φιλάργυρος
philárgyros
G5366 predicate adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Having an excessive love or fondness for money or material wealth; characterized by greed for riches, especially silver. In various contexts, denotes a person who is avaricious, grasping, or overly concerned with acquiring monetary gain. Conveys both the internal disposition of loving wealth and the outward manifestation of greed-driven actions.
Semantic Range
loving money, greedy for silver, avaricious, money-loving, covetous of wealth, grasping for material gain
Root / Etymology
Compound of φίλος ('loving, fond of') and ἄργυρος ('silver, money'). Literally means 'loving silver' or 'money-loving.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
First attested in post-classical Greek literature, φιλάργυρος occurs rarely in earlier sources and is more prominent in Hellenistic and Koine contexts. In the Septuagint and New Testament, it describes a person whose character is defined by a strong desire for money or material possessions, often as a vice—cf. 1 Timothy 3:3, Hebrews 13:5, and in contrast to attributes like generosity or contentment. Unlike some English translations that render φιλάργυρος simply as 'covetous' or 'greedy,' the term specifically highlights attachment to silver or monetary wealth, not just general desire for more. Classical Greek has related words for greed (e.g., πλεονεξία), but φιλάργυρος more pointedly refers to monetary greed. The term did not commonly refer to systemic economic behaviors in Greek civic society, but to individual moral character.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from φίλος and ἄργυρος; fond of silver (money), i.e. avaricious:--covetous.
Root Family
φιλ-, ἀργυρ- (philárgyros) — to love (friendship or affection), silver/wealth
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5366-01 |
φιλάργυροι | philarguroi | ADJ.P NOM M PL |
lovers of money | money-lovers | money-lovers | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5366-01 |
Luke 16:14 | φιλάργυροι | philarguroi | ADJ.P NOM M PL |
lovers of money | money-lovers | money-lovers |
G5366-01 |
2 Timothy 3:2 | φιλάργυροι | philarguroi | ADJ.S NOM M PL |
lovers of money | money-lovers | money-lovers |