1838. hexis

Lexicon

hexis: Habit, practice, condition

Original Word: ἕξις
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: hexis
Pronunciation: HEX-ees
Phonetic Spelling: (hex'-is)
Definition: Habit, practice, condition
Meaning: condition, state, habit, use, especially: good condition of body or soul.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

habit, practice, use

From echo; habit, i.e. (by implication) practice -- use.

see GREEK echo

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from echó
Definition
habit, practice
NASB Translation
practice (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1838: ἕξις

ἕξις, ἕξεως, ἡ (ἔχω, future ἕξω), a habit, whether of body or of mind (Xenophon, Plato, Aristotle, others); a power acquired by custom, practice, use ("firma quaedam facilitas, quae apud Graecos ἕξις nominatur," Quintilian 10, 1 at the beginning); so Hebrews 5:14 (ἐν τούτοις ἱκανήν ἕξιν περιποιησάμενος, Sir. prol. 7; ἕξιν ἔχειν γραμματικης, Polybius 10, 47, 7; ἐν τοῖς πολεμικοῖς, 21, 7, 3; ἐν ἀστρολογία μεγίστην, Diodorus 2, 31; λογικήν ἕξιν περιποιουμενος, Philo, aleg. legg. 1, 4).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb ἔχω (echō), meaning "to have" or "to hold."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ἕξις, the concept of a developed state or condition can be related to Hebrew terms that describe wisdom, understanding, and discernment, such as בִּינָה (binah, Strong's Hebrew 998) and חָכְמָה (chokmah, Strong's Hebrew 2451). These terms similarly emphasize the importance of growth in wisdom and understanding through experience and practice.

Usage: The word ἕξις appears in the New Testament in the context of spiritual maturity and discernment. It is used to describe a condition of readiness or a developed ability to discern good from evil.

Context: ἕξις (hexis) is a Greek noun that appears in the New Testament, specifically in the book of Hebrews. It is used to convey the idea of a mature state of spiritual understanding and discernment. In Hebrews 5:14, the term is employed to describe those who, through constant practice, have developed the ability to distinguish between good and evil. The passage reads: "But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil" (Hebrews 5:14, BSB).

In this context, ἕξις is associated with spiritual maturity, suggesting that believers are called to grow beyond elementary teachings and develop a deeper understanding of their faith. This growth is achieved through consistent practice and application of spiritual truths, leading to a refined ability to discern moral and spiritual matters.

The concept of ἕξις emphasizes the importance of habitual practice in the Christian life, where believers are encouraged to cultivate their spiritual senses through regular engagement with God's Word and active participation in their faith journey. This habitual practice results in a stable and mature spiritual condition, enabling believers to navigate the complexities of life with wisdom and discernment.

Forms and Transliterations

έξει έξεως εξιν έξιν ἕξιν έξις εξισούμενον exin hexin héxin

Englishman's Concordance

Hebrews 5:14 N-AFS
GRK: διὰ τὴν ἕξιν τὰ αἰσθητήρια
NAS: who because of practice have
KJV: [even] those who by reason of use have
INT: on account of the habit the senses

Strong's Greek 1838
1 Occurrence

ἕξιν — 1 Occ.