τεκνίον (teknion)
teknion
children
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The word teknion is a diminutive form of teknon, meaning "child." In the New Testament, it translates to "little child" but functions primarily as a term of warm, personal address rather than a strict description of age or size. It appears eight times in Scripture, with the majority of occurrences found in the First Epistle of John and the Gospel of John.
This specific form carries a tone of endearment and intimacy that distinguishes it from the more general teknon. The sources highlight its use in vocative contexts, where Jesus or the apostle John directly addresses his readers with affectionate care. For instance, John uses it when writing to those who know God (1 John 2:13) and when offering encouragement to live holy lives (1 John 2:28). It also appears in John 13:33, where Jesus speaks to his disciples before his departure, emphasizing a close relational bond.
Theological significance lies in this shift from formal instruction to personal connection. By using teknion, the biblical authors convey a sense of spiritual kinship and protective love. Translators often render it as "little children" or simply "children," preserving the nuance that the audience is viewed with tender regard by their teacher or father figure in the faith.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word teknion carries a warmth that goes beyond simple grammar. It is a diminutive form of 'child,' used by Jesus and John to speak with tender affection to those they care for deeply. When these biblical authors use this term, they are not merely describing age or size; they are establishing a relationship of intimate spiritual kinship. It reflects a protective love, reminding the reader that they are valued and held close by their teacher or father in the faith.
For your daily life, this offers a comforting picture of how God views you. You are not a distant subject to a strict ruler, but a beloved child addressed with personal care. This intimacy encourages us to approach prayer and Scripture with confidence, knowing that the One who speaks to us does so with the same gentle regard. It invites us into a relationship defined by trust rather than fear.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- little children,4×
- Little children,2×
- Little children2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- τεκνία,5×
- Τεκνία2×
- Τεκνία,1×
Key Verses
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John 13:33
Little children, I will be with you a little while longer. You will seek me, and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you can’t come,’ so now I tell you.
Jesus uses this term just before his arrest, highlighting the deep personal bond he shares with his disciples even as he prepares to leave them.
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I John 2:1
My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.
John addresses his readers as little children to introduce the comforting truth that Jesus serves as a Counselor when we sin, emphasizing grace over condemnation.
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I John 3:18
My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth.
The apostle pairs this affectionate address with a call to practical action, urging believers to demonstrate love through deeds rather than just words.