3807. paidagógos

Lexicon

paidagógos: Guardian, Tutor, Instructor

Original Word: παιδαγωγός
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: paidagógos
Pronunciation: pahee-dag-o-gos'
Phonetic Spelling: (pahee-dag-o-gos')
Definition: Guardian, Tutor, Instructor
Meaning: a boy's guardian or tutor, a slave who had charge of the life and morals of the boys of a family, not strictly a teacher.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

instructor, schoolmaster.

From pais and a reduplicated form of ago; a boy-leader, i.e. A servant whose office it was to take the children to school; (by implication, (figuratively) a tutor ("paedagogue")) -- instructor, schoolmaster.

see GREEK pais

see GREEK ago

HELPS Word-studies

3807 paidagōgós (from 3816 /país, "a child under development by strict instruction") – properly, a legally appointed overseer, authorized to train (bring) up a child by administering discipline, chastisement, and instruction, i.e. doing what was necessary to promote development.

3807 (paidagōgos) is used of the role of the Law (OT), especially the necessary "letter" (foundation, technicalities) needed to establish the doctrines of salvation, grace, faith, etc.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from pais and agó
Definition
a trainer of boys, i.e. a tutor
NASB Translation
tutor (2), tutors (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3807: παιδαγωγός

παιδαγωγός, παιδαγωγου, ὁ (from παῖς, and ἀγωγός a leader, escort), from Herodotus 8, 75 down; a tutor (Latinpaedagogus) i. e. a guide and guardian of boys. Among the Greeks and Romans the name was applied to trustworthy slaves who were charged with the duty of supervising the life and morals of boys belonging to the better class. The boys were not allowed so much as to step out of the house without them before arriving at the age of manhood; cf. Fischer under the word in index 1 to Aeschines dial. Socrates; Hermann, Griech. Privatalterthümer, § 34, 15ff; (Smith, Dict. of Greek and Rom. Antiq. under the word; Becker, Charicles (English translation, 4th edition), p. 226f). They are distinguished from οἱ διδάσκαλοι: Xenophon, de rep. Lac. 3, 2; Plato, Lysias, p. 208 c.; (Diogenes Laërtius 3, 92. The name carries with it an idea of severity (as of a stern censor and enforcer of morals) in 1 Corinthians 4:15, where the father is distinguished from the tutor as one whose discipline is usually milder, and in Galatians 3:24f where the Mosaic law is likened to a tutor because it arouses the consciousness of sin, and is called παιδαγωγός εἰς Χριστόν, i. e. preparing the soul for Christ, because those who have learned by experience with the law that they are not and cannot be commended to God by their works, welcome the more eagerly the hope of salvation offered them through the death and resurrection of Christ, the Son of God.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from two Greek words: παῖς (pais), meaning "child," and ἄγω (ago), meaning "to lead" or "to guide."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for παιδαγωγός, the concept of guidance and instruction can be related to several Hebrew terms, such as:

- מוֹרֶה (moreh) • teacher or instructor (Strong's Hebrew 4175)
- נָחָה (nachah) • to lead or guide (Strong's Hebrew 5148)
- יָסַר (yasar) • to discipline or instruct (Strong's Hebrew 3256)

These Hebrew terms reflect the broader biblical themes of guidance, instruction, and discipline, which align with the role of a παιδαγωγός as a guide and moral instructor.

Usage: The term παιδαγωγός is used in the New Testament to describe a role similar to that of a tutor or guardian, particularly in a metaphorical sense to illustrate spiritual guidance and instruction.

Context: The term παιδαγωγός appears in the New Testament in the context of spiritual instruction and guidance. In Galatians 3:24-25, the Apostle Paul uses the term to describe the function of the Law as a guardian leading to Christ: "So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian" (BSB). Here, Paul employs the cultural understanding of a παιδαγωγός as a temporary guide responsible for leading a child to maturity. In this metaphor, the Law serves as a guide to bring individuals to a point of recognizing their need for Christ, after which the direct supervision of the Law is no longer necessary.

In the Greco-Roman world, a παιδαγωγός was often a trusted slave who accompanied a child to school, ensuring their safety and proper behavior. This role was not primarily educational in the academic sense but was focused on moral and social development. The παιδαγωγός was responsible for instilling discipline and guiding the child until they reached an age of maturity.

Paul's use of παιδαγωγός in Galatians highlights the temporary and preparatory nature of the Law in God's redemptive plan. Just as a child eventually outgrows the need for a guardian, believers, through faith in Christ, move beyond the custodial role of the Law to live in the freedom of the Spirit.

Forms and Transliterations

παιδαγωγον παιδαγωγόν παιδαγωγος παιδαγωγός παιδαγωγὸς παιδαγωγους παιδαγωγούς παιδαγωγοὺς paidagogon paidagogón paidagōgon paidagōgón paidagogos paidagogòs paidagōgos paidagōgòs paidagogous paidagogoùs paidagōgous paidagōgoùs

Englishman's Concordance

1 Corinthians 4:15 N-AMP
GRK: γὰρ μυρίους παιδαγωγοὺς ἔχητε ἐν
NAS: countless tutors in Christ,
KJV: ten thousand instructors in
INT: indeed ten thousand tutors you should have in

Galatians 3:24 N-NMS
GRK: ὁ νόμος παιδαγωγὸς ἡμῶν γέγονεν
NAS: has become our tutor [to lead us] to Christ,
KJV: our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto
INT: the law tutor of us has been

Galatians 3:25 N-AMS
GRK: οὐκέτι ὑπὸ παιδαγωγόν ἐσμεν
NAS: we are no longer under a tutor.
KJV: no longer under a schoolmaster.
INT: no longer under a tutor we are

Strong's Greek 3807
3 Occurrences

παιδαγωγόν — 1 Occ.
παιδαγωγὸς — 1 Occ.
παιδαγωγοὺς — 1 Occ.