φρόνημα
phrónēma
G5427 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Disposition, mindset, the underlying orientation or attitude of the mind; can refer to a particular way of thinking or an inclination of will and intellect, whether directed toward certain values or ethical principles. In philosophical and moral contexts, often signifies the inner attitude or governing principle that shapes behavior, including both positive (e.g., a mindset aligned with virtue or the spirit) and negative senses (e.g., a disposition focused on desires or flesh).
Semantic Range
mindset, disposition, inclination, purpose, inner attitude, governing principle, pride (rare older sense)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the verb φρονέω (to think, to be minded, to have an attitude), with the nominal suffix -μα indicating a state, condition, or result of an action. Thus, φρόνημα is the state of being minded or the result of thinking.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Koine Greek, particularly in philosophical and ethical discussions, φρόνημα refers not just to thought or intellect (as in νοῦς) but to the settled disposition or fundamental orientation of an individual. In the New Testament, especially Pauline usage (Rom 8:6-7), φρόνημα signifies the overarching mindset, whether aligned with 'the flesh' (ἐν σαρκί) – meaning earthly or self-centered concerns – or with 'the spirit' (ἐν πνεύματι) – oriented toward God or ethical life. The term does not merely describe intellectual reasoning but signals the deeper seat of one's motivations and purposes. English translations as 'mind' or 'mindset' can obscure the active, volitional dimension implied in the term; it points to where a person's values and will are fundamentally directed. Distinct from related terms such as διάνοια (faculty or process of thinking) and νοῦς (reason, intellect), φρόνημα emphasizes enduring inclination rather than momentary thought or cognitive capacity. Rare outside biblical and early Christian literature; in classical sources, φρόνημα can also denote pride, high-mindedness, or purpose, but the Pauline sense is more ethically charged.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from φρονέω; (mental) inclination or purpose:--(be, + be carnally, + be spiritually) mind(-ed).
Root Family
φρον- (kataphronéō) — to think, to have an attitude, to consider
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G2706 | καταφρονέω | you are despising |
| G2707 | καταφροντής | O despisers |
| G3912 | παραφρονέω | being irrational |
| G3913 | παραφρονία | mental derangement |
| G4065 | περιφρονέω | let him scorn |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5427-01 |
φρόνημα | phronema | N NOM N SG |
mindset | mindset | mindset | 4 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5427-01 |
Romans 8:6 | φρόνημα | phronema | N NOM N SG |
mindset | mindset | mindset |
G5427-01 |
Romans 8:6 | φρόνημα | phronema-2 | N NOM N SG |
mindset | mindset | mindset |
G5427-01 |
Romans 8:7 | φρόνημα | phronema | N NOM N SG |
mindset | mindset | mindset |
G5427-01 |
Romans 8:27 | φρόνημα | phronema | N NOM N SG |
mind | mindset | mindset |