γυναικάριον
gynaikárion
G1133 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Diminutive form of 'woman'; primarily 'little woman', with additional connotations depending on context. In New Testament usage, it refers to a woman regarded as lacking maturity, discernment, or critical judgment, and thus susceptible or easily influenced. The core meaning is that of a woman, but the diminutive form introduces a sense of belittlement or trivialization, often conveying the sense of being weak-minded or foolish, rather than denoting age or physical size.
Semantic Range
little woman; woman regarded as weak-minded or easily misled; trivialized or belittled woman; (pejoratively) silly woman
Root / Etymology
Diminutive of γυνή (‘woman’); formed with the diminutive suffix -άριον indicating smallness, triviality, or a pejorative sense. No evidence of Hebrew or Aramaic influence on formation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
γυναικάριον is extremely rare in Greek literature and appears in the New Testament only in 2 Timothy 3:6. The word combines the base meaning of 'woman' with a diminutive form that, in this context, is not affectionate but derogatory or patronizing—suggesting a woman considered immature, naïve, or unsophisticated. The diminutive ending -άριον can imply either smallness or a dismissive attitude, and here it functions primarily in a pejorative way. The term does not refer to physical stature or youth, but to perceived intellectual or moral capacity. English Bible translations have often rendered the term as 'silly women', but this reflects a value judgment conveyed by the Greek diminutive and the context rather than a literal sense of foolishness attached to all diminutives. The usage in 2 Timothy reflects common Greco-Roman literary tropes in which women were sometimes depicted as gullible or easily misled, but it is contextually specific and should not be generalized to refer to all women. Outside the New Testament, the word is not found in major Greek lexicons due to its rarity; its structure and nuance are, however, consistent with other Greek diminutives.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a diminutive from γυνή; a little (i.e. foolish) woman:--silly woman.
Root Family
γυναικάριον (gynaikarion) — woman, female; diminutive form
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1133-01 |
γυναικάρια | gunaikaria | N ACC N PL |
silly women | little women | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1133-01 |
2 Timothy 3:6 | γυναικάρια | gunaikaria | N ACC N PL |
silly women | little women |