2365. thugatrion

Lexical Summary

thugatrion: Little daughter, young girl

Original Word: θυγάτριον
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: thugatrion
Pronunciation: thoo-gat-ree-on
Phonetic Spelling: (thoo-gat'-ree-on)
KJV: little (young) daughter
NASB: little daughter
Word Origin: [from G2364 (θυγάτηρ - daughter)]

1. a daughterling

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

young daughter.

From thugater; a daughterling -- little (young) daughter.

see GREEK thugater

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
dim. from thugatér
Definition
a little daughter
NASB Translation
little daughter (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2365: θυγάτριον

θυγάτριον, θυγατριου, τό, a little daughter: Mark 5:23; Mark 7:25. (Strattis Incert. 5; Menander, Athen., Plutarch, reg. et imper. Apophtheg., p. 179 e. (Alex. 6); others.)

Topical Lexicon

Root and Semantic Range

The term denotes an endearing reference to a “little daughter,” highlighting tender affection within a family. It captures both the youth of the child and the intimate bond between parent and daughter, standing in contrast with the more formal or generic terms for “child” found elsewhere in the New Testament.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Mark 5:23 – Jairus implores Jesus: “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live” (Berean Standard Bible).
2. Mark 7:25 – A Gentile mother seeks help: “A woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit came and fell at His feet.”

Contextual Insights

• Both scenes occur in the Gospel of Mark and form part of a broader portrait of Jesus’ authority over sickness and demonic oppression.
• The word choice communicates deep parental affection and urgency. Jairus, a synagogue leader, and the Syrophoenician mother approach from very different social backgrounds, yet both appeal to Jesus on the same intimate ground—the plight of a beloved child.

Theological Themes

1. Compassion of Christ: The use of the diminutive underscores Jesus’ readiness to respond to personal, heartfelt pleas (Mark 5:41; Mark 7:29).
2. Value of Children: In a culture that often marginalized daughters, the narratives reveal the Kingdom’s reversal of social expectations (cf. Mark 10:13-16).
3. Faith Across Boundaries: Both Jewish and Gentile households experience the Savior’s power, affirming God’s redemptive reach beyond ethnic and religious lines.
4. Authority Over Darkness and Death: The restorations—one from impending death, the other from demonic bondage—display Christ’s dominion over the full range of human affliction.

Historical and Cultural Background

First-century Mediterranean society placed greater economic and societal emphasis on sons. A diminutive for “daughter” appearing in public requests before a rabbi would have sounded strikingly intimate to original hearers. Jairus risks reputation, and the Gentile woman crosses ethnic boundaries; each conveys that parental love overrides social conventions when confronted with Jesus’ reputed power.

Pastoral and Ministry Applications

• Child-focused Ministry: The passages challenge congregations to extend deliberate care to children, reflecting Jesus’ valuing of “little daughters.”
• Intercessory Prayer: Both parents intercede fervently; believers are encouraged to bring urgent needs for loved ones to Christ with similar faith.
• Cross-Cultural Outreach: The Syrophoenician account encourages ministries that reach beyond traditional cultural or religious settings.
• Deliverance and Healing: Christ’s response validates prayer for both physical healing and liberation from spiritual oppression.

Intertextual Connections

• Old Testament echoes: The affectionate “daughter” language resonates with covenantal phrases such as “daughter of Zion” (Zechariah 9:9), revealing continuity in God’s parental posture toward His people.
• New Testament parallels: Other diminutives like “paidion” (little child) in Matthew 18:3 reinforce the call to childlike faith, complementing the specific familial nuance carried by the term for “little daughter.”

Summary

Strong’s Greek 2365 illuminates more than vocabulary; it opens a window into the heart of two desperate parents and the compassionate Savior who honors their faith. By elevating the worth of a “little daughter,” the Gospel narratives proclaim the inclusive, restorative mission of Jesus Christ—an enduring model for disciples and churches today.

Forms and Transliterations

θυγατριον θυγάτριον θυγάτριόν thugatrion thygatrion thygátrion thygátrión

Englishman's Concordance

Mark 5:23 N-NNS
GRK: ὅτι Τὸ θυγάτριόν μου ἐσχάτως
NAS: saying, My little daughter is at the point of death;
KJV: My little daughter lieth
INT: the little daughter of me lies

Mark 7:25 N-NNS
GRK: εἶχεν τὸ θυγάτριον αὐτῆς πνεῦμα
NAS: whose little daughter had
KJV: whose young daughter had
INT: had the little daughter of her spirit

Strong's Greek 2365
2 Occurrences

θυγάτριόν — 2 Occ.