ὄφελος
óphelos
G3786 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Primary meaning: benefit, advantage, profit—referring to the positive outcome, usefulness, or gain derived from something. In particular contexts, it denotes what is advantageous or brings value, whether in a material, moral, or spiritual sense. The word often implies a practical usefulness or actual resulting gain, distinct from mere potential value.
Semantic Range
benefit, advantage, profit, usefulness, gain, advantageous outcome, practical value
Root / Etymology
From the Greek root ὀφελ- (to benefit, to advantage, to help). It appears connected to the verb ὠφελέω (to help, to benefit, to profit), which itself has uncertain further origins (likely pre-Greek or a native formation).
Historical & Contextual Notes
ὄφελος is a relatively uncommon noun in classical Greek, primarily attested in the Hellenistic and Koine periods. It denotes not just general benefit but specific or measurable advantage, whether tangible or intangible. In secular Koine literature, it often appears in practical, economic, or forensic contexts, emphasizing real-world usefulness. In the Septuagint and New Testament, it regularly contrasts true utility or spiritual gain with empty activity or ritual (cf. James 2:14, 16; 1 Corinthians 15:32), echoing a typical rhetorical device in Jewish and Hellenistic moral literature. Some English translations render it as "profit" or "benefit"; however, the nuance can be lost, as ὄφελος emphasizes realized advantage, not theoretical or moral gain alone. Distinct from terms such as κέρδος (which often connotes commercial or financial gain), ὄφελος has a broader, less narrowly economic scope. Unlike κέρδος or λαμβάνειν, it stresses the outcome or end result rather than the process of acquisition.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from (to heap up, i.e. accumulate or benefit); gain:--advantageth, profit.
Root Family
ὄφελος (ophelos) — benefit, advantage, profit, usefulness, gain
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3786-01 |
ὄφελος | ophelos | N NOM N SG |
profit | benefit | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3786-01 |
1 Corinthians 15:32 | ὄφελος | ophelos | N NOM N SG |
profit | benefit |
G3786-01 |
James 2:14 | ὄφελος | ophelos | N NOM N SG |
profit | benefit |
G3786-01 |
James 2:16 | ὄφελος | ophelos | N NOM N SG |
profit | benefit |