φιλοτιμέομαι (G5389) — Greek Lexicon

φιλοτιμέομαι

philotiméomai

G5389 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To aspire earnestly, to make it one's aim, to strive with ambition or eagerness towards a specific goal or objective. In various contexts, indicates a strong personal commitment or sense of honor in pursuing a positive accomplishment or responsibility. Extends to the idea of zealous effort, especially with the connotation of aspiring to excellence or noble tasks.

Semantic Range

to aspire (to do something honorable), to make it one's aim, to strive eagerly, to labor earnestly, to seek distinction by action, to pursue an honorable goal

Root / Etymology

Formed from the adjective φιλότιμος ('fond of honor,' 'ambitious,' from φίλος 'loving' + τιμή 'honor') plus the middle/passive verbal ending -έομαι, giving an intransitive verb meaning 'to be ambitious' or 'to aspire.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb φιλοτιμέομαι is relatively rare and occurs in post-classical (Hellenistic and Roman-period) Greek, including some inscriptions and literary sources. In classical Greek, its cognate noun φιλότιμος could carry either a positive sense (aspiring to honorable achievement) or a negative sense ('ambitious,' with possible pejorative overtones). In the Koine period, especially evident in the New Testament (e.g., Rom 15:20; 2 Cor 5:9; 1 Thess 4:11), φιλοτιμέομαι usually has a positive connotation: to earnestly pursue a particular courteous, moral, or spiritual aim (such as serving, pleasing, or honoring others, or striving for excellence in work or character). English translations sometimes render it as 'strive,' 'make it one's aim,' or 'aspire,' but these can lose the nuance of honorable ambition. The positive sense of a noble aim or praiseworthy effort generally predominates in biblical literature; the sense of mere self-advancing ambition is less prominent. Distinguished from verbs like ἐπιθυμέω (to desire) by its focus on honor and the pursuit of distinction by action rather than mere wish. Rare outside New Testament and Christian authors in this exact verbal form.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

middle voice from a compound of φίλος and τιμή; to be fond of honor, i.e. emulous (eager or earnest to do something):--labour, strive, study.

Root Family

φιλοτιμέομαι (philotimeomai) — to aspire, to strive for honor, to make it one's aim

Root φιλοτιμ- to aspire, to strive for honor, to make it one's aim

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G5389-01`	φιλοτιμεῖσθαι	philotimeisthai	`V PRS MID INF`	to make it your ambition	to aspire earnestly	to aspire earnestly	1
`G5389-02`	φιλοτιμούμενον	philotimoumenon	`V PRS MID PTCP ACC M SG`	making it my ambition	earnestly aspiring	earnestly aspiring	1
`G5389-03`	φιλοτιμούμεθα	philotimoumetha	`V PRS MID IND 1P PL`	we make it our ambition	we make it our aim	we make it our aim	1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G5389-02`	Romans 15:20	φιλοτιμούμενον	philotimoumenon	`V PRS MID PTCP ACC M SG`	making it my ambition	earnestly aspiring	earnestly aspiring
`G5389-03`	2 Corinthians 5:9	φιλοτιμούμεθα	philotimoumetha	`V PRS MID IND 1P PL`	we make it our ambition	we make it our aim	we make it our aim
`G5389-01`	1 Thessalonians 4:11	φιλοτιμεῖσθαι	philotimeisthai	`V PRS MID INF`	to make it your ambition	to aspire earnestly	to aspire earnestly

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