SILEX Revision Notes
Strong's Concordance was first published in 1890. While it remains an invaluable reference, advances in linguistics, archaeology, and textual studies over the past 130 years have revealed areas where its glosses can be improved. These revision notes document where the Scattered Israelites Lexicon (SILEX) corrects or clarifies Strong's entries based on modern Biblical scholarship.
γνόφος G1105 (gnóphos)
The revised gloss corrects Strong's assertion that γνόφος is 'akin to νέφος', clarifying that the etymology is uncertain and the connection is unclear.
γνώμη G1106 (gnṓmē)
The revised gloss narrows and clarifies the definition: it specifies that γνώμη refers not to mere knowledge or general cognition, but to a considered and settled opinion or decision reached after deliberation (i.e., judgment or purpose). The original's inclusion of broad terms like 'cognition,' 'agree,' and 'will' overstates the semantic range, and 'cognition' is misleading. The revised gloss corrects this by focusing on opinion, judgment, or intention formed after consideration.
γνωρίζω G1107 (gnōrízō)
The revised gloss corrects the original's use of archaic, tradition-rooted terms such as 'do to wit' and 'wot', which were influenced by older English translations rather than the lexical meaning of γνωρίζω. The SIBI gloss opts for modern, accurate equivalents like 'inform' and explicitly excludes those outdated glosses.
ἀθέμιτος G111 (athémitos)
The revised gloss corrects the original by clarifying that 'ἀθέμιτος' refers specifically to what is 'not permitted by law or custom,' removing the implication of 'flagitious' (grossly wicked) or inherently 'abominable,' which are interpretive and not intrinsic to the word’s lexical meaning. It also shifts the focus from statute law to established norms, broadening the semantic range beyond formal legality.
γνωστός G1110 (gnōstós)
The revised gloss corrects the original's implication that γνῶστος can refer specifically to 'acquaintance' in the English sense, clarifying that its usage is broader and refers generally to the state of being known, recognized, or revealed, and not specifically to personal acquaintanceship.
γόης G1114 (góēs)
The original gloss uses terms like 'wizard' and 'seducer,' which follow traditional English Bible translations but are either anachronistic or incorporate interpretive bias not present in the lexical meaning. The revised gloss recommends against these loaded terms, providing a more accurate, neutral definition grounded in lexical and historical context.
Γολγοθᾶ G1115 (Golgothâ)
The revised gloss corrects the translation tradition by advising against using 'Calvary,' a term from the Latin Vulgate, and clarifies that 'Golgotha' refers specifically to 'Place of the skull,' grounded in Aramaic/Hebrew. The original gloss reflects KJV tradition by not warning about the use of 'Calvary' and loosely identifies the site as 'a knoll,' potentially implying topographical shape, which the revised gloss also clarifies is not indicated by the term itself.
γραπτός G1123 (graptós)
The SIBI gloss corrects the Strong's gloss by noting that γραπτός does not inherently carry a figurative sense; Strong's includes 'figuratively,' which the revised gloss shows is not a necessary aspect of the word's meaning.
γραφή G1124 (graphḗ)
The original gloss inserts a specifically Christian theological concept ('holy Writ' and 'scripture' with Christian connotations), whereas the revised gloss clarifies that γραφή refers to any written text, sometimes sacred writings (generally the Hebrew Scriptures in context), and does not inherently refer to 'Scripture' in the later Christian sense.
γράφω G1125 (gráphō)
The revised gloss corrects the original's implication that 'grave' (engrave) is a primary or default meaning; instead, it clarifies that the core meaning is 'to write,' and 'to engrave' or 'describe' are contextual or figurative extensions, not the usual sense. The revised also notes to avoid confusion between writing and engraving unless the context specifically indicates inscription on a durable material.
γραώδης G1126 (graṓdēs)
The original gloss includes 'silly' as part of the definition, which is not intrinsic to the word's lexical meaning but reflects an interpretation of how the term is used idiomatically. The revised gloss accurately limits the meaning to 'characteristic of an elderly woman' and explains the negative connotation only in context. Thus, the revised corrects the original by removing a definition that is contextually derived rather than lexical.
