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ἀμελέω

ameléō

G272 verb

SILEX Entry

Root μελ- to care, to be concerned, to give attention

Definition

To neglect, to disregard, to show lack of concern or attention for something or someone. The primary sense is to not give proper heed or care, with nuance depending on context—from administrative neglect (failure to attend responsibilities), to personal disregard (paying no attention to someone or something).

Semantic Range

neglect, disregard, pay no attention, show indifference, make light of, be inattentive, be negligent

Root / Etymology

From the alpha privative (ἀ-) denoting negation, and the verb μέλω (to be a care to, to concern oneself with). Thus, ἀμελέω literally means 'not to care about, not to be concerned.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb ἀμελέω appears primarily in Koine Greek sources, including the New Testament (e.g., Matthew 22:5, Hebrews 2:3), where it denotes failure to give due attention to something of consequence (such as an invitation or message). In the Septuagint and post-classical Greek, it similarly describes negligence toward duties, warnings, or obligations. This nuance differs from παριέμαι (to overlook knowingly) or ἀγνοέω (to be unaware, to not recognize), in that ἀμελέω emphasizes a willful neglect or lack of due concern. In later Greek, the term can also have the sense of 'to make light of,' suggesting dismissiveness, not merely omission. English translations sometimes narrow this to 'neglect,' but the underlying Greek may carry both the sense of passive inattention and active disregard. Classical attestations are rare, with more common usage in Hellenistic and later literature.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from Α (as a negative particle) and μέλω; to be careless of:--make light of, neglect, be negligent, no regard.

Root Family

ἀμελέω (ameléō) — to care, to be concerned, to give attention

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G272-02 ἀμελήσαντες amelesantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL having neglected 2
G272-03 ἠμέλησα emelesa V AOR ACT IND 1P SG I neglected 1
G272-01 ἀμέλει amelei V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG neglect Neglect 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G272-02 Matthew 22:5 ἀμελήσαντες amelesantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL having neglected
G272-01 1 Timothy 4:14 ἀμέλει amelei V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG neglect Neglect
G272-02 Hebrews 2:3 ἀμελήσαντες amelesantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL having neglected
G272-03 Hebrews 8:9 ἠμέλησα emelesa V AOR ACT IND 1P SG I neglected
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