φιλονεξία
philonexía
G5381 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Fondness or love for hosting guests; the disposition or practice of extending hospitality, particularly to outsiders or strangers. In Koine Greek usage, it indicates the active virtue of welcoming guests and providing for their needs, often with an implication of generosity and openness beyond one's close circle; may also indicate an attitude or custom of receiving and caring for travelers or those outside one's immediate community.
Semantic Range
hospitality, hospitable attitude, love of strangers, readiness to host or receive outsiders, active welcome and care for guests or travelers
Root / Etymology
From φιλόξενος (philoxenos, 'loving strangers' or 'hospitable'), itself composed of φίλος ('loving, fond of') and ξένος ('stranger, foreigner, guest'). Thus, φιλονεξία literally means 'love of hospitality' or 'hospitality toward strangers.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, φιλονεξία was recognized as part of proper κοινωνία (community conduct), with roots in the broader Greek tradition of xenia (guest-friendship or hospitality). In the New Testament (e.g., 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8), φιλονεξία designates a required virtue for community leaders—emphasizing hospitality not merely as a social courtesy but as a core ethical standard. The Septuagint adopts related language to translate Hebrew concepts of welcoming the resident alien (ger). The term sometimes encompasses both the act and the attitude of providing hospitality. English translations usually render it as 'hospitality' or 'hospitableness,' but in modern usage, 'hospitality' may fail to convey the specific emphasis on welcoming strangers and providing for their needs. The word is rare but conceptually important in ethical discussions within Greco-Roman and Israelite-Judean contexts; in contrast to the more neutral ξενοδοχία (accommodation for guests, inn-keeping), φιλονεξία emphasizes personal, voluntary generosity.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from φιλόξενος; hospitableness:--entertain stranger, hospitality.
Root Family
φιλονεξία (philonexia) — love of strangers, hospitality, welcoming outsiders, generous hosting
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5381-01 |
φιλοξενίαν | philoxenian | N ACC F SG |
hospitality | love of strangers | hospitality | 1 |
G5381-02 |
φιλοξενίας | philoxenias | N GEN F SG |
hospitality | of love for strangers | hospitality | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5381-01 |
Romans 12:13 | φιλοξενίαν | philoxenian | N ACC F SG |
hospitality | love of strangers | hospitality |
G5381-02 |
Hebrews 13:2 | φιλοξενίας | philoxenias | N GEN F SG |
hospitality | of love for strangers | hospitality |