3272
Lexical Summary
(Not Used): (Not Used)
(Not Used)
Part of Speech:
Transliteration: (Not Used)
(Not Used)
Topical Lexicon
Overview

Strong’s Greek 3272 designates a Greek lexical form for which the New Testament preserves no occurrences. The term’s inclusion in lexicons reflects the scholarly effort to catalogue every distinct form appearing in ancient Greek sources that were consulted in the development of the early English Bible, even when those forms never surface in the canonical Greek text of Scripture. While the exact spelling and meaning attached to 3272 must be gleaned from external literature, its absence from the New Testament provides a useful reminder that not every word known to Koine Greek contributed directly to the Spirit-breathed record (2 Timothy 3:16).

Scriptural Context

Because the term does not appear in the New Testament, its theological value is derived indirectly:

1. It helps clarify that the biblical writers, under divine inspiration, employed a carefully chosen vocabulary adequate for all matters of faith and practice (2 Peter 1:21).
2. Its omission highlights the sufficiency of what God did choose to reveal. Believers need neither to speculate about missing words nor to supplement Scripture with non-canonical sources to attain spiritual maturity (Psalm 19:7; Matthew 4:4).
3. When linguists compare unused lemmas such as 3272 with utilized cognates, they refine our understanding of verbal nuance elsewhere in Scripture. For example, a study of synonyms can sharpen translation work on passages like Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone”.

Historical Usage Outside the New Testament

In classical and post-classical Greek literature, the form catalogued as 3272 appears sparingly, if at all, and is unattested in the Septuagint. The dearth of examples reinforces the conclusion that the Holy Spirit guided the biblical authors away from obscure or transient expressions that would have clouded understanding among first-century readers. Early church fathers likewise show little to no familiarity with the word, suggesting that it never gained traction in Christian discourse.

Doctrinal and Ministry Insights

1. Preservation of Revelation
• God’s commitment to preserve His Word (Psalm 12:6-7) includes the selection of terms that sustain clarity across generations. The exclusion of rare words such as 3272 aligns with this providential safeguarding.
2. Linguistic Stewardship
• Students of Scripture are encouraged to pursue diligent word study, yet the very existence of unused entries cautions against forcing spiritual meaning where the biblical text provides none (Proverbs 30:6).
3. Apologetic Value
• Modern critiques sometimes allege that missing or “lost” words undermine confidence in Scripture. The case of 3272 illustrates the opposite: a transparent record of every known form, whether used or unused, strengthens textual integrity and invites open scholarly review.

Practical Application

• Teachers can model responsible exegesis by acknowledging lexical entries like 3272 without building doctrines upon them (1 Timothy 1:4).
• Believers gain appreciation for the completeness of God’s revelation, focusing their study on words the Spirit intentionally employed (John 17:17).
• Bible translators can use the wider lexical database—unused forms included—to sharpen semantic ranges, ensuring that every canonical word is rendered with maximum accuracy in target languages.

Conclusion

Strong’s Greek 3272 serves primarily as a linguistic footnote rather than an exegetical cornerstone. Its absence from the New Testament text underscores both the precision of divine inspiration and the sufficiency of the biblical canon for faith and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).

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