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ἐντρέφω

entréphō

G1789 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To rear, bring up, or nurture, both in the literal sense of providing physical nourishment and in the metaphorical sense of tending to development or education. The verb often implies attentive care, whether for bodily growth or intellectual/moral formation. In extended contexts, it may refer to providing instruction, training, or guidance necessary for maturity.

Semantic Range

to nourish, to bring up (a child), to educate, to nurture, to support growth or development, to rear with care

Root / Etymology

Compound word formed from preposition ἐν ('in, within') and the verb τρέφω ('to feed, to nourish'), thus literally 'to nourish within' or 'to bring up from within.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, τρέφω carries connotations of feeding, raising, or supporting both persons and animals. The compound ἐντρέφω is rare and found primarily in later Greek, including Koine. In the New Testament (e.g., Ephesians 6:4), it refers to nurturing or bringing up children, especially in a context that emphasizes instruction and moral formation, rather than only physical nourishment. The figurative extension to education or training is shaped by context—there may be an overlap with παιδεύω ('to teach, discipline, instruct'), but ἐντρέφω retains imagery of parental care and provision. English translations such as "nourish up in" or "bring up" partially capture meaning but can obscure the dual sense of both physical and formative nurturing contained in the Greek term.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐν and τρέφω; (figuratively) to educate:--nourish up in.

Root Family

ἐντρέφω (entrephō) — to nourish, to rear, to nurture, to educate

Root τρέφ- to nourish, to feed, to rear

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1789-01 ἐντρεφόμενος entrephomenos V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M SG nourished being nurtured being nurtured 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1789-01 1 Timothy 4:6 ἐντρεφόμενος entrephomenos V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M SG nourished being nurtured being nurtured
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