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παιδιόθεν

paidióthen

G3812 adverb

SILEX Entry

Definition

Adverb meaning 'from childhood,' indicating a point or duration beginning in one's early years or infancy. Can specify an action, state, or experience originating or continuing since childhood.

Semantic Range

from childhood, since childhood, from infancy, from the time of being a child, since one was a child

Root / Etymology

From the diminutive noun παιδίον (child, young child) with the adverbial suffix -θεν, which denotes origin or source ('from'). Thus, παιδιόθεν means 'from (the time of) being a child.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Classically and in Koine Greek, παιδιόθεν serves as a temporal adverb expressing the starting point of an action or condition from early life. The term appears in literary, documentary, and philosophical writings with the same basic sense, conveying either literal childhood or, figuratively, a long-standing trait or practice. In the New Testament (e.g., Mark 9:21), it denotes an affliction experienced since childhood. Standard translations like 'from a child' or 'from childhood' capture its core sense but may not always reflect possible figurative or extended uses found in broader Greek literature. It is distinct from terms like ἐκ νεότητος ('from youth'), which suggests a slightly later life stage than παιδιόθεν. There is no significant semantic shift between Classical and Koine usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

adverb (of source) from παιδίον; from infancy:--of a child.

Root Family

παιδιόθεν (paidióthen) — child, little child, infancy

Root παιδ- child, little child, infancy

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3812-01 παιδιόθεν paidiothen ADV childhood from childhood childhood 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3812-01 Mark 9:21 παιδιόθεν paidiothen ADV childhood from childhood childhood
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