2833. knéthó

Lexical Summary

knéthó: to itch, to tickle

Original Word: κνήθω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: knéthó
Pronunciation: knay'-tho
Phonetic Spelling: (knay'-tho)
KJV: X itching
NASB: tickled
Word Origin: [from a primary knao "to scrape"]

1. to scratch
2. (by implication) to tickle

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

itching.

From a primary knao (to scrape); to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to tickle -- X itching.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a late form of knaó (to scrape)
Definition
to scratch, itch
NASB Translation
tickled (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2833: κνήθω

κνήθω: present passive κνήθομαι; (from κνάω, infinitive κναν and Attic κνην); to scratch, tickle, make to itch; passive to itch: κνηθόμενοι τήν ἀκοήν (on the accusative cf. Winers Grammar, § 32, 5), i. e. desirous of hearing something pleasant (Hesychius, κνήθειν τήν ἀκοήν. ζητοῦντες τί ἀκοῦσαι, καθ' ἡδονήν), 2 Timothy 4:3. (Middle τόν ὄνον κνήθεσθαι εἰς τάς ἀκάνθας τά ἕλκη, its sores, Aristotle, h. a. 9, 1, p. 609a, 32; κνην Ἀττικοι, κνήθειν Ἕλληνες, Moeris, p. 234; (cf. Veitch, under the word κνάω).)

Topical Lexicon

Semantic and Figurative Sense

Strong’s Greek 2833 pictures an uncomfortable irritation that demands relief. Applied to hearing, it portrays listeners who crave novel, stimulating ideas rather than wholesome teaching. The figure implies restlessness, self-gratification, and a willingness to exchange truth for whatever temporarily soothes the sensation.

Biblical Occurrence: 2 Timothy 4:3

“For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires” (2 Timothy 4:3).

Paul foresees a coming season when professing believers will deliberately turn away from apostolic instruction. The participle translated “with itching ears” (κνηθόμενοι) describes their continual, self-induced condition: they keep scratching an itch that orthodox teaching refuses to satisfy. The phrase illuminates the urgency of Paul’s charge to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:1-2) to proclaim the word “in season and out of season.”

Cultural and Historical Background

In first-century rhetoric, audiences often sought fresh philosophical trends and orators who could entertain (compare Acts 17:21). The metaphor therefore resonates with a Greco-Roman milieu accustomed to intellectual fads. Yet Paul roots the danger in moral rather than merely cultural soil: an inward appetite for teaching that confirms personal passions (“their own desires”).

Theological Implications

1. Depravity and Self-Deception: Fallen hearts instinctively pursue teaching that excuses sin (Jeremiah 5:31; Isaiah 30:10).
2. Authority of Scripture: Sound doctrine, derived from inspired Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17), is the only antidote to the itch.
3. Eschatological Warning: The phrase “the time will come” aligns with other New Testament forewarnings of end-time apostasy (Matthew 24:11; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Peter 2:1-3).

Pastoral and Discipleship Applications

• Preachers must resist the temptation to satisfy popular taste; their mandate is fidelity, not audience approval.
• Believers are exhorted to cultivate discernment, testing every message against the whole counsel of God (Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1).
• Church leadership must train congregations to love truth more than novelty, reinforcing catechesis, expository preaching, and accountable community life.

Parallel Themes in Scripture

• False prophets who speak smooth words (Isaiah 30:10; Micah 2:11).
• Those who “turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:4).
• The parable of soils, where shallow hearers receive the word with joy yet fall away under pressure (Matthew 13:20-21).

Historical Outworking in the Church

From early Gnosticism to medieval indulgences, from nineteenth-century liberalism to modern prosperity and therapeutic gospels, the church has repeatedly confronted teachers who exploit the itch for new or palatable doctrine. Reformers, revivalists, and contemporary biblical movements have all had to echo Paul’s sober counsel.

Contemporary Relevance

Digital media accelerates the accumulation of “teachers” who cater to every conceivable preference. The warning of 2 Timothy 4:3 calls today’s congregations to prioritize churches that submit to Scripture rather than algorithms of popularity.

Questions for Reflection

1. Do my listening habits reveal a hunger for God’s truth or merely for affirmation?
2. How can my local church reinforce a culture that esteems doctrinal depth over novelty?
3. In what ways might I be tempted to “scratch” my own ears instead of submitting to the whole counsel of God?

Summary

Strong’s 2833 spotlights a heart-condition that, left unchecked, undermines individual discipleship and church integrity. Paul’s lone usage forms a timeless warning: faithfulness to Christ demands ears trained by Scripture, not by the fluctuating cravings of the age.

Forms and Transliterations

κνηθομενοι κνηθόμενοι κνήμαι κνήμαις κνήμας κνήμην κνημίδες κνήφη κνίδη knethomenoi knethómenoi knēthomenoi knēthómenoi

Englishman's Concordance

2 Timothy 4:3 V-PPM/P-NMP
GRK: ἐπισωρεύσουσιν διδασκάλους κνηθόμενοι τὴν ἀκοήν
NAS: but [wanting] to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate
KJV: teachers, having itching ears;
INT: will heap up teachers having an itching ear

Strong's Greek 2833
1 Occurrence

κνηθόμενοι — 1 Occ.