3640. oligopistos

Lexicon

oligopistos: Little faith, of little faith

Original Word: ὀλιγόπιστος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: oligopistos
Pronunciation: o-lee-GO-pis-tos
Phonetic Spelling: (ol-ig-op'-is-tos)
Definition: Little faith, of little faith
Meaning: of little faith.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

of little faith.

From oligos and pistis; incredulous, i.e. Lacking confidence (in Christ) -- of little faith.

see GREEK oligos

see GREEK pistis

HELPS Word-studies

3640 oligópistos (from 3641 /olígos, "little in number, low in quantity" and 4102 /pístis, "faith") – properly, few occurrences (applications) of faith. 3640 (oligópistos) occurs five times in the NT, each time with Jesus rebuking the problem of failing to hear His voice (cf. Jn 10:3,4,27).

"Little-faith" (3640 /oligópistos) describes someone dull to hearing the Lord's voice, or disinterested in walking intimately with Him. In contrast, the goal of life is to receive (obey) the Lord's gift of faith in each scene of life (Ro 14:23; Heb 11:6).

[3640 (oligópistos) is derived from 3461 /myriás ("few, small in number"), which is the opposite of 4183 /polýs ("many in number").]

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3640: ὀλιγόπιστος

ὀλιγόπιστος, ὀλιγοπιστου, ὁ, ἡ (ὀλίγος and πίστις), of little faith, trusting too little: Matthew 6:30; Matthew 8:26; Matthew 14:31; Matthew 16:8; Luke 12:28. (Not found in secular authors)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from two Greek words: ὀλίγος (oligos), meaning "little" or "few," and πίστις (pistis), meaning "faith" or "belief."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ὀλιγόπιστος, the concept of lacking faith can be related to Hebrew terms such as:
• Strong's Hebrew 539 (אָמַן, 'aman): To confirm, support, or be faithful.
• Strong's Hebrew 2637 (חָסֵר, chaser): To lack or be without.
• Strong's Hebrew 530 (אֱמוּנָה, emunah): Faithfulness, trust, or steadfastness.

These Hebrew terms collectively convey the idea of faith and trust, which is central to the understanding of ὀλιγόπιστος in the New Testament context.

Usage: This word is used in the New Testament to describe individuals who exhibit a deficiency in faith or trust, particularly in the context of trusting in God's provision and power.

Context: The term ὀλιγόπιστος appears in the New Testament primarily in the Gospels, where it is used by Jesus to address His disciples or followers when they demonstrate a lack of faith. This term highlights a spiritual condition where individuals, despite having some level of belief, fail to fully trust in God's promises or His ability to intervene in their circumstances.

In Matthew 6:30, Jesus uses the term to admonish those who worry about material needs, emphasizing God's care for His creation: "If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"

Similarly, in Matthew 8:26, during the calming of the storm, Jesus questions His disciples' fear and lack of trust: "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" This instance underscores the expectation of faith in God's protection and power over nature.

In Matthew 14:31, after Peter begins to sink while walking on water, Jesus reaches out to him and says, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" This highlights the importance of maintaining faith even in challenging situations.

The term is also found in Matthew 16:8 and Luke 12:28, where it continues to serve as a gentle rebuke and a call to deeper trust in God.

The use of ὀλιγόπιστος serves as a reminder of the necessity of faith in the life of a believer, encouraging a reliance on God's faithfulness and a rejection of doubt and fear.

Forms and Transliterations

Ολιγοπιστε ολιγόπιστε Ὀλιγόπιστε ολιγοπιστιαν ὀλιγοπιστίαν ολιγοπιστοι ολιγόπιστοι ὀλιγόπιστοι Oligopiste Oligópiste oligopistian oligopistían oligopistoi oligópistoi

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 6:30 Adj-VMP
GRK: μᾶλλον ὑμᾶς ὀλιγόπιστοι
NAS: more [clothe] you? You of little faith!
KJV: [clothe] you, O ye of little faith?
INT: more you O [you] of little faith

Matthew 8:26 Adj-VMP
GRK: δειλοί ἐστε ὀλιγόπιστοι τότε ἐγερθεὶς
NAS: are you afraid, you men of little faith? Then
KJV: fearful, O ye of little faith? Then
INT: fearful are you O [you] of little faith Then having arisen

Matthew 14:31 Adj-VMS
GRK: λέγει αὐτῷ Ὀλιγόπιστε εἰς τί
NAS: of him, and said to him, You of little faith, why
KJV: unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore
INT: says to him [you] of little faith of why

Matthew 16:8 Adj-VMP
GRK: ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ὀλιγόπιστοι ὅτι ἄρτους
NAS: of this, said, You men of little faith, why
KJV: unto them, O ye of little faith, why
INT: among yourselves O [you] of little faith because bread

Matthew 17:20 N-AFS
GRK: Διὰ τὴν ὀλιγοπιστίαν ὑμῶν ἀμὴν
NAS: to them, Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly
INT: Because of the little faith of you truly

Luke 12:28 Adj-VMP
GRK: μᾶλλον ὑμᾶς ὀλιγόπιστοι
NAS: more [will He clothe] you? You men of little faith!
KJV: [will he clothe] you, O ye of little faith?
INT: rather you O [you] of little faith

Strong's Greek 3640
6 Occurrences

Ὀλιγόπιστε — 1 Occ.
ὀλιγοπιστίαν — 1 Occ.
ὀλιγόπιστοι — 4 Occ.