1025. brephos

Lexicon

brephos: Infant, baby, child

Original Word: βρέφος
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: brephos
Pronunciation: BREH-fos
Phonetic Spelling: (bref'-os)
Definition: Infant, baby, child
Meaning: infant, babe, child in arms.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

unborn or newborn child, infant

Of uncertain affinity; an infant (properly, unborn) literally or figuratively -- babe, (young) child, infant.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
an unborn or a newborn child
NASB Translation
babies (2), baby (4), childhood (1), infants (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1025: βρέφος

βρέφος, βρέφους, τό;

a. an unborn child, embryo, fetus: Luke 1:41, 44; (Homer, Iliad 23, 266; Plutarch, rep. Stoic. 41 τό βρέφος ἐν τῇ γαστρί).

b. a new-born child, an infant, a babe (so from Pindar down): Luke 2:12, 16; Luke 18:15; Acts 7:19; 1 Peter 2:2; ἀπό βρέφους from infancy, 2 Timothy 3:15 (so ἐκ βρέφους, Anth. Pal. 9, 567).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primary Greek word with no known derivation.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for βρέφος, similar concepts can be found in Hebrew terms like יֶלֶד (yeled, Strong's 3206) meaning "child" or "young boy," and עוֹלֵל (olel, Strong's 5768) meaning "infant" or "babe." These terms similarly emphasize the early stages of life and the care associated with nurturing the young.

Usage: The word βρέφος is used in the New Testament to describe infants or very young children, emphasizing their vulnerability and innocence.

Context: The Greek term βρέφος appears in several New Testament passages, highlighting the early stages of human life. It is used both literally and metaphorically to convey the idea of new beginnings and the purity associated with infancy.

In Luke 1:41, 44, βρέφος is used to describe John the Baptist while still in his mother's womb, indicating the recognition of life and purpose even before birth: "When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit." (Luke 1:41, BSB).

The term also appears in Luke 2:12, 16, referring to Jesus as a newborn: "This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:12, BSB). This usage underscores the humility and simplicity of Christ's incarnation.

In 2 Timothy 3:15, βρέφος is used metaphorically to describe Timothy's early exposure to the Scriptures: "From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 3:15, BSB). This highlights the importance of spiritual education from a young age.

The use of βρέφος in the New Testament reflects a broader biblical theme of valuing life from its earliest stages and recognizing the potential and purpose inherent in every human being.

Forms and Transliterations

βρεφη βρέφη βρεφος βρέφος βρεφους βρέφους brephe brephē bréphe bréphē brephos bréphos brephous bréphous

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 1:41 N-NNS
GRK: ἐσκίρτησεν τὸ βρέφος ἐν τῇ
NAS: greeting, the baby leaped
KJV: of Mary, the babe leaped
INT: leaped the baby in the

Luke 1:44 N-NNS
GRK: ἀγαλλιάσει τὸ βρέφος ἐν τῇ
NAS: my ears, the baby leaped
KJV: mine ears, the babe leaped in
INT: exultation the baby in the

Luke 2:12 N-ANS
GRK: σημεῖον εὑρήσετε βρέφος ἐσπαργανωμένον καὶ
NAS: for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths
KJV: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,
INT: sign you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and

Luke 2:16 N-ANS
GRK: καὶ τὸ βρέφος κείμενον ἐν
NAS: and Joseph, and the baby as He lay
KJV: Joseph, and the babe lying in
INT: and the baby lying in

Luke 18:15 N-ANP
GRK: καὶ τὰ βρέφη ἵνα αὐτῶν
NAS: even their babies to Him so
KJV: also infants, that
INT: also the little children that them

Acts 7:19 N-ANP
GRK: ποιεῖν τὰ βρέφη ἔκθετα αὐτῶν
NAS: so that they would expose their infants and they would not survive.
KJV: their young children, to the end
INT: making the infants cast out of them

2 Timothy 3:15 N-GNS
GRK: ὅτι ἀπὸ βρέφους τὰ ἱερὰ
NAS: and that from childhood you have known
KJV: from a child thou hast known
INT: that from childhood the sacred

1 Peter 2:2 N-NNP
GRK: ὡς ἀρτιγέννητα βρέφη τὸ λογικὸν
NAS: like newborn babies, long for the pure
KJV: As newborn babes, desire the sincere
INT: as newborn infants the divinely reasonable

Strong's Greek 1025
8 Occurrences

βρέφη — 3 Occ.
βρέφος — 4 Occ.
βρέφους — 1 Occ.