5373. philia

Lexicon

philia: Friendship, love, affection

Original Word: φιλία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: philia
Pronunciation: fee-LEE-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (fil-ee'-ah)
Definition: Friendship, love, affection
Meaning: friendship, affection, fondness, love.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

friendship.

From philos; fondness -- friendship.

see GREEK philos

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 5373 philía – friendship, warm affection. See 5368 (phileō).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from philos
Definition
friendship
NASB Translation
friendship (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 5373: φιλία

φιλία, φιλίας, ἡ (φίλος), friendship: with a genitive of the object, James 4:4. ((Theognis, Herodotus, others.))

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from φίλος (philos), meaning "friend" or "loved one."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for φιλία, the concept of friendship and affectionate love can be found in Hebrew words such as רֵעַ (rea, Strong's 7453), meaning "friend" or "companion," and אָהַב (ahav, Strong's 157), meaning "to love." These terms capture similar relational dynamics in the Old Testament context.

Usage: The term φιλία is used in the New Testament to describe the concept of friendship or affectionate regard. It is often contrasted with other forms of love, such as ἀγάπη (agape), which denotes a selfless, unconditional love.

Context: The Greek word φιλία (philia) appears in the New Testament to convey the idea of friendship or a close, affectionate bond between individuals. This term is distinct from other Greek words for love, such as ἀγάπη (agape), which is often used to describe God's unconditional love for humanity, and ἔρως (eros), which refers to romantic or passionate love.

In the New Testament, φιλία is used to highlight the relational aspect of love that involves mutual respect, shared interests, and personal connection. It is a love that is reciprocal and often based on common values or experiences. This type of love is seen as a natural and important part of human relationships.

A notable usage of φιλία is found in James 4:4, where it is written: "You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God." (BSB) In this context, φιλία is used to describe an allegiance or affection for worldly values that stands in opposition to a relationship with God. The passage warns believers about the dangers of prioritizing worldly friendships over their commitment to God.

The concept of φιλία in the New Testament underscores the importance of choosing one's friendships wisely, as they can influence one's spiritual journey. It also serves as a reminder of the value of cultivating friendships that are rooted in shared faith and godly principles.

Forms and Transliterations

φιλια φιλία φιλιάζεις φιλιάζως φιλίαν φιλίας philia philía

Englishman's Concordance

James 4:4 N-NFS
GRK: ὅτι ἡ φιλία τοῦ κόσμου
NAS: do you not know that friendship with the world
KJV: that the friendship of the world
INT: that the friendship of the world

Strong's Greek 5373
1 Occurrence

φιλία — 1 Occ.