κνήθω
knḗthō
G2833 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To scratch, to rub or stimulate the skin or surface, often producing a tingling or tickling sensation; by extension, to metaphorically incite curiosity or desire for something new or pleasing (such as novel teaching or information). The literal sense is to cause an itching or tickling feeling by physical means; the figurative sense, especially in Hellenistic and New Testament usage, refers to an eagerness or restlessness for something new or intriguing, particularly in the context of teaching or speech.
Semantic Range
to scratch, to itch, to tickle, to stimulate (physically), to stimulate or arouse (desire, curiosity) metaphorically, to crave novelty or pleasing information
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Greek root κνήθ-, meaning 'to scratch' or 'to itch'; related to κνήμη (shin, lower leg), possibly referencing body parts that are commonly scratched. The precise derivation is otherwise uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
κνήθω is rarely attested in extant Greek literature. In non-biblical Greek, the word is used both in medical and everyday contexts for physical scratching or producing an itching sensation. Its metaphorical extension—to express a craving for something pleasing, new, or entertaining (such as teachings)—emerges particularly in Hellenistic and early Christian sources (see 2 Timothy 4:3). In such contexts, 'itching ears' represents an eagerness for novelty or pleasurable information, not physical itching. English translations sometimes obscure this metaphorical nuance by focusing on the physical act of itching rather than the underlying desire for novelty or pleasure. In the LXX and secular Koine, the verb retains its literal sense but can also denote stimulation of desires. By the Roman period, the figurative sense persists in rhetorical or moralizing discourses.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a primary (to scrape); to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to tickle:--X itching.
Root Family
κνήθω (knēthō) — to scratch, to itch, to tickle, to stimulate
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2833-01 |
κνηθόμενοι | knethomenoi | V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M PL |
having itching | being tickled | itching | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2833-01 |
2 Timothy 4:3 | κνηθόμενοι | knethomenoi | V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M PL |
having itching | being tickled | itching |