5424. phrén

Lexicon

phrén: Mind, understanding, intellect

Original Word: φρήν
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: phrén
Pronunciation: frane
Phonetic Spelling: (frane)
Definition: Mind, understanding, intellect
Meaning: the mind, intellect, thought, understanding.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

understanding.

Probably from an obsolete phrao (to rein in or curb; compare phrasso); the midrif (as a partition of the body), i.e. (figuratively and by implication, of sympathy) the feelings (or sensitive nature; by extension (also in the plural) the mind or cognitive faculties) -- understanding.

see GREEK phrasso

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 5424 phrḗn (a feminine noun) – properly, "the midriff (diaphragm), the parts around the heart" (J. Thayer); (figuratively) visceral (personal) opinion; what a person "really has in mind," i.e. inner outlook (mind-set, insight) that regulates outward behavior. See 5429 (phronimos).

[5424 (phrḗn) is the root of the English term, "diaphragm," which regulates breathing.]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
midriff, heart, mind, thought
NASB Translation
thinking (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 5424: φρήν

φρήν, φρενος, ἡ, plural φρένες, from Homer down, the Sept. several times in Proverbs for לֵב:

1. the midriff or diaphragm, the parts about the heart.

2. the mind; the faculty of perceiving and judging: also in the plural; as, 1 Corinthians 14:20.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from an obsolete root φράω (phraō), meaning "to rein in or curb."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H3820 לֵב (leb): Often translated as "heart," this term encompasses the mind, will, and emotions, similar to the Greek φρήν.
• H3824 לֵבָב (lebab): Another term for "heart," emphasizing inner thought and understanding.
• H7922 שֵׂכֶל (sekel): Meaning "insight" or "prudence," it aligns with the intellectual aspect of φρήν.

These Hebrew terms reflect the multifaceted nature of human cognition and emotion, paralleling the Greek concept of φρήν as the center of thought and moral reasoning.

Usage: In the New Testament, φρήν is used to denote the seat of intellectual and emotional activity. It is often associated with the inner workings of the mind, including reasoning and moral reflection.

Context: The Greek word φρήν appears in the New Testament to describe the mental faculties that govern understanding and decision-making. It is a term that captures the essence of human cognition and moral reasoning. In the cultural context of the New Testament, the mind was seen as the center of thought and emotion, influencing both actions and beliefs.

The Berean Standard Bible (BSB) translates φρήν in a way that highlights its role in shaping one's character and actions. For example, in 1 Corinthians 14:20, Paul exhorts believers to be mature in their thinking, using the term to emphasize the importance of wisdom and discernment: "Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature."

The concept of φρήν is closely related to the biblical understanding of wisdom, which is not merely intellectual but also moral and spiritual. It involves the ability to discern right from wrong and to act accordingly. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative that values wisdom as a divine gift, essential for living a life that honors God.

In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, φρήν is used to translate several Hebrew terms related to the mind and heart, further illustrating its comprehensive role in human cognition and emotion.

Forms and Transliterations

φρένες φρενών φρεσί φρεσιν φρεσίν φρεσὶν φρίκη φρίκην φρικτά φρικώδη phresin phresín phresìn

Englishman's Concordance

1 Corinthians 14:20 N-DFP
GRK: γίνεσθε ταῖς φρεσίν ἀλλὰ τῇ
NAS: do not be children in your thinking; yet
KJV: children in understanding: howbeit
INT: be in the minds but in the [regard to]

1 Corinthians 14:20 N-DFP
GRK: ταῖς δὲ φρεσὶν τέλειοι γίνεσθε
NAS: be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
KJV: but in understanding be
INT: in the [regard to] however thinking full grown be

Strong's Greek 5424
2 Occurrences

φρεσίν — 2 Occ.