εὐπειθής
eupeithḗs
G2138 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Ready to be persuaded; open to reason or appeal, amenable; in certain contexts, tractable or compliant. The primary lexical meaning is 'willing to listen or yield to persuasion,' with contextually extended senses such as 'open-minded,' 'easily entreated,' or 'compliant.' Often carries a positive nuance of having a receptive or accommodating disposition rather than simple credulity or gullibility.
Semantic Range
ready to be persuaded, open to reason, compliant, willing to listen, amenable, approachable, easily entreated, receptive
Root / Etymology
From the adverb εὖ ('well') and the verbal root πειθ- ('to persuade'). Built from 'well' + 'persuaded' or 'inclined to persuasion.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, εὐπειθής appears infrequently but is used with the sense of 'compliant' or 'tractable.' In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the New Testament (e.g., James 3:17), it describes a person who is open or receptive to advice, correction, or entreaty — distinct from stubbornness or obstinacy. The nuance is generally positive: it denotes someone who is approachable and willing to yield for good reason, but does not necessarily carry the overtone of weakness or lack of judgment. Standard English translations sometimes render it as 'easy to be entreated' or 'open to reason,' but these may not capture the full connotation of gracious readiness to listen and respond. The term stands in contrast to terms like ἀπειθής ('disobedient, unpersuadable'). Its usage in moral or virtue lists (such as in James) suggests a quality highly valued in social and communal relationships, emphasizing constructive dialogue and a receptive attitude. Not a frequent word in surviving Greek literature; applications elsewhere reflect similar virtues of mildness or approachability.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from εὖ and πείθω; good for persuasion, i.e. (intransitively) complaint:--easy to be intreated.
Root Family
πειθ- (eupeithḗs) — to persuade, to convince, to trust
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G374 | ἀναπείθω | strongly persuades |
| G3981 | πειθός | to persuasive ones |
| G3982 | πείθω | they persuaded |
| G3988 | πεισμονή | stubborn persistence |
| G4006 | πεποίθησις | in confidence |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2138-01 |
εὐπειθής | eupeithes | ADJ.S NOM F SG |
reasonable | open to persuasion | open to persuasion | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2138-01 |
James 3:17 | εὐπειθής | eupeithes | ADJ.S NOM F SG |
reasonable | open to persuasion | open to persuasion |