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παρθένος

parthénos

G3933 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A young woman of marriageable age, especially one presumed to be sexually untouched; also used in some contexts for an unmarried young man. The primary sense is a young person who has not entered into sexual union, typically with the nuance of social status (unmarried) and sexual inexperience. In specialized literary or cultic settings, it may imply ritual purity or be an honorific title for certain goddesses.

Semantic Range

young unmarried woman, maiden, presumed virgin, young unmarried man, ritual devotee, symbol of purity

Root / Etymology

Etymology uncertain. Some ancient sources connected it to the root παρ- (to pass, to go), but modern scholarship finds the origin unclear. It is attested in Mycenaean Greek (as pa-ri-te-wo) and in early epic.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, παρθένος most often refers to a young, unmarried woman presumed to be sexually untouched (i.e., 'virgin'), but usage did not always require strict proof or focus on sexual experience—context often signaled emphasis on youth and unmarried status over sexual inexperience. In cultic and mythic traditions, it became a technical term (e.g., for Athena Parthenos and Artemis), expressing an ideal of chastity or divine untouchability. In certain Hellenistic and Koine texts, including the Septuagint (notably Isaiah 7:14) and the New Testament, the term is used both literally (young unmarried woman, presumed virgin) and metaphorically or symbolically (denoting ritual or spiritual purity, whether of individuals or groups; e.g., the 'wise and foolish virgins' in Gospel parables). The word's primary secular sense is social (youth and unmarried status), but by the New Testament period, the association with sexual innocence is often foregrounded, reflecting both Hellenistic-Judean cultural values and interpretive traditions. In a few rare instances, the term is applied to males (e.g., LXX Judges 21:12, Revelation 14:4), highlighting innocence, unmarried status, or ritual purity. Traditional English renderings as 'virgin' may obscure the nuance present in Greek, where the emphasis may fall on youthful unmarried status rather than purely on sexual experience, depending on context.

Translation Consistency

primary "virgin" 11 occurrences

Parthénos most commonly denotes a young unmarried woman presumed sexually untouched; 'virgin' is the most frequent and natural English equivalent that covers the primary semantic range (maiden, young unmarried woman, ritual purity/honorific use) while remaining idiomatic.

Alternatives (4 occurrences):
"young unmarried woman" (3x) "unmarried young women" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of unknown origin; a maiden; by implication, an unmarried daughter:--virgin.

Root Family

παρθένος (parthenos) — young person, unmarried, sexually untouched

Root παρθεν- young person, unmarried, sexually untouched

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3933-03 παρθένον parthenon N ACC F SG virgin young unmarried woman young unmarried woman 6
G3933-01 παρθένοι parthenoi N NOM F PL virgins unmarried maidens virgins 4
G3933-04 παρθένος parthenos N NOM F SG virgin unmarried maiden virgin 3
G3933-02 παρθένοις parthenois N DAT F PL virgins to unmarried young women to unmarried young women 1
G3933-05 παρθένου parthenou N GEN F SG virgin of a maiden virgin 1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3933-04 Matthew 1:23 παρθένος parthenos N NOM F SG virgin unmarried maiden virgin
G3933-02 Matthew 25:1 παρθένοις parthenois N DAT F PL virgins to unmarried young women to unmarried young women
G3933-01 Matthew 25:7 παρθένοι parthenoi N NOM F PL virgins unmarried maidens virgins
G3933-01 Matthew 25:11 παρθένοι parthenoi N NOM F PL virgins unmarried maidens virgins
G3933-03 Luke 1:27 παρθένον parthenon N ACC F SG a virgin young unmarried woman young unmarried woman
G3933-05 Luke 1:27 παρθένου parthenou N GEN F SG virgin of a maiden virgin
G3933-01 Acts 21:9 παρθένοι parthenoi N NOM F PL virgins unmarried maidens virgins
G3933-03 1 Corinthians 7:25 παρθένων parthenon N GEN F PL virgins young unmarried woman virgins
G3933-04 1 Corinthians 7:28 παρθένος parthenos N NOM F SG virgin unmarried maiden virgin
G3933-04 1 Corinthians 7:33 παρθένος parthenos N NOM F SG virgin unmarried maiden virgin
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