τροφός
trophós
G5162 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
One who nourishes or feeds another, particularly a woman engaged in nursing a child at the breast (nurse, wet nurse); by extension, any person who provides sustenance, care, or nurture. The primary sense is a caretaker who supplies nourishment, typically referring to the care of infants, but in broader usage may refer to a foster mother or provider.
Semantic Range
nourisher, nurse, wet nurse, foster mother, caretaker, provider of sustenance
Root / Etymology
From τρέφω (to feed, nourish) with the agentive feminine suffix -ός, meaning 'she who feeds or nourishes.' The form directly denotes a female nurturer.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, τροφός commonly refers to a wet nurse—an adult woman (often a servant or slave) who breastfeeds an infant on behalf of its mother. This role was socially significant in ancient households. By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, the term retains this specific meaning, though in certain literary and metaphorical usage, it can extend to anyone (typically female) who provides nurture or upbringing. In the New Testament (e.g., 1 Thessalonians 2:7), τροφός is used metaphorically to describe gentle and caring behavior, likening the speaker’s conduct to that of a nurturing nurse. English translations often narrow the sense to 'nurse' or 'wet nurse,' but ancient audiences would have understood a wider implication of maternal care and feeding. Other Greek terms, such as τιθήνη (tithēnē), can also refer to a nurse or governess, though τροφός emphasizes nourishing.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from τρέφω; a nourisher, i.e. nurse:--nurse.
Root Family
τροφός (trophos) — to nourish, to feed, to foster
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5162-01 |
τροφὸς | trophos | N NOM F SG |
nursing-mother | female nourisher | nursing-mother | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5162-01 |
1 Thessalonians 2:7 | τροφὸς | trophos | N NOM F SG |
nursing-mother | female nourisher | nursing-mother |