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νουθετέω

nouthetéō

G3560 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To admonish, instruct, or warn by appealing to the reason or understanding of another; to provide corrective guidance, usually through spoken instruction that aims to influence the thoughts, attitudes, or behavior of the recipient. The term implies an effort to direct another toward proper conduct, often in a corrective but not necessarily harsh manner. Semantic range can include advice, both corrective and preventative, as well as warning or cautioning against error.

Semantic Range

to admonish, to instruct with corrective intent, to warn, to give moral guidance, to caution, to offer corrective advice

Root / Etymology

From νουθεσία (nouthesia, 'admonition, instruction, warning'), itself formed from νοῦς (nous, 'mind') and τίθημι (tithēmi, 'to place'). Thus, νουθετέω literally means 'to place in mind.' Related to Latin 'admonere.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Attested already in classical Greek (e.g., Plato) with the sense of admonishing or putting something in the mind, often as parental or authoritative instruction. In Hellenistic and Koine contexts, especially in ethical or moral exhortation, νουθετέω described reasoned or corrective persuasion rather than mere reprimand. In the Septuagint, it is rare but aligns with the Hebrew concept of warning or admonishing someone to correct behavior; more frequent in exhortative Jewish literature. In the New Testament, the term is mostly found in Pauline contexts (e.g., 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 5:14; Colossians 1:28), where it refers to instructive admonition within communal or pastoral relations. The nuance is corrective but not fundamentally punitive—rather, it involves constructive engagement with another’s reasoning or moral awareness. English translations ('admonish,' 'warn,' sometimes 'instruct') capture aspects but may understate the deliberate and reasoned intent implied by the root. νουθετέω is distinct from more severe verbs of rebuke (such as ἐπιτιμάω or ἐλέγχω), highlighting its emphasis on parental or collegial correction rather than denunciation.

Translation Consistency

primary "admonish" 8 occurrences

νουθετέω typically denotes corrective, reasoned instruction or warning rather than neutral teaching; ‘admonish’ captures the corrective, cautionary sense while remaining natural English and matches the majority of existing renderings.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as νουθεσία; to put in mind, i.e. (by implication) to caution or reprove gently:--admonish, warn.

Root Family

νουθετέω (noutheteō) — to put in mind, to admonish, to warn, to instruct

Root νουθ- to put in mind, to admonish, to warn, to instruct

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3560-06 νουθετοῦντες nouthetountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL admonishing admonishing admonishing 2
G3560-02 νουθετεῖτε noutheteite V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL admonish keep admonishing keep admonishing 2
G3560-05 νουθετοῦντας nouthetountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL admonish admonishing ones admonishing ones 1
G3560-03 νουθετῶ noutheto V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I admonish I admonish I admonish 1
G3560-01 νουθετεῖν nouthetein V PRS ACT INF to admonish to admonish to admonish 1
G3560-04 νουθετῶν noutheton V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG warning admonishing admonishing 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3560-04 Acts 20:31 νουθετῶν noutheton V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG warning admonishing admonishing
G3560-01 Romans 15:14 νουθετεῖν nouthetein V PRS ACT INF to admonish to admonish to admonish
G3560-03 1 Corinthians 4:14 νουθετῶ noutheto V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I admonish I admonish I admonish
G3560-06 Colossians 1:28 νουθετοῦντες nouthetountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL admonishing admonishing admonishing
G3560-06 Colossians 3:16 νουθετοῦντες nouthetountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL admonishing admonishing admonishing
G3560-05 1 Thessalonians 5:12 νουθετοῦντας nouthetountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL admonish admonishing ones admonishing ones
G3560-02 1 Thessalonians 5:14 νουθετεῖτε noutheteite V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL admonish keep admonishing keep admonishing
G3560-02 2 Thessalonians 3:15 νουθετεῖτε noutheteite V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL admonish keep admonishing keep admonishing
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