Lexical Summary gunaikarion: Little women, silly women Original Word: γυναικάριον Strong's Exhaustive Concordance idle or foolish woman. A diminutive from gune; a little (i.e. Foolish) woman -- silly woman. see GREEK gune NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origindim. from guné Definition a little woman, (contemptuously) a silly woman NASB Translation weak women (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1133: γυναικάριονγυναικάριον, γυναικαριου, τό (diminutive from γυνή), a little woman; used contemptuously in 2 Timothy 3:6 (A. V. silly women; cf. Latinmuliercula). (Diocles. com. in Bekker Anecd., p. 87, 4; Antoninus 5, 11; occasionally in Epictetus) On diminutive ending in ἀριον see Lob. ad Phryn., p. 180; Fritzsche on Mark, p. 638; (cf. Winer's Grammar, 24, 96 (91)). Topical Lexicon Definition and BackgroundStrong’s Greek 1133 (gynaikárion) refers to a class of women portrayed as spiritually immature, gullible, and easily led astray. The diminutive nuance does not denote physical stature but a diminished moral and intellectual discernment. The term captures a distinct biblical warning: certain people prey upon those whose spiritual vulnerability leaves them open to error. Scriptural Occurrence The single New Testament appearance is in 2 Timothy 3:6, where Paul exposes false teachers who “worm their way into households and captivate weak-willed women weighed down with sins and led astray by various passions”. This verse anchors all subsequent exegetical and pastoral reflection on the word. Context within 2 Timothy 2 Timothy is Paul’s final canonical letter, an urgent charge to Timothy to guard the gospel amid rising deception. In 3:1-9, Paul lists the traits of the last-days milieu—self-love, arrogance, and a veneer of godliness. Verse 6 identifies one tactic of these impostors: exploiting the spiritually naïve. The reference to gynaikaria is strategic, contrasting the stability Timothy is to embody (3:10-17) with the instability of those who “are always learning yet never able to come to a knowledge of the truth” (3:7). Character Traits of the “Gynaikaria” 1. Burdened by unresolved sin (2 Timothy 3:6). Warnings against False Teachers Paul’s portrayal serves less to demean women than to unmask the deceitful strategies of false teachers. Throughout Scripture, deceivers target the vulnerable (Romans 16:18; 2 Peter 2:14). The church is called to cultivate discernment so that no demographic—women or men, young or old—remains easy prey. Historical and Cultural Insight First-century households often provided itinerant teachers room and board. Without synagogue-style male oversight inside the private sphere, a persuasive visitor could easily gain influence over secluded household members. Additionally, Greco-Roman culture teemed with mystery religions and philosophical movements marketed to private patrons. Paul warns that when unresolved guilt and unbridled desires intersect with smooth-talking teachers, spiritual captivity follows. Application for Contemporary Ministry • Foster biblical literacy: grounding minds in “God-breathed” Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16) neutralizes deception. Related Biblical Themes – Spiritual gullibility (Ephesians 4:14). – Exploitation of the weak (Isaiah 3:12; Acts 20:29-30). – Necessity of sound doctrine (Titus 1:9; 1 Timothy 4:16). – Repentance as freedom from enslavement (John 8:31-36). Conclusion Strong’s Greek 1133 shines a spotlight on a perennial danger: the spiritually unsteady become targets for persuasive error. Paul’s remedy remains timeless—solid doctrine, repentant hearts, disciplined desires, and vigilant shepherding—so that every believer matures from “little woman”-like vulnerability to steadfast fidelity in Christ. Forms and Transliterations γυναικαρια γυναικάρια gunaikaria gynaikaria gynaikáriaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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