ὁμοιοπαθής (homoiopathēs)
homoiopathēs
like
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective homoiopathēs describes a state of sharing similar feelings or affections with another person. Its structure combines words for "like" and "suffering," pointing to an emotional resonance where one person’s experiences mirror those of another. This term appears only twice in the New Testament, creating a rare but significant link between two very different contexts.
In Acts 14:15, Paul and Barnabas use it to describe their shared human vulnerability with the people of Lystra. They argue that they are not gods because they possess homoiopathēs—similar passions and infirmities—with the crowd. This usage grounds their ministry in genuine humanity rather than divine detachment. Later, James 5:17 applies the word to Elijah, noting he was "like us" (homoiopathēs) in his feelings. This emphasizes that his powerful prayer life did not stem from a different nature, but from a faith lived out by an ordinary person.
The word underscores a theological point about empathy and identification. It rejects the idea that spiritual leaders or prophets are emotionally distant or superior. Instead, it affirms that deep connection with God often flows through shared human experience. By highlighting this similarity, the text invites readers to see their own struggles as valid ground for prayer and ministry.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word homoiopathēs reminds us that spiritual power does not require emotional distance. In Acts 14:15, Paul and Barnabas refuse divine worship because they share the same human nature as their listeners. They are not detached gods but people who understand vulnerability, pain, and limitation just as you do.
This truth is echoed in James 5:17 regarding Elijah. The text emphasizes that he was a man with a nature like ours. His mighty prayers did not come from a superior or isolated state of being, but from the faith of an ordinary person facing real challenges.
When you feel weak or misunderstood, this word offers comfort. It shows that God uses people who share your struggles. Your empathy and shared experiences are not weaknesses; they are the very ground where connection with others and trust in God can grow.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of like nature2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὁμοιοπαθὴς1×
- ὁμοιοπαθεῖς1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 14:15
“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of the same nature as you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them;
Paul uses this term to reject idolatry by affirming his shared human vulnerability with the Lystrans, grounding his message in genuine empathy rather than divine detachment.
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James 5:17
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it didn’t rain on the earth for three years and six months.
The author highlights Elijah’s ordinary humanity to show that powerful prayer is accessible to anyone who trusts God, regardless of their emotional or physical struggles.