3981. peithos

Lexicon

peithos: Persuasive, convincing

Original Word: πειθός
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: peithos
Pronunciation: pay-thos'
Phonetic Spelling: (pi-thos')
Definition: Persuasive, convincing
Meaning: persuasive, enticing, skilful.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

enticing.

From peitho; persuasive -- enticing.

see GREEK peitho

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from peithó
Definition
persuasive
NASB Translation
persuasive (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3981: πειθός

πειθός (WH πίθος; see Iota), πειθη, πειθον, (from πείθω, like φειδος from φείδομαι (cf. Winers Grammar, 96 (91))), persuasive: ἐν πειθοῖς λόγοις, 1 Corinthians 2:4 (cf. Buttmann, 73). Not found elsewhere (Winer's Grammar, 24). The Greeks say πιθανός; as πιθανοι λόγοι, Josephus, Antiquities 8, 9, and often in Greek authors See Passow, under the word, πιθανός, 1 e.; (Liddell and Scott, ibid. I. 2; WH's Appendix, p. 153).

STRONGS NT 3981: πίθος [πίθος, see πειθός and cf. Iota.]

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb πείθω (peithō), meaning "to persuade" or "to convince."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for πειθός, the concept of persuasion can be related to several Hebrew terms that involve convincing or influencing others. One such term is פָּתָה (pathah, Strong's Hebrew 6601), which can mean "to persuade" or "to entice." Another related term is שָׁכַן (shakan, Strong's Hebrew 7931), which can imply dwelling or settling, often used metaphorically for establishing an idea or belief in someone's mind. These terms reflect the broader biblical understanding of persuasion as both a human and divine activity.

Usage: The word πειθός is used in the context of persuasion, often relating to the effectiveness of speech or argumentation. It is not frequently found in the New Testament but is related to the concept of persuasion and belief.

Context: The Greek term πειθός, while not directly appearing in the New Testament, is closely related to the verb πείθω, which is used in various contexts to describe the act of persuading or convincing others. In the New Testament, persuasion is often linked to the proclamation of the Gospel and the call to faith. For instance, in Acts 26:28, King Agrippa says to Paul, "In such a short time, would you persuade me to become a Christian?" (BSB). This highlights the role of persuasion in the early Christian mission.

The concept of persuasion in the biblical context is not merely about rhetorical skill but is deeply connected to the work of the Holy Spirit in opening hearts to the truth of the Gospel. In 2 Corinthians 5:11, Paul writes, "Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men" (BSB), indicating that persuasion is part of the apostolic ministry, driven by a reverence for God and a desire for others to come to faith.

The effectiveness of πειθός is not solely dependent on human ability but is seen as part of the divine initiative in bringing people to a saving knowledge of Christ. This aligns with the broader biblical theme that faith itself is a gift from God, and human efforts in persuasion are ultimately undergirded by divine power.

Forms and Transliterations

πειθοίς πειθοῖς πιθοις πιθοῖς peithois peithoîs

Englishman's Concordance

1 Corinthians 2:4 Adj-DMP
GRK: οὐκ ἐν πειθοῖς σοφίας λόγοις
NAS: and my preaching were not in persuasive words
KJV: [was] not with enticing words of man's
INT: [was] not in persuasive of wisdom words

Strong's Greek 3981
1 Occurrence

πειθοῖς — 1 Occ.