παθητός (pathētos)
pathētos
suffering
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective pathētos describes something or someone that is capable of suffering or subject to pain. Derived from the same root as the noun for passion or experience, it literally means "passible" in the sense of being able to feel rather than being impassive. In biblical usage, it characterizes a state of vulnerability where suffering is an inherent possibility.
This word appears only once in the New Testament, in Acts 26:23. Paul uses it to describe the Messiah as one who would be "destined to suffer." The term emphasizes that this suffering was not an accident but part of a divine plan, highlighting the human reality and vulnerability of the Christ figure.
While often translated simply as "suffering," the word carries a nuance of capacity. It suggests that the subject is not immune to pain but is open to it. This distinction helps clarify the theological point: the Messiah enters fully into the human condition, sharing in its fragility and potential for pain.
Translators usually render pathētos as "suffering" or "destined to suffer." The choice reflects the word's focus on the inevitability of pain for this specific figure. By using this term, the text underscores that suffering is central to the identity and mission described in this passage.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word pathētos points to a profound truth about Jesus: He is not distant or detached from human pain. In Acts 26:23, Paul describes the Messiah as one who must suffer. This means Christ entered fully into our fragile condition, sharing in the reality of vulnerability and hurt. His suffering was not an accident but part of God’s plan to bring light to those in darkness.
For you, this offers deep comfort. You are not serving a god who is immune to pain or indifferent to your struggles. Jesus knows what it means to feel sorrow, rejection, and physical distress because He experienced it Himself. When you face hardship, you can trust that God understands your situation intimately. His own suffering became the bridge that connects divine love with human reality.
This shared experience invites us to bring our honest feelings to God. We do not need to hide our pain or pretend we are strong. Instead, we can find hope in knowing that our Savior walks beside us through every trial, offering grace and presence in the midst of our deepest needs.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- would suffer1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- παθητὸς1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 26:23
how the Christ must suffer, and how, by the resurrection of the dead, he would be first to proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles.”
This verse uniquely identifies the Messiah as 'pathētos,' emphasizing that His suffering was a necessary, planned part of His mission to bring light to Gentiles and Jews alike.