εἰλικρίνεια
eilikríneia
G1505 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Genuineness or purity of motive; the quality of acting with unmixed intent or single-hearted devotion. In various contexts, denotes the absence of deceit or duplicity, suggesting straightforwardness, honesty, or uprightness of character; in some uses extends to sincerity in intentions or moral blamelessness.
Semantic Range
purity (of motive), sincerity, genuineness, moral integrity, straightforwardness, absence of deception; blamelessness
Root / Etymology
From εἰλικρινής (eilikrinēs, 'pure, unmixed, judged by sunlight'), itself likely formed from εἴλη (eílē, 'sunlight') + κρίνω (krinō, 'to judge, discern'), indicating something judged to be pure when exposed to sunlight—i.e., free from hidden flaws. The noun-form εἰλικρίνεια is thus 'the state or quality of being εἰλικρινής (pure, sincere)'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
First attested in Hellenistic Greek, εἰλικρίνεια is absent from classical Greek but becomes relatively common in philosophical and moral literature of the later Hellenistic and Roman periods. In the Septuagint, it appears in wisdom literature to express moral uprightness. In the New Testament (e.g., 1 Cor 5:8; 2 Cor 1:12; 2:17), εἰλικρίνεια denotes not just transparency of action but an inner, undivided integrity—contrasted with ἀπλότης ('simplicity, generosity') or with duplicity and hypocrisy. English translations often render as 'sincerity' or 'purity', but these do not always convey the full sense of wholeheartedness and absence of hidden motives present in the Greek term.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from εἰλικρινής; clearness, i.e. (by implication) purity (figuratively):--sincerity.
Root Family
εἰλικρίνεια (eilikrineia) — purity, sincerity, genuineness, unmixed integrity
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1505-02 |
εἰλικρινείας | eilikrineias | N GEN F SG |
of sincerity | of sincere purity | 2 |
G1505-01 |
εἰλικρινείᾳ | eilikrineia | N DAT F SG |
in sincerity | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1505-02 |
1 Corinthians 5:8 | εἰλικρινείας | eilikrineias | N GEN F SG |
of sincerity | of sincere purity |
G1505-01 |
2 Corinthians 1:12 | εἰλικρινείᾳ | eilikrineia | N DAT F SG |
in sincerity | |
G1505-02 |
2 Corinthians 2:17 | εἰλικρινείας | eilikrineias | N GEN F SG |
of sincere purity |