ὀλιγόπιστος (oligopistos)
oligopistos
of little faith
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective oligopistos describes a person who possesses "little faith" or trust. It appears five times in the New Testament, primarily within the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, to characterize disciples who struggle with confidence in Jesus’ power and provision.
Its construction combines words meaning "small" and "faith," indicating not an absence of belief but a deficiency in its strength. This distinction is vital: the term addresses those who already follow Jesus but are shaken by circumstances, rather than outsiders who have never believed.
The word surfaces in moments of crisis where fear overrides trust. In Matthew 8:26 and 14:31, Jesus uses it to rebuke disciples who panic during storms, highlighting their failure to rely on His authority over nature. Similarly, in Matthew 6:30 and Luke 12:28, it critiques worry about daily needs like food and clothing, contrasting human anxiety with God’s faithful care.
Translators consistently render this as "little faith," preserving the nuance that the problem is not a lack of faith entirely, but its insufficient depth to sustain peace in difficult situations. The term serves as a diagnostic label for spiritual immaturity that persists despite proximity to divine power.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word oligopistos describes a specific kind of struggle: having faith that is real but small. It does not mean you have no trust in God at all, but rather that your confidence feels too weak to hold steady when life becomes difficult. Jesus used this term with His closest followers during moments of panic and worry, such as when they were frightened by stormy winds or anxious about their daily needs. This shows that feeling overwhelmed does not mean you are a bad Christian; it simply means your trust is still growing.
When you feel fear rising up, remember that Jesus’ response was not to reject you, but to reach out and help. In Matthew 14:31, He pulled Peter from the water and asked why he doubted, offering immediate rescue rather than harsh condemnation. This word invites you to be honest about your smallness. You do not need to pretend to have giant faith to approach God. Instead, you can bring your little faith to Him, knowing that His power is sufficient to cover what your trust cannot yet handle.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- O [you] of little faith?3×
- [You] of little faith,1×
- O [you] of little faith,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὀλιγόπιστοι;3×
- ὀλιγόπιστοι,1×
- ὀλιγόπιστε,1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 8:26
He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the wind and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Jesus uses this phrase to address the disciples' fear during a storm, linking their anxiety directly to a lack of trust in His authority over nature.
-
Matthew 14:31
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
The term is spoken while Jesus physically rescues Peter from the water, showing that little faith still warrants immediate divine intervention.
-
Matthew 6:30
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith?
Jesus contrasts human worry about clothing with God’s care for grass, using the word to highlight how anxiety undermines trust in heavenly provision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does oligopistos mean in the Bible?
Is having little faith considered a sin?
Where does this word appear most often?
Every Occurrence (5 verses across 2 books)
Matthew 4 verses
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much…
Matthew 8:26He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the wind and the sea, and there…
Matthew 14:31Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Matthew 16:8Jesus, perceiving it, said, “Why do you reason among yourselves, you of little faith, because you have brought no bread?