Lexical Summary paidion: child, little child, young child, infant Original Word: παιδίον Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: paidion Pronunciation: pahee-DEE-on Phonetic Spelling: (pahee-dee'-on) KJV: (little, young) child, damsel NASB: child, children, child's, boy's, children's Word Origin: [neuter diminutive of G3816 (παῖς - servant)]
1. a young child (of either sex) 2. (properly) an infant 3. (by extension) a half-grown boy or girl 4. (figuratively) an immature Christian Strong's Exhaustive Concordance little, young child, damsel. Neuter diminutive of pais; a childling (of either sex), i.e. (properly), an infant, or (by extension) a half-grown boy or girl; figuratively, an immature Christian -- (little, young) child, damsel. see GREEK pais HELPS Word-studies 3813 paidíon – properly, a child under training; the diminutive form of 3816 /país ("child"). 3813 /paidíon ("a little child in training") implies a younger child (perhaps seven years old or younger). Some scholars apply 3816 (país) to a son or daughter up to 20 years old (the age of "complete adulthood" in Scripture). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origindim. of paisDefinitiona young child NASB Translationboy's (1), Child (10), child (21), child's (2), children (17), children's (1).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3813: παιδίονπαιδίον, παιδίου, τό (diminutive of παῖς) (from Herodotus down), the Sept. for טַף, נַעַר, בֵּן, etc.; a young child, a little boy, a little girl; plural τά παιδία, infants; children; little ones. In singular: universally, of an infant just born, John 16:21; of a (male) child recently born, Matthew 2:8, 11, 13, 14, 20; Luke 1:59, 66, 76, 80; Luke 2:17, 21 ( Rec.), 21,40; Hebrews 11:23; of a more advanced child, Matthew 18:2, 4; Mark 9:36f; ( Mark 10:15); Luke 9:47f; ( Luke 18:17); of a mature child, Mark 9:24; τίνος, the son of someone, John 4:49; of a girl, Mark 5:39-41; ( Mark 7:30 L text T Tr WH). In plural of (partly grown) children: Matthew 11:16 G L T Tr WH; ; Mark 7:28; Mark 10:13ff; Luke 7:32; Luke 18:16; (Hebrews 2:14); τίνος, of someone, Luke 11:7, cf. Hebrews 2:13. Metaphorically, παιδία ταῖς φρεσί, children (i. e. like children) where the use of the mind is required, 1 Corinthians 14:20; in affectionate address, equivalent to Latincarissimi (A. V. children), John 21:5; 1 John 2:14 (13),18; (1 John 3:7 WH marginal reading Synonym: see παῖς, at the end.)
Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Patterns of Usage The word describes a very young child, from newborn through early childhood, and is employed both literally and metaphorically. Literally, it appears in birth narratives (Matthew 2; Luke 1–2), household scenes (Luke 11:7), healings (Mark 5:39-42; 7:30), and parent-child interactions (Matthew 19:13-15). Metaphorically it depicts those who are spiritually immature (1 Corinthians 14:20) or tenderly addressed members of the church (1 John 2:13, 18). Plural forms can highlight a collective identity (“the children God has given Me,” Hebrews 2:13), while diminutive nuance underlines vulnerability and dependence. Christological Significance 1. Incarnation: Eight occurrences in Matthew 2 and six in Luke 1–2 refer to Jesus as a paidion, stressing His real humanity and humble beginnings. “On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him” (Matthew 2:11). The term underscores fulfilled prophecy (Matthew 2:15, 20) and frames the Messiah within ordinary childhood. 