γυμνασία G1129 (gymnasía)
The revised gloss corrects the original by clarifying that 'γυμνασία' lexically denotes physical training or exercise and, by extension, disciplined practice. Strong's introduces 'asceticism' as a gloss, but the revised gloss notes that 'asceticism' is not inherent in the New Testament usage or the lexical meaning, but rather a later interpretive layer. This corrects a definition error in the original gloss.
ἄθεσμος G113 (áthesmos)
The revised gloss corrects Strong's narrow focus on 'criminal, wicked' by clarifying that the term means 'lawless' or 'contrary to established norms or customs,' not restricted to strict legal or Israelite law infraction. It also advises against conflating this term with other technical legal terms, which Strong's does not address.
γυμνητεύω G1130 (gymnēteúō)
The REVISED gloss corrects the ORIGINAL by clarifying that the verb refers to being poorly clad or insufficiently clothed, not literally 'naked.' The original gloss, by including 'be naked,' suggests absolute nudity, which is inaccurate to the Greek usage. The SIBI gloss narrows the definition to indicate deprivation, not literal nakedness.
γυμνός G1131 (gymnós)
The revised gloss clarifies that γυμνός does not always mean fully nude, but can also mean inadequately clothed, destitute, or unprotected, whereas the Strong's gloss presents 'naked' (absolute or relative) but does not adequately convey the figurative or partial sense.
γυναικάριον G1133 (gynaikárion)
The original gloss defines the term as inherently meaning 'foolish' or 'silly' woman, while the revised gloss corrects this by explaining that the term literally means 'little woman' and any sense of 'foolishness' is contextual, not part of the inherent definition.
γυναικεῖος G1134 (gynaikeîos)
The revised gloss corrects the original by clarifying that the term refers broadly to 'pertaining to a woman' or 'female,' not strictly to 'wife.' The original gloss equates the word's meaning with 'wife,' which is only appropriate in some contexts, whereas the revised gloss rightly limits that translation to contexts where a marital relationship is clear.
γυνή G1135 (gynḗ)
The revised gloss notes that the etymology is uncertain and debated, correcting Strong's assertion that it is probably from the base of γίνομαι.
Γώγ G1136 (Gṓg)
The SIBI gloss corrects Strong's on two points: (1) The original gloss presents 'Gog' as a 'future Antichrist,' which is a theological interpretation not required by the text; the revised gloss removes this and treats Gog more neutrally as a prophetic or apocalyptic figure. (2) The original claims straightforward Hebrew origin, while the revised gloss notes the etymology is uncertain and possibly non-Hebrew.
γωνία G1137 (gōnía)
The original gloss includes 'quarter' as a meaning, suggesting a regional or district interpretation, while the revised gloss clarifies this term is not used metaphorically for districts or regions in the New Testament, correcting the original's broader gloss.
Δαβίδ G1138 (Dabíd)
The revised gloss corrects the impression of a certain Hebrew etymology by noting the name is 'of uncertain derivation' and only 'traditionally interpreted as beloved.' The original gloss simply states Hebrew origin, while the revised gloss clarifies the uncertainty in its etymology.
δαιμονίζομαι G1139 (daimonízomai)
The REVISED gloss corrects the ORIGINAL by removing theological bias introduced by terms like 'possessed with a devil(s),' which reflect later Christian theological concepts and KJV translation tradition. The revised gloss clarifies that the term does not imply ownership or complete control ('possession'), nor specifically refer to 'devil(s)' but to generic supernatural beings or spirits, providing greater lexical accuracy.
ἀθετέω G114 (athetéō)
The revised gloss corrects the original's implication of active contempt or hostility (e.g. 'despise') by clarifying that the core sense is to set aside, disregard, or render something ineffective, without necessarily implying contempt. It emphasizes invalidating or refusing to recognize authority or validity, not hostility.
