ὀρφανός
orphanós
G3737 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Deprived of one's parents, especially the father; a person (typically a child) who is bereaved of parental protection or support. In extended contexts, can refer to someone left without guidance, care, or comfort, figuratively as well as literally.
Semantic Range
orphaned child, fatherless, bereaved (of parents), figuratively: comfortless, unprotected, left without guidance
Root / Etymology
etymology uncertain. The term does not have a clear Greek root; it is attested in various Indo-European languages and may be an ancient loanword or inherited term. It is cognate with Latin 'orbus' (bereaved, orphan) and Sanskrit 'árbha' (child), suggesting Indo-European origins.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ὀρφανός referred primarily to a child whose father had died, though it could theoretically include one bereaved of both parents. In the Septuagint, it regularly translates the Hebrew יָתוֹם (yātôm), referring to children lacking protection due to the loss of father or both parents. The same term appears in the New Testament (e.g., John 14:18), where it expands metaphorically to any state of being left without guidance, protection, or comfort (e.g., 'I will not leave you as orphans'). English Bible tradition typically renders it as 'orphan', 'fatherless', or occasionally 'comfortless' (the latter reflecting the word's broader metaphorical use). The base sense always conveys vulnerability due to the loss of primary support. Use in Greek literature outside the Bible also applies to animals or groups left without leadership or protection. The term is not limited to strict ethnic or religious identifications but rather focuses on familial and social status.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of uncertain affinity; bereaved ("orphan"), i.e. parentless:--comfortless, fatherless.
Root Family
ὀρφανός (orphanos) — bereaved, deprived, left without parents
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3737-01 |
ὀρφανούς | orphanous | ADJ.S ACC M PL |
orphans | fatherless ones | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3737-01 |
John 14:18 | ὀρφανούς | orphanous | ADJ.S ACC M PL |
orphans | fatherless ones |
G3737-01 |
James 1:27 | ὀρφανοὺς | orphanous | ADJ.S ACC M PL |
orphans | fatherless ones |