2. Redemptive Solidarity: “Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity” (Hebrews 2:14). The writer to the Hebrews builds a theology of atonement on the solidarity between the eternal Son and the paidia He came to save. 3. Resurrection/Creation Hints: Jairus’s daughter is called paidion (Mark 5:39-42), a detail linking new life to the same word used of the incarnate Child, forming a subtle arc from birth to resurrection life in Christ. Kingdom Ethics and Discipleship 1. Entrance Requirements: “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). Childlikeness—humble trust, acknowledged dependence, absence of status—sets the standard for kingdom citizenship (cf. Mark 10:14-15; Luke 18:16-17). 2. Model for Greatness: When Jesus places a paidion in their midst (Matthew 18:2-5; Mark 9:36-37; Luke 9:47-48), He redefines greatness as self-lowering service: “Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me.” 3. Warning Against Offense: The discourse continues with severe admonitions against causing “one of these little ones” to stumble (Matthew 18:6). The term therefore grounds ethical treatment of the weakest. Pastoral and Ecclesial Implications 1. Congregational Address: John repeatedly opens exhortations with Παιδία (1 John 2:13, 18), a pastoral strategy that combines affection with authority. The diminutive fosters intimacy without diminishing responsibility. 2. Growth Paradigm: Paul contrasts childlike innocence in evil with mature understanding in doctrine—“In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature” (1 Corinthians 14:20). Churches are thus to promote purity while pressing believers toward doctrinal adulthood. 3. Family Metaphor: Luke 11:7 and Hebrews 2:13-14 frame believers as household children, reinforcing familial solidarity under the Father’s care and Christ’s sonship. Eschatological Nuances “Children, it is the last hour” (1 John 2:18) situates the community’s identity within an urgent eschatological timeframe. Dependence on the Father and discernment against deceivers mark the faithfulness expected of the end-time paidia. Second Temple and Greco-Roman Background In first-century Jewish and Greco-Roman culture, children occupied a socially marginal yet symbolically potent space—valued in families but lacking status. Jesus’ elevation of a paidion to central place subverts societal norms, reflecting Old Testament concern for the weak (Psalm 8:2) and anticipating the church’s counter-cultural posture toward the vulnerable. Representative Passages • Incarnation: Matthew 2:8-14, 20-21; Luke 2:27, 40 • Kingdom Teaching: Matthew 18:2-6; Mark 10:13-15; Luke 18:16-17 • Miraculous Care: Mark 5:39-42; 7:28-30; John 4:49 • Household Illustration: Luke 11:7 • Apostolic Exhortation: 1 Corinthians 14:20; 1 John 2:13-18 • Redemptive Theology: Hebrews 2:13-14; 11:23 Ministry Applications 1. Child-focused Outreach: The Lord’s welcome mandates intentional evangelism and discipleship of children. 2. Congregational Culture: Leadership patterned after Christ will prioritize humility, safeguard the weak, and cultivate purity without gullibility. 3. Teaching Framework: Distinguish between childlike trust and childish thinking; nurture growth from paidion to mature disciple. Points for Further Study • Comparative study with teknon, huios, and nepios. • Influence on early church baptismal and catechetical practices. • Interplay between physical childhood narratives and “new birth” theology in Johannine writings. Forms and Transliterations παιδια παιδία παιδιοις παιδίοις παιδιον παιδίον παίδιον παιδιου παιδίου παιδίω παιδιων παιδίων paidia paidía paidiois paidíois paidion paidiōn paidíon paidíōn paidiou paidíouLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 2:8 N-GNSGRK: περὶ τοῦ παιδίου ἐπὰν δὲNAS: carefully for the Child; and when KJV: for the young child; and INT: for the child when moreover Matthew 2:9 N-NNS GRK: ἦν τὸ παιδίον NAS: over [the place] where the Child was. KJV: over where the young child was. INT: was the child Matthew 2:11 N-ANS GRK: εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ Μαρίας NAS: they saw the Child with