χλιαρός
chliarós
G5513 predicate adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Tepid, moderately warm; used metaphorically to describe a lack of enthusiasm, zeal, or intensity. The primary sense refers to a temperature that is neither hot nor cold. In extended and figurative contexts, it describes a state of indifference, middling commitment, or halfheartedness—neither fervent nor completely inactive.
Semantic Range
tepid, moderately warm, lukewarm (of liquids or baths); metaphorically: indifferent, middling, halfhearted, lacking zeal
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root χλι- (to warm, to make warm). The word forms an adjective with the standard adjectival ending -αρός (-arós), indicating a characteristic of warmth but only to a moderate or intermediate degree.
Historical & Contextual Notes
χλιαρός is rare in preserved Greek literature, with its most notable attestations in the New Testament (Revelation 3:16) and some medical or technical literature describing fluids or baths as tepid (cf. Galen for uses in medical authors). In Revelation, the term is employed metaphorically to critique a community's spiritual apathy—being neither hot (ζεστός, 'fervent') nor cold (ψυχρός, 'cold'), but 'lukewarm,' which in Hellenistic and Roman contexts could connote mediocrity or a lack of vigor. The English 'lukewarm' is a traditional but accurate translation, although the figurative extension for a moderate or indecisive disposition should be noted. χλιαρός is distinct from Greek terms for 'warm' (θερμός) and 'hot' (ζεστός), marking a unique position in the semantic field describing temperature—and, by extension, levels of intensity or commitment.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from (to warm); tepid:--lukewarm.
Root Family
χλι- (chliarós) — to warm, to be warm
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5513-01 |
χλιαρὸς | chliaros | ADJ.P NOM M SG |
lukewarm | lukewarm | lukewarm | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5513-01 |
Revelation 3:16 | χλιαρὸς | chliaros | ADJ.P NOM M SG |
lukewarm | lukewarm | lukewarm |