COMPANION BIBLE. APPENDIX 108.  

THE SYNONYMOUS WORDS FOR "CHILD", "CHILDREN", ETC.



There are seven Greek words translated "child" in the N.T., which are to be distinguished as follows :--

  1. teknon =  that which is borne or born (from tikto, to bring forth).  Anglo-Saxon = bearn, from beran, to bear.  Hence, Scottish bairn.  Used of a child by natural descent, whether boy or girl.

  2. teknion. Diminutive of teknon (No. i, above); a term of endearment.

  3. hutos = a son, or male, having reference to origin and nature, including that of relationship to the father.

  4. pais = a child, whether son or daughter (in relation to law); a boy or girl (in relation to age); a servant, or maid (in relation to condition), like the French garcon.

  5. paidion. Diminutive of pais (No. iv, above); hence, a young or little child, an infant; also a term of endearment.

  6. paidarion. Another diminutive of pais (No. iv, above), a lad; a little boy or girl.

  7. nepios. Not old enough to speak (from ne, negative, and epo, to speak).

  8. brephos. an embryo, or newly-born babe.

  9. korasion =  a young girl, or maiden.  Diminutive of kore, a girl; like paidion, used as a term of endearment.

  10. neaniskos = a young man (always so translated), from the age of twenty to forty.
     


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