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καινός

kainós

G2537 attributive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

New, with reference to quality rather than age; something not previously existing, unused, or different in nature from what was before. Especially denotes newness in the sense of freshness, innovation, or transformation, rather than simply being recent in time. Can refer to a new order, a new covenant, or a new creation, focusing on the distinctive, fresh, or superior nature of what is new.

Semantic Range

new in kind, fresh, innovative, unprecedented, renewed, unfamiliar, distinct from what existed before

Root / Etymology

Etymology uncertain. Possibly pre-Greek or formed within Greek from the nominal root καιν-. It is semantically distinguished from νέος (neos) which refers to 'new' in terms of time/age, whereas καινός emphasizes newness in character or quality.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, καινός referred to something new in the sense of novel or fresh—unprecedented, unfamiliar, or innovative. By the Hellenistic and Koine period, it often described a quality of transformation, unfamiliarity, or novelty, sometimes contrasted with what is old or established. In the Septuagint (LXX) and New Testament, καινός is used notably for terms such as καινὴ διαθήκη ('new covenant'), καινός οὐρανός ('new heaven'), and καινὴ κτίσις ('new creation'), where the emphasis lies on a qualitative transformation or a new order of things rather than mere chronological newness. Contrast with νέος, which focuses on youth or recent origin; καινός highlights qualitative difference or renewed condition. Traditional English translations as 'new' do not always capture the emphasis on innovative or transformative quality present in the Greek term.

Translation Consistency

primary "new" 37 occurrences

kainós primarily denotes newness of kind or quality (fresh, innovative, transformed) rather than mere recency. "New" is the most natural, common English rendering that covers the typical senses (new order, new covenant, new creation) and matches the majority of existing renderings, so it provides clear, consistent translation across all forms.

Alternatives (4 occurrences):
"new-kind" (3x) "fresh ones" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain affinity; new (especially in freshness; while νέος is properly so with respect to age:--new.

Root Family

καινός (kainos) — new in quality, fresh, novel, unprecedented

Root καιν- new in quality, fresh, novel, unprecedented
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G25375 a more-new (thing)

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2537-04 καινὴν kainen ADJ.A ACC F SG new new in kind new in kind 11
G2537-07 καινὸν kainon ADJ.S ACC N SG new a fresh, unprecedented thing new 10
G2537-03 καινή kaine ADJ.A NOM F SG new new in kind (feminine singular) new in kind (feminine singular) 6
G2537-09 καινούς kainous ADJ.A ACC M PL new fresh, unprecedented new ones 4
G2537-01 καινὰ kaina ADJ.S ACC N PL new new things new things 3
G2537-05 καινῆς kaines ADJ.A GEN F SG new of a new-kind of a new-kind 3
G2537-08 καινοῦ kainou ADJ.A GEN N SG new of new kind of new kind 2
G2537-02 καιναῖς kainais ADJ.A DAT F PL new to fresh ones fresh ones 1
G2537-06 καινῷ kaino ADJ.S DAT N SG new to a new kind new 1

Occurrences in Scripture

41 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2537-09 Matthew 9:17 καινούς kainous ADJ.A ACC M PL new fresh, unprecedented new ones
G2537-01 Matthew 13:52 καινὰ kaina ADJ.S ACC N PL new new things new things
G2537-07 Matthew 26:29 καινὸν kainon ADJ.S ACC N SG new a fresh, unprecedented thing new
G2537-06 Matthew 27:60 καινῷ kaino ADJ.S DAT N SG new to a new kind new
G2537-03 Mark 1:27 καινή kaine ADJ.A NOM F SG new new in kind (feminine singular) new in kind (feminine singular)
G2537-07 Mark 2:21 καινὸν kainon ADJ.S NOM N SG new a fresh, unprecedented thing new
G2537-09 Mark 2:22 καινούς kainous ADJ.A ACC M PL fresh fresh, unprecedented new ones
G2537-07 Mark 14:25 καινὸν kainon ADJ.S ACC N SG new a fresh, unprecedented thing new
G2537-02 Mark 16:17 καιναῖς kainais ADJ.A DAT F PL new to fresh ones fresh ones
G2537-08 Luke 5:36 καινοῦ kainou ADJ.A GEN N SG new of new kind of new kind
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