Brief Overview of νεανίσκος (Strong’s G3495: neanískos)

Unveiling the Word

Understanding the nuances of Greek words in biblical texts provides deeper insights into their meaning and cultural significance. The Greek word νεανίσκος (neanískos), found in Matthew 19:20, is a term used to refer to a “young man” or “youth.” This word is particularly significant in the story of the rich young ruler, who approaches Jesus with questions about eternal life. The use of neanískos not only highlights the individual’s youth but also implies a stage in life filled with energy, potential, and spiritual questioning. This term offers a deeper understanding of how young individuals were perceived in ancient Greek and Jewish societies.

Necessary Information

Greek Word: νεανίσκος (neanískos), pronounced neh-ah-NEES-kos. It is used in its nominative singular form in Matthew 19:20.

Etymology: The word neanískos is derived from the root word neós meaning “new” or “young.” This root emphasizes the youth and freshness associated with the term. Neanískos can be seen as a diminutive form of neanías (G3494), both relating to young individuals.

Part of Speech: Neanískos is a masculine noun. As a noun, it functions in biblical texts to describe a young man in his prime, often used to emphasize age, vitality, and potential.

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Defining Meanings

1. Young Man or Youth: The primary meaning of neanískos is a young man, generally in his teenage years or early adulthood. In Matthew 19:20, the word describes the rich young ruler who inquires about how to gain eternal life.

2. Servant or Soldier: In some contexts, neanískos also refers to young men serving in roles such as servants, soldiers, or attendants. This usage reflects societal expectations for young men to take up roles of responsibility and duty during this stage of life.

Exploring Similar Words

1. νεανίας (neanías) [pronunciation: neh-ah-NEE-as]: This word is closely related to neanískos and also means “young man.” However, neanías generally refers to a slightly older youth compared to neanískos, often in the context of someone approaching adulthood.

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2. παιδίον (paidíon) [pronunciation: pie-DEE-on]: This term refers to a small child, contrasting with neanískos, which indicates someone in their later teenage years or early adulthood.

3. ἄνηρ (anēr) [pronunciation: AH-nehr]: This word refers to a “man” and is used for adult males. Neanískos, on the other hand, emphasizes youth and the early stages of adulthood.

Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Case, Number, Gender: Neanískos is a masculine noun that can appear in various cases depending on its grammatical role in a sentence. In Matthew 19:20, it is used in the nominative singular case, indicating the subject of the sentence. The word can also appear in genitive, dative, and accusative cases to fulfill different syntactical functions.

Declension: Neanískos follows the second declension pattern in Greek, a common declension for masculine nouns ending in -ος. Here is a declension table for neanískos in the singular:

Case Singular

Nominative νεανίσκος

Genitive νεανίσκου

Dative νεανίσκῳ

Accusative νεανίσκον

Studying Lexicon Insights

Lexical sources highlight that neanískos primarily denotes a young man or youth. In biblical contexts, it is used to describe individuals in the prime of their physical and mental development. The word often conveys a sense of spiritual and physical potential, as seen in Matthew 19:20, where the young man seeks eternal life from Jesus. Classical Greek sources also use this term to refer to young men serving in military or other responsible roles. This term carries both societal and theological implications, as it frequently portrays individuals at a formative stage in life.

This overview synthesizes insights from BDAG, Thayer’s, LSJ, Vine’s, Strong’s, LEH, and Moulton and Milligan.

Tracing Related Scriptures

1. Matthew 19:20 – “The young man [νεανίσκος] said to him, ‘All these I have kept. What do I still lack?’”

2. Matthew 19:22 – “When the young man [νεανίσκος] heard this, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

3. Mark 14:51 – “And a young man [νεανίσκος] followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him.”

Analyzing Classical Usage

Author Name of Work English text with νεανίσκος in parentheses

Plato Republic “The young man (νεανίσκος) was eager to learn.”

Herodotus Histories “They chose young men (νεανίσκος) for the task.”

Septuagint Judges 8:20 “And he said to the young man (νεανίσκος), ‘Rise and kill them.’”

Noteworthy Summary

Neanískos is a Greek word that refers to a young man in his early adulthood. It appears in important biblical narratives, such as the story of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19. The term captures the energy, potential, and spiritual searching of youth. Its usage across the New Testament and classical Greek literature emphasizes the importance of young men in both societal and theological contexts.

Did You Know?

1. In ancient Greek society, young men (νεανίσκος) were often expected to serve in military roles or as apprentices to more experienced men.

2. The term neanískos can also describe youthful vigor and enthusiasm, which is reflected in the story of the rich young man seeking Jesus.

3. The word neanískos appears in both the New Testament and classical Greek texts, showing its long-standing relevance in describing youth.