δαιμόνιον G1140 (daimónion)
The revised gloss narrows and corrects the Strong's definition by clarifying that 'δαιμόνιον' refers to supernatural spirits (not necessarily 'deity' or 'god'), and that it should not be directly translated as 'devil.' The original gloss, influenced by KJV tradition, falsely equates the term with both 'devil' and 'god,' without reference to its broader or more nuanced usage in Greek and biblical contexts.
δαιμονιώδης G1141 (daimoniṓdēs)
The revised gloss corrects the original's use of 'devilish,' which specifically implies 'devil-like' in a Christian theological sense, by clarifying that the Greek term refers more broadly to qualities attributed to a 'spirit being' or 'demon' (daimōn) in Greek thought, which need not carry exclusively negative or diabolical connotations. The revised gloss warns against conflating the term with later, more narrowly negative or Christian theological meanings.
δαίμων G1142 (daímōn)
The revised gloss corrects the original's specific identification of δαίμων as a 'devil' (definition, theological bias), clarifies that it is not necessarily evil, and cautions against identifying it with Satan. It also corrects the original's claim of a certain etymology, stating instead that the derivation is uncertain (etymology), and that in classical use the term was broader. The original reflects translation tradition and theological interpretation, while the revised gloss reflects modern lexical scholarship.
δάκνω G1143 (dáknō)
The original gloss claims δάκνω is a prolonged form of a primary root, implying a derivation within Greek roots. The revised gloss specifies the onomatopoeic origin and denies derivation from another Greek or Semitic root, correcting the etymological claim in Strong's.
δάκτυλος G1147 (dáktylos)
The revised gloss corrects the original Strong's presumed etymology, indicating that 'δάκτυλος' is not in fact derived from 'δέκα' (ten), and that the word's origin is uncertain, possibly pre-Greek or non-Indo-European. The original's claim of derivation from 'δέκα' is thus incorrect.
Δαλμανουθά G1148 (Dalmanouthá)
The SIBI gloss corrects the Strong's assertion of probable 'Chaldee' (Aramaic) origin, clarifying that the etymology of 'Dalmanutha' is actually uncertain and cannot be definitively linked to Chaldee or any other Semitic source.
Δαλματία G1149 (Dalmatía)
The revised gloss corrects the original's vague 'probably of foreign derivation' by clarifying that the origin is uncertain but likely non-Greek, possibly Illyrian, providing more nuanced and accurate etymological information.
δαμάζω G1150 (damázō)
The revised gloss corrects the original's assertion of a definite etymological derivation by noting that the etymology is actually uncertain, only possibly related to a lost root.
Δάμαρις G1152 (Dámaris)
The revised gloss corrects the original's etymological claim. Strong's suggested a probable derivation from 'damazō' and suggested 'gentle' as a meaning. The revised gloss explicitly states that the derivation is uncertain, existing etymologies are speculative, and the name does not have a secure lexical meaning beyond being a proper noun.
Δαμασκός G1154 (Damaskós)
The original gloss claims a direct Hebrew origin (דַּמֶּשֶׂק), whereas the revised gloss points out that while the word was borrowed from Hebrew, the further linguistic origin is uncertain. This corrects the impression that the etymology is fully understood.
δανείζω G1155 (daneízō)
The original gloss restricts the meaning to 'loan on interest,' while the revised gloss clarifies that the term can mean lending or borrowing generally, with the implication of interest possible but not required. The revised gloss thus broadens and corrects the definition to match wider usage in Biblical contexts.
δάνειον G1156 (dáneion)
The revised gloss corrects the original by specifying that δάνειον refers specifically to the loaned object or sum, not generically to 'debt' or 'obligation.' The original's inclusion of 'debt' as a gloss is too broad.
δαπανάω G1159 (dapanáō)
The original gloss assigns an inherent positive or negative sense to the verb ('in a good sense... in a bad one'), while the revised gloss correctly clarifies that the word is neutral and context determines whether spending is prudent or wasteful. The original gloss's distinction is not supported by modern scholarship.
