335. anaideia

Lexical Summary

anaideia: Shamelessness, impudence, persistence

Original Word: ἀναίδεια
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: anaideia
Pronunciation: ah-nah-ee'-di-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (an-ah'-ee-die-ah')
KJV: importunity
NASB: persistence
Word Origin: [from a compound of G1 (α - Alpha) as a negative particle (compare G427 (ἄνευ - without)) and G127 (αἰδώς - modestly)]

1. impudence
2. (by implication) importunity

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

importunity, shamelessness.

From a compound of a (as a negative particle (compare aneu)) and aidos; impudence, i.e. (by implication) importunity -- importunity.

see GREEK a

see GREEK aneu

see GREEK aidos

HELPS Word-studies

335 anaídeia (from 1 /A "without" and 127 /aidṓs, "shame") – properly, "shameless persistence" (Souter). 335 (anaídeia), used only in Lk 11:8, is literally "shamelessness" and relates to carrying out God's plan with "unembarassed boldness" – in the dignity of faith.

335 /anaídeia ("no shame, without embarrassment") is the shamelessness a faith-led believer has who is not be halted by human fears – even when others cry "overdone" (i.e. accuse them of being extreme or excessive).

Lk 11:8: "I tell you, if even he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his shamelessness (335 /anaídeia) he will get up and give him as much as he needs."

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from alpha (as a neg. prefix) and aidós
Definition
shamelessness
NASB Translation
persistence (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 335: ἀναίδεια

ἀναίδεια (T WH ἀναιδία; see I, i), (ας, ἡ, (ἀναιδής, and this from ἡ αἰδώς a sense of shame); from Homer down; shamelessness, impudence: Luke 11:8 (of an importunate man, persisting in his eritreaties; (A. V. importunity)).

Topical Lexicon

Definition and Semantic Range

ἀναίδεια describes a bold tenacity that refuses to shrink back for fear of shame. Rather than carrying a negative tone of brazen impudence, the term in Luke 11:8 highlights a positive, unwavering insistence that presses through social convention for the sake of a righteous request.

Biblical Context: Luke 11:8

After teaching the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus illustrates its practice:

“I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s bold persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.” (Luke 11:8)

The midnight petitioner’s refusal to be deterred models the posture believers are to adopt before God—confident that He welcomes perseverance.

Relationship to Prayer

1. Confidence in God’s Character: The parable is bracketed by assurances of the Father’s readiness to answer (Luke 11:9-13). The boldness encouraged is grounded in divine generosity, not human presumption.
2. Continual Asking: ἀναίδεια embodies the “pray without ceasing” command (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and the exhortation to “approach the throne of grace with confidence” (Hebrews 4:16).
3. Alignment with God’s Will: The Lord’s Prayer’s opening petitions guard against selfish demands; bold persistence is directed toward requests that advance God’s kingdom and meet genuine need.

Illustrations in Scriptural Narrative

• Abraham’s repeated intercession for Sodom (Genesis 18:22-33) displays holy boldness that appeals to God’s justice.
• Moses pleads for Israel after the golden calf (Exodus 32:11-14), refusing to let go until mercy is granted.
• The Syrophoenician woman “came and knelt before Him” and would not be dismissed until her daughter was healed (Matthew 15:21-28), demonstrating the same quality Jesus commends in Luke 11:8.

Although these passages use different Greek terms, they exemplify the spirit of ἀναίδεια.

Historical Usage in Jewish and Greco-Roman Culture

Among Greeks, public shame was a powerful social regulator. To act “shamelessly” was ordinarily condemned. Jesus subverts this expectation by portraying a man whose willingness to risk social embarrassment becomes a virtue when employed for a neighbor’s welfare. Within Second-Temple Judaism, persistent prayer was already esteemed (see Sirach 35:16-19), but Jesus intensifies the call, emphasizing relational intimacy with the Father.

Theological Significance

• Faith Expressed in Action: ἀναίδεια is faith with muscle, convinced God is both able and willing (James 1:6-7).
• Contrast with Vain Repetition: Persistence is not mechanical repetition (Matthew 6:7) but relational engagement born of trust.
• Hope and Endurance: It fosters endurance under delay, reminding believers that apparent silence is never divine indifference (Psalm 13).

Application for Christian Ministry

1. Intercessory Prayer Meetings: Leaders can encourage congregations to keep knocking for revival, missions support, and personal transformation.
2. Evangelism: Persistent witness, undeterred by initial rejection, mirrors the Gospel’s own call to “compel them to come in” (Luke 14:23).
3. Pastoral Care: Shepherds can model and teach perseverance in prayer to believers struggling with prolonged illness, prodigal children, or spiritual drought.

Related Concepts and Contrasting Virtues

• Synonyms: παρρησία (boldness), υπομονή (endurance).
• Contrasts: ὀλιγοπιστία (little faith), ἀσθένεια (weakness).

Together they frame the balance between humble dependence and confident perseverance.

Conclusion

ἀναίδεια in Luke 11:8 captures a God-honoring audacity that overcomes obstacle and delay. Rooted in the character of a generous Father, it calls believers—and the church corporately—to relentless, faith-filled petition until heaven’s resources meet earth’s need.

Forms and Transliterations

αναιδεί αναίδειαν ἀναίδειαν αναιδείς αναιδές αναιδή αναιδής αναιδιαν ἀναιδίαν αναιδώς anaideian anaídeian

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 11:8 N-AFS
GRK: γε τὴν ἀναίδειαν αὐτοῦ ἐγερθεὶς
NAS: because of his persistence he will get
KJV: of his importunity he will rise
INT: yet the persistence of him having risen

Strong's Greek 335
1 Occurrence

ἀναίδειαν — 1 Occ.