1658. eleutheros

Lexicon

eleutheros: Free, free man, free woman

Original Word: ἐλεύθερος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: eleutheros
Pronunciation: eh-loo'-the-ros
Phonetic Spelling: (el-yoo'-ther-os)
Definition: Free, free man, free woman
Meaning: free, delivered from obligation.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

free man, free woman, at liberty.

Probably from the alternate of erchomai; unrestrained (to go at pleasure), i.e. (as a citizen) not a slave (whether freeborn or manumitted), or (genitive case) exempt (from obligation or liability) -- free (man, woman), at liberty.

see GREEK erchomai

HELPS Word-studies

1658 eleútheros (an adjective) – properly, free (liberated), unbound (unshackled); (figuratively) free to realize one's destiny in Christ.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
free, i.e. not a slave or not under restraint
NASB Translation
exempt (1), free (12), free man (2), free men (3), free woman (4), freeman (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1658: ἐλεύθερος

ἐλεύθερος, ἐλευθέρα, ἐλεύθερον (ἘΛΑΥΘΩ equivalent to ἔρχομαι (so Curtius, p. 497, after Etym. Magn. 329, 43; Suidas col. 1202 a., Gaisf. edition; but others besides, cf. Vanicek, p. 61); hence, properly, one who can go whither he pleases) (from Homer down), the Sept. for חָפְשִׁי, free;

1. freeborn; in a civil sense, one who is not a slave: John 8:33; 1 Corinthians 7:22; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 6:8; Colossians 3:11; Revelation 6:15; Revelation 13:16; Revelation 19:18; feminine, Galatians 4:22f, 30f. (opposed to ἡ παιδίσκη); of one who ceases to be a slave, freed, manumitted: γίνεσθαι ἐλεύθερον, 1 Corinthians 7:21.

2. free, exempt, unrestrained, not bound by an obligation: 1 Corinthians 9:1; ἐκ πάντων (see ἐκ, I. 6 at the end), 1 Corinthians 9:19; ἀπό τίνος, free from i. e. no longer under obligation to, so that one may now do what was formerly forbidden by the person or thing to which he was bound, Romans 7:3 (cf. Winers Grammar, 196f (185); Buttmann, 157f (138), 269 (231)); followed by an infinitive (Winers Grammar, 319 (299); Buttmann, 260 (224)), ἐλευθέρα ἐστιν ... γαμηθῆναι she is free to be married, has liberty to marry, 1 Corinthians 7:39; exempt from paying tribute or tax, Matthew 17:26.

3. in an ethical sense: free from the yoke of the Mosaic law, Galatians 4:26; 1 Peter 2:16; from the bondage of sin, John 8:36; left to one's own will and pleasure, with the dative of respect, τῇ δικαιοσύνη, so far as relates to righteousness, as respects righteousness, Romans 6:20 (Winers Grammar, § 31, 1 k.; Buttmann, § 133, 12).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from a primary word (erchomai) meaning "to come" or "to go," indicating a state of being unrestrained or free.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of freedom in the Hebrew Bible is often expressed with words like חָפְשִׁי (chofshi, Strong's H2670) and דְּרוֹר (deror, Strong's H1865), which convey similar ideas of liberty and release from bondage. These terms are used in contexts such as the Year of Jubilee and the release of slaves, reflecting the broader biblical theme of liberation and redemption.

Usage: The word ἐλεύθερος is used in various contexts in the New Testament to describe both literal and figurative freedom. It appears in discussions about freedom from sin, the law, and human constraints, emphasizing the liberty found in Christ.

Context: The concept of freedom is a significant theme in the New Testament, and ἐλεύθερος is a key term in articulating this idea. In the cultural context of the Greco-Roman world, freedom was a valued status, often contrasted with slavery. The New Testament writers, particularly Paul, use ἐλεύθερος to convey the spiritual freedom believers have in Christ.

In John 8:36, Jesus declares, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." Here, ἐλεύθερος signifies the true freedom that comes from Christ, liberating individuals from the bondage of sin. Similarly, in Galatians 5:1, Paul exhorts believers to "stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery," using ἐλεύθερος to emphasize the freedom from the law and legalistic practices.

The apostle Paul also addresses the social implications of freedom in 1 Corinthians 7:22, where he states, "For he who was called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise, he who was called while free is Christ’s slave." This paradoxical use of ἐλεύθερος highlights the transformative nature of Christian freedom, where earthly statuses are transcended by spiritual realities.

Furthermore, in James 1:25, the "perfect law of freedom" is mentioned, indicating that true liberty is found in obedience to God's word, which liberates rather than restricts.

Theologically, ἐλεύθερος underscores the believer's release from the power of sin and the law, enabling a life led by the Spirit. This freedom is not a license for self-indulgence but a call to serve one another in love, as articulated in Galatians 5:13: "For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love."

