?”
Jesus cites this verse to show that praise from the vulnerable is complete, validating the worth of those who lack social status or intellectual power.
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I Corinthians 3:1
Brothers, I couldn’t speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ.
Paul uses this term to diagnose spiritual stagnation, indicating that believers are still feeding on basic truths because they remain focused on worldly divisions.
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I Corinthians 13:11
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things.
The apostle contrasts childish thinking with adult maturity, urging readers to abandon selfish perspectives as they grow in love and understanding.
-
Hebrews 5:13
For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby.
This verse links the inability to handle solid food directly to being a baby, highlighting that spiritual growth requires engaging with deeper righteousness.