Mary KJV: they saw the young child with INT: they found the child with Mary Matthew 2:13 N-ANS GRK: παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν NAS: up! Take the Child and His mother KJV: and take the young child and INT: take with [you] the child and the Matthew 2:13 N-ANS GRK: ζητεῖν τὸ παιδίον τοῦ ἀπολέσαι NAS: to search for the Child to destroy KJV: seek the young child to destroy INT: to seek the child to destroy Matthew 2:14 N-ANS GRK: παρέλαβεν τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν NAS: up and took the Child and His mother KJV: he took the young child and INT: took with [him] the child and the Matthew 2:20 N-ANS GRK: παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν NAS: up, take the Child and His mother, KJV: and take the young child and INT: take with [you] the child and the Matthew 2:20 N-GNS GRK: ψυχὴν τοῦ παιδίου NAS: who sought the Child's life KJV: which sought the young child's life. INT: life of the child Matthew 2:21 N-ANS GRK: παρέλαβεν τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν NAS: up, took the Child and His mother, KJV: and took the young child and INT: took with [him] the child and the Matthew 11:16 N-DNP GRK: ὁμοία ἐστὶν παιδίοις καθημένοις ἐν NAS: It is like children sitting INT: like it is to little children sitting in Matthew 14:21 N-GNP GRK: γυναικῶν καὶ παιδίων NAS: besides women and children. KJV: women and children. INT: women and children Matthew 15:38 N-GNP GRK: γυναικῶν καὶ παιδίων NAS: besides women and children. KJV: women and children. INT: women and children Matthew 18:2 N-ANS GRK: καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος παιδίον ἔστησεν αὐτὸ NAS: And He called a child to Himself and set KJV: called a little child unto him, INT: And having called to [him] a child he set it Matthew 18:3 N-ANP GRK: ὡς τὰ παιδία οὐ μὴ NAS: like children, you will not enter KJV: as little children, ye shall INT: as the little children no not Matthew 18:4 N-NNS GRK: ὡς τὸ παιδίον τοῦτο οὗτός NAS: as this child, he is the greatest KJV: as this little child, the same is INT: as the child this he Matthew 18:5 N-ANS GRK: δέξηται ἓν παιδίον τοιοῦτο ἐπὶ NAS: one such child in My name receives KJV: one such little child in my INT: will receive one little child such in Matthew 19:13 N-NNP GRK: προσηνέχθησαν αὐτῷ παιδία ἵνα τὰς NAS: Then [some] children were brought KJV: unto him little children, that INT: were brought to him little children that Matthew 19:14 N-ANP GRK: Ἄφετε τὰ παιδία καὶ μὴ NAS: Let the children alone, KJV: Suffer little children, and INT: Let the little children and not Mark 5:39 N-NNS GRK: κλαίετε τὸ παιδίον οὐκ ἀπέθανεν NAS: and weep? The child has not died, KJV: and weep? the damsel is not INT: weep the child not is dead Mark 5:40 N-GNS GRK: πατέρα τοῦ παιδίου καὶ τὴν NAS: out, He took along the child's father KJV: the mother of the damsel, and INT: father of the child and the Mark 5:40 N-NNS GRK: ἦν τὸ παιδίον NAS: [the room] where the child was. KJV: where the damsel was INT: was the child Mark 5:41 N-GNS GRK: χειρὸς τοῦ παιδίου λέγει αὐτῇ NAS: Taking the child by the hand, He said KJV: he took the damsel by the hand, INT: hand of the child he says to her Mark 7:28 N-GNP GRK: ψιχίων τῶν παιδίων NAS: feed on the children's crumbs. KJV: eat of the children's crumbs. INT: crumbs of the children Mark 7:30 N-ANS GRK: εὗρεν τὸ παιδίον βεβλημένον ἐπὶ NAS: she found the child lying INT: she found the child lying on Mark 9:24 N-GNS GRK: πατὴρ τοῦ παιδίου ἔλεγεν Πιστεύω NAS: Immediately the boy's father cried KJV: the father of the child cried out, INT: father of the child said I believe Strong's Greek 3813 52 Occurrences
παιδία — 13 Occ. παιδίων — 4 Occ. παιδίοις — 2 Occ. παιδίον — 27 Occ. παιδίου — 6 Occ.
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