Forms and Transliterations

ελευθερα ελευθέρα ἐλευθέρα ελευθέραν ελευθερας ελευθέρας ἐλευθέρας Ελευθεροι ελεύθεροι ελεύθεροί Ἐλεύθεροι ἐλεύθεροί ελεύθερον ελευθερος ελεύθερος ἐλεύθερος ελευθέρου ελευθερους ελευθέρους ἐλευθέρους ελευθερων ελευθέρων ἐλευθέρων eleuthera eleuthéra eleutheras eleuthéras Eleutheroi Eleútheroi eleútheroí eleutheron eleutherōn eleuthéron eleuthérōn eleutheros eleútheros eleutherous eleuthérous

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 17:26 Adj-NMP
GRK: Ἰησοῦς Ἄρα¦γε ἐλεύθεροί εἰσιν οἱ
NAS: to him, Then the sons are exempt.
KJV: are the children free.
INT: Jesus Then indeed free are the

John 8:33 Adj-NMP
GRK: λέγεις ὅτι Ἐλεύθεροι γενήσεσθε
NAS: You will become free'?
KJV: Ye shall be made free?
INT: say Free you will become

John 8:36 Adj-NMP
GRK: ἐλευθερώσῃ ὄντως ἐλεύθεροι ἔσεσθε
NAS: makes you free, you will be free indeed.
KJV: free, ye shall be free indeed.
INT: shall set free indeed free you will be

Romans 6:20 Adj-NMP
GRK: τῆς ἁμαρτίας ἐλεύθεροι ἦτε τῇ
NAS: of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
KJV: ye were free from righteousness.
INT: of sin free you were

Romans 7:3 Adj-NFS
GRK: ὁ ἀνήρ ἐλευθέρα ἐστὶν ἀπὸ
NAS: dies, she is free from the law,
KJV: be dead, she is free from that law;
INT: the husband free she is from

1 Corinthians 7:21 Adj-NMS
GRK: καὶ δύνασαι ἐλεύθερος γενέσθαι μᾶλλον
NAS: also to become free, rather do
KJV: be made free, use
INT: moreover you are able free to become rather

1 Corinthians 7:22 Adj-NMS
GRK: ὁμοίως ὁ ἐλεύθερος κληθεὶς δοῦλός
NAS: he who was called while free, is Christ's
KJV: he that is called, [being] free, is
INT: likewise the [one] free having been called a slave

1 Corinthians 7:39 Adj-NFS
GRK: ὁ ἀνήρ ἐλευθέρα ἐστὶν ᾧ
NAS: is dead, she is free to be married
KJV: she is at liberty to be married
INT: the husband free she is to whom

1 Corinthians 9:1 Adj-NMS
GRK: Οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐλεύθερος οὐκ εἰμὶ
NAS: Am I not free? Am I not an apostle?
KJV: am I not free? have I not seen
INT: not Am I free not Am I

1 Corinthians 9:19 Adj-NMS
GRK: Ἐλεύθερος γὰρ ὢν
NAS: For though I am free from all
KJV: For though I be free from all
INT: free indeed being

1 Corinthians 12:13 Adj-NMP
GRK: δοῦλοι εἴτε ἐλεύθεροι καὶ πάντες
NAS: or free, and we were all
KJV: [we be] bond or free; and have been
INT: slaves or free and all

Galatians 3:28 Adj-NMS
GRK: δοῦλος οὐδὲ ἐλεύθερος οὐκ ἔνι
NAS: slave nor free man, there is neither
KJV: bond nor free, there is neither
INT: slave nor free neither there is

Galatians 4:22 Adj-GFS
GRK: ἐκ τῆς ἐλευθέρας
NAS: and one by the free woman.
KJV: the other by a freewoman.
INT: of the free [woman]

Galatians 4:23 Adj-GFS
GRK: ἐκ τῆς ἐλευθέρας δι' ἐπαγγελίας
NAS: to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through
KJV: he of the freewoman [was] by
INT: of the free [woman] through promise

Galatians 4:26 Adj-NFS
GRK: ἄνω Ἰερουσαλὴμ ἐλευθέρα ἐστίν ἥτις
NAS: above is free; she is our mother.
KJV: which is above is free, which is
INT: [the] above Jerusalem free is which

Galatians 4:30 Adj-GFS
GRK: υἱοῦ τῆς ἐλευθέρας
NAS: WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN.
KJV: with the son of the freewoman.
INT: son of the free [woman]

Galatians 4:31 Adj-GFS
GRK: ἀλλὰ τῆς ἐλευθέρας
NAS: of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.
KJV: of the bondwoman, but of the free.
INT: but of the free [woman]

Ephesians 6:8 Adj-NMS
GRK: δοῦλος εἴτε ἐλεύθερος
NAS: slave or free.
KJV: [he be] bond or free.
INT: slave or free

Colossians 3:11 Adj-NMS
GRK: Σκύθης δοῦλος ἐλεύθερος ἀλλὰ τὰ
NAS: slave and freeman, but Christ
KJV: Scythian, bond [nor] free: but Christ
INT: Scythian slave free but

1 Peter 2:16 Adj-NMP
GRK: ὡς ἐλεύθεροι καὶ μὴ
NAS: [Act] as free men, and do not use
KJV: As free, and not
INT: [Live] as free and not

Revelation 6:15 Adj-NMS
GRK: δοῦλος καὶ ἐλεύθερος ἔκρυψαν ἑαυτοὺς
NAS: slave and free man hid
KJV: and every free man, hid themselves
INT: servant and free [man] hid themselves

Revelation 13:16 Adj-AMP
GRK: καὶ τοὺς ἐλευθέρους καὶ τοὺς
NAS: and the poor, and the free men and the slaves,
KJV: poor, free and bond,
INT: and the free and the

Revelation 19:18 Adj-GMP
GRK: σάρκας πάντων ἐλευθέρων τε καὶ
NAS: both free men and slaves,
KJV: of all [men, both] free and
INT: flesh of all free both and

Strong's Greek 1658
23 Occurrences

ἐλευθέρα — 3 Occ.
ἐλευθέρας — 4 Occ.
ἐλευθέρων — 1 Occ.
ἐλεύθεροί — 6 Occ.
ἐλεύθερος — 8 Occ.
ἐλευθέρους — 1 Occ.