τρυφάω
trypháō
G5171 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To live in luxury or self-indulgence; to pursue a life characterized by pleasure, luxury, or excessive enjoyment. The term focuses on an extravagant or sensual mode of living, often with a negative moral connotation involving overindulgence or soft living. In some contexts, it can imply a life marked by ostentation and lack of discipline, especially in contrast to upright or sober behavior.
Semantic Range
to live in luxury, to delight oneself, to indulge in softness or pleasure, to revel, to live in self-indulgence, to give oneself up to excess
Root / Etymology
From the noun τρυφή (tryphē), meaning 'luxury, softness, delicacy, revelry.' The verb is a denominative formation built on the idea of living in the manner of τρυφή; etymology traces to unclear pre-Greek origins, but its usage is classical and well-established in Greek literature.
Historical & Contextual Notes
τρυφάω appears chiefly in later Greek, including the Hellenistic and Roman periods, to describe persons who lead lives of pleasure, luxury, or excess. In classical writers, τρυφή and its related forms often have an ambivalent or negative evaluation—connoting not just comfort, but softness, moral weakness, or decadence. The verb τρυφάω is rare in secular sources but is attested in the LXX (Ezekiel 16:49, using the Hebrew root עֹנֶג, 'luxury, ease') and in the New Testament (notably James 5:5, denoting self-indulgent living). Standard English translations usually render this as 'live in pleasure' or 'luxuriate,' but this can fail to convey the pejorative or morally critical sense often present in Greek usage. In Jewish Hellenistic and early Christian contexts, τρυφάω typically denotes a lifestyle seen as antithetical to virtue, discipline, or communal ethics. It contrasts with terms denoting simplicity, self-control, or asceticism. Its sense is consistent across LXX and New Testament contexts: a reference to a lifestyle marked by indulgence and disregard for restraint.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from τρυφή; to indulge in luxury:--live in pleasure.
Root Family
τρυφάω (tryphaō) — live luxuriously, indulge, revel, live in self-indulgence
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5171-01 |
ἐτρυφήσατε | etruphesate | V AOR ACT IND 2P PL |
You have lived in luxury | you were living in luxury | you lived in luxury | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5171-01 |
James 5:5 | ἐτρυφήσατε | etruphesate | V AOR ACT IND 2P PL |
You have lived in luxury | you were living in luxury | you lived in luxury |