Ἀθῆναι G116 (Athēnai)
The original gloss asserts that the name is a plural of Athena (the goddess), presenting that as a factual etymology. The revised gloss corrects this by stating the origin of the name is uncertain and only traditionally connected to Athena, removing the asserted etymology and expressing it with scholarly caution.
δέ G1161 (dé)
The SIBI gloss corrects Strong's by noting that the etymology of δέ is uncertain, whereas Strong's incorrectly describes it as a 'primary particle' implying a clear root origin.
δέησις G1162 (déēsis)
The revised gloss narrows and specifies the meaning of δέησις as an 'urgent' or 'intense' plea, especially to a deity, and distinguishes it from general terms for prayer. The original gloss treats it more generically as 'prayer, request, supplication' without emphasis on its urgent or pleading nature, potentially blurring it with broader terms.
δειγματίζω G1165 (deigmatízō)
The revised gloss clarifies that δειγματίζω means not just to 'make a show', but specifically to expose or make an example of someone with the added nuance of subjecting them to public shame or disgrace. The original gloss fails to mention the essential connotation of humiliation or deterrence inherent in the word's use.
δεικνύω G1166 (deiknýō)
The revised gloss corrects the Strong's gloss by stating that the precise form of the primitive root is uncertain, whereas Strong's classifies it as a 'prolonged form of an obsolete primary.' The revised gloss acknowledges related forms in Greek but avoids presenting the etymology as definitively as Strong's did.
δειλιάω G1168 (deiliáō)
The original gloss renders δειλιάω as 'to be timid' or 'be afraid,' which may suggest simple fear. The revised gloss clarifies that the term specifically means 'to be cowardly' or to act with a lack of courage—a negative sense of fearfulness involving moral weakness rather than neutral timidity or appropriate fear. This marks a material correction to the definition.
δειλός G1169 (deilós)
The revised gloss corrects the original by clarifying that δειλός does not inherently imply 'faithlessness' but refers more precisely to timidity or cowardice. The original's addition of 'faithless' as an implication is not supported in the revised gloss.
δεῖνα G1170 (deîna)
The SIBI gloss corrects the original etymology, stating that the derivation from δεινῶς is uncertain and not widely supported, whereas the original asserts a probable link and a semantic explanation involving fearfulness and forgetting a name.
δεῖπνον G1173 (deîpnon)
The original gloss claims a specific derivation from δαπάνη, but the revised gloss identifies the etymology as uncertain and only loosely related, correcting the original's assertion of a direct etymological link.
δεισιδαιμονέστερος G1174 (deisidaimonésteros)
The original gloss equates the term primarily with 'too superstitious,' a negative and pejorative sense, whereas the revised gloss corrects this by noting that the word can mean either devout/reverent or superstitious depending on the context, and that in Acts 17:22 it is not necessarily negative. This corrects a translation tradition bias toward the negative meaning.
δεισιδαιμονία G1175 (deisidaimonía)
The SIBI gloss corrects the Strong's definition by showing that δεισιδαιμονία primarily denotes religious devotion, reverence, or piety and may be either positive or negative depending on context, whereas Strong's gloss restricts it to the negative connotation of 'superstition.' The revised gloss emphasizes broader contextual usage and corrects the limited and pejorative translation tradition.
δεκτός G1184 (dektós)
The revised gloss corrects the original by noting that 'propitious' or propitiation concepts are not inherent in the term; it clarifies the meaning to 'accepted, welcome, or favorable' and cautions against reading theological ideas like atonement or propitiation into the word.
δένδρον G1186 (déndron)
The revised gloss corrects the original's implied derivation from the Greek for 'oak,' clarifying that the etymology is uncertain and not directly from 'oak' or any specific tree type.
δεξιός G1188 (dexiós)
The revised gloss notes that the connection of δεξιός to δέχομαι ('to receive') is now debated in modern linguistics, whereas the original presents this derivation as certain. This correction reflects updated scholarly caution regarding the etymology of the word.