πλαστός
plastós
G4112 attributive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Formed or shaped (by hand or craft), typically referring to something physically molded or fashioned; by extension, something made, artificial, or contrived. Figuratively, it may denote something fabricated or feigned (not genuine), often used to describe something false or deceptive in character.
Semantic Range
molded, shaped, formed, artificial, manufactured, contrived, feigned, fabricated, fictitious, false (in the sense of being constructed or unnatural)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the verb πλάσσω (plássō), meaning 'to form, to mold, to shape.' This verb is related to the notion of shaping or fashioning, especially with the hands or through craftsmanship.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Classical Greek, πλαστός primarily described physical objects fashioned from clay or other materials—works shaped by human hands. By the Hellenistic period, it could also bear a more figurative sense, signifying something artificial or contrived, especially in contrast to what is 'by nature' (φυσικός). In later Greek, especially in literary or rhetorical contexts, πλαστός developed the sense of 'feigned' or 'fabricated,' a meaning found in the New Testament (e.g., 2 Peter 2:3) where it describes words or stories that are not genuine but constructed for deceptive purposes. Standard English translations often render the word as 'feigned' or 'false,' but these may not fully capture the nuance of something being the product of craft or artifice, rather than simply being untrue. Unlike ψευδής (false, lying), πλαστός emphasizes the aspect of deliberate construction or fabrication, aligning it semantically with 'contrived' or 'spurious.' The use of πλαστός in Septuagintal literature is rare; it is more often found in Hellenistic and later Koine writings when discussing the artificial as opposed to the natural.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from πλάσσω; moulded, i.e. (by implication) artificial or (figuratively) fictitious (false):--feigned.
Root Family
πλαστ- (plastós) — to form, to mold, to shape
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4112-01 |
πλαστοῖς | plastois | ADJ.A DAT M PL |
feigned | to fabricated ones | fabricated | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4112-01 |
2 Peter 2:3 | πλαστοῖς | plastois | ADJ.A DAT M PL |
feigned | to fabricated ones | fabricated |