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παιδεία

paideía

G3809 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Instruction intended to cultivate character or intellect; educational training or formation, especially through structured guidance or discipline. In various contexts, may refer specifically to disciplinary correction or reproof as a means of education. Semantically encompasses both general education and corrective discipline.

Semantic Range

education, upbringing, general instruction, training, cultivation of mind or morals, discipline, corrective discipline, chastening, reproof, nurture

Root / Etymology

From the verb παιδεύω ('to educate, train, discipline'), which itself is related to παῖς ('child, youth'). The noun παιδεία derives from this root, originally denoting the process of raising or training a young person.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, παιδεία referred broadly to the process of educating a youth (παῖς), which included both intellectual formation and moral or civic training. It implied the inculcation of virtue and culture appropriate to a citizen and was central to Greek philosophical thought (e.g., Plato's Republic). In Hellenistic and later literature, the sense extends to include more formal instruction, often in rhetoric or philosophy, but retains the implication of character formation. In the Septuagint, παιδεία is frequently used to render Hebrew terms for discipline or instruction, especially in the wisdom literature (e.g., Proverbs), highlighting both exhortation to wisdom and correction of errant behavior. In the New Testament, the term functions with a range of senses from general upbringing or nurture (especially in moral or faith formation) to specific disciplinary correction, often with the implicit goal of improvement or maturation (cf. Hebrews 12:5-11; Ephesians 6:4). Traditional English translations like 'chastening' or 'chastisement' can be overly narrow, capturing only the punitive aspect, and may obscure the broader educational and formative sense conveyed by the Greek. Contrast with διδασκαλία ('teaching, instruction') which refers more to the imparting of information than to holistic formation through both instruction and discipline.

Translation Consistency

primary "discipline" 2 occurrences

"Discipline" naturally covers both education/training and corrective chastening, matching paideía’s full semantic range. It is a common, familiar English rendering in translations and fits the SILEX emphasis on formative instruction and corrective reproof.

Alternatives (4 occurrences):
"disciplinary training" (2x) "training" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from παιδεύω; tutorage, i.e. education or training; by implication, disciplinary correction:--chastening, chastisement, instruction, nurture.

Root Family

παιδ- (paidárion) — child, youth, small child

Root παιδ- to teach, to train, to discipline
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G3808 παιδάριον little child
G3811 παιδεύω they were training and disciplining
G3812 παιδιόθεν from childhood
G3813 παιδίον young children
G3814 παιδίσκη young slave girls

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3809-01 παιδείᾳ paideia N DAT F SG discipline with formative discipline with formative discipline 2
G3809-02 παιδείαν paideian N ACC F SG discipline disciplinary training disciplinary training 2
G3809-03 παιδείας paideias N GEN F SG chastening of training of training 2

Occurrences in Scripture

6 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3809-01 Ephesians 6:4 παιδείᾳ paideia N DAT F SG discipline with formative discipline with formative discipline
G3809-02 2 Timothy 3:16 παιδείαν paideian N ACC F SG instruction disciplinary training disciplinary training
G3809-03 Hebrews 12:5 παιδείας paideias N GEN F SG chastening of training of training
G3809-02 Hebrews 12:7 παιδείαν paideian N ACC F SG discipline disciplinary training disciplinary training
G3809-03 Hebrews 12:8 παιδείας paideias N GEN F SG discipline of training of training
G3809-01 Hebrews 12:11 παιδεία paideia N NOM F SG discipline with formative discipline with formative discipline
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