3503. neotés

Lexical Summary

neotés: Youth, young age

Original Word: νεότης
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: neotés
Pronunciation: neh-OT-ace
Phonetic Spelling: (neh-ot'-ace)
KJV: youth
NASB: youth, youthfulness
Word Origin: [from G3501 (νέος - New)]

1. newness, i.e. youthfulness

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

youth.

From neos; newness, i.e. Youthfulness -- youth.

see GREEK neos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from neos,
Definition
youth
NASB Translation
youth (3), youthfulness (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3503: νεότης

νεότης, νεότητός, ἡ (νέος), from Homer down; the Sept. chiefly for נְעוּרִים; youth, youthful age: 1 Timothy 4:12; ἐκ νεότητός μου, from my boyhood, from my youth, Matthew 19:20 (R G); Mark 10:20; Luke 18:21; Acts 26:4; Genesis 8:21; Job 31:18, etc.

Topical Lexicon

Overview

Strong’s Greek 3503 speaks of the season of life commonly called youth. In the New Testament this term appears only four times, yet each occurrence sheds light on the formative power of early years and God’s expectations for those who live them.

New Testament Usage

• Mark 10:20 records the rich young ruler’s response to Jesus: “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” His claim underlines how patterns of obedience, whether genuine or assumed, are usually established early.
• Luke 18:21 echoes the same statement, reinforcing that Luke wants readers to weigh the sincerity of youthful religious zeal.
• Acts 26:4 has Paul reminding King Agrippa, “Surely they are aware of how I have lived from youth up among my own people and in Jerusalem.” Here Paul’s early life demonstrates continuity between his upbringing and later ministry.
• 1 Timothy 4:12 exhorts, “Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” Youth is not an excuse for immaturity but a platform for exemplary discipleship.

Theological Themes

1. Early Formation: Scripture repeatedly stresses that moral and spiritual foundations laid in youth influence lifelong character (compare Proverbs 22:6).
2. Accountability: Both the rich ruler and Timothy show that God holds the young responsible for obedience and witness.
3. Continuity of Testimony: Paul’s appeal to his well-known youth underscores the integrity of a life consistently lived before God and men.
4. Divine Call Regardless of Age: Timothy’s pastoral authority does not rest on years but on godliness, reminding churches to value spiritual maturity above chronology.

Historical Background

First-century Jewish culture expected boys to assume covenant obligations by age thirteen. Hellenistic society likewise prized the moldable years for philosophical training. Hence Jesus’ demand for wholehearted devotion and Paul’s mentoring of Timothy addressed audiences who understood the strategic importance of youth. The early churches often met in homes where multiple generations gathered; young believers served, read Scripture aloud, and traveled with apostles (for example, John Mark, Silas, and Titus).

Pastoral and Ministry Implications

• Discipleship must begin early; congregations should invest in children and adolescents with robust teaching and personal mentoring.
• Leaders are to model respect toward younger servants, refusing to belittle them while also calling them to high standards of purity and doctrine.
• Personal testimony is cumulative. A youth spent sincerely following Christ provides persuasive evidence in later ministry, just as Paul’s did before Agrippa.

Related Old Testament Concepts

Psalm 71:17: “O God, You have taught me from my youth, and to this day I proclaim Your wondrous deeds.”

Ecclesiastes 12:1: “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.”

These verses reveal continuity between Testaments: the Creator claims youthful devotion, and that devotion fortifies lifelong faithfulness.

Practical Application

Parents, churches, and mentors should treat youthful years as fertile soil for gospel seed, expecting genuine fruit. Young believers must embrace responsibility, resist cultural pressure to delay adulthood, and confidently display Christlike speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Mature saints should encourage them, following Paul’s pattern with Timothy, so that no one despises their youth but magnifies the Savior who empowers it.

Forms and Transliterations

νεότης νεότητα νεότητά νεότητι νεοτητος νεότητος νεότητός neotetos neotētos neótetos neótetós neótētos neótētós

Englishman's Concordance

Mark 10:20 N-GFS
GRK: ἐφυλαξάμην ἐκ νεότητός μου
NAS: all these things from my youth up.
KJV: from my youth.
INT: have I kept from youth of me

Luke 18:21 N-GFS
GRK: ἐφύλαξα ἐκ νεότητος
NAS: I have kept from [my] youth.
KJV: from my youth up.
INT: have I kept from youth

Acts 26:4 N-GFS
GRK: τὴν ἐκ νεότητος τὴν ἀπ'
NAS: my manner of life from my youth up, which from the beginning
KJV: of life from my youth, which was
INT: which from youth from [its]

1 Timothy 4:12 N-GFS
GRK: σου τῆς νεότητος καταφρονείτω ἀλλὰ
NAS: look down on your youthfulness, but [rather] in speech,
KJV: despise thy youth; but be thou
INT: your youth let despise but

Strong's Greek 3503
4 Occurrences

νεότητός — 4 Occ.