Greed’s Deadly Grip: φιλάργυρος (Strong’s G5366: philarguros) Corrupts Hearts

Strong’s G5366: A compound adjective combining philos (loving) and arguros (silver/money), meaning “money-loving” or “avaricious.” In New Testament usage, it describes those whose hearts are captivated by material wealth, representing a spiritual condition opposed to genuine faith and godly contentment.

U – Unveiling the Word

φιλάργυρος represents more than just a casual interest in money—it reveals a heart condition where the love of wealth has become a consuming passion. This compound word powerfully combines the concept of deep affection (philos) with silver/money (arguros), painting a vivid picture of someone whose primary love and loyalty is directed toward material gain. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts warning about the spiritual dangers of materialism. The early church fathers frequently used this term to contrast genuine faith with superficial religiosity motivated by financial gain. Today, this word remains deeply relevant as we navigate a culture increasingly defined by materialism and consumerism, challenging believers to examine where their true treasures lie, as Jesus taught in Matthew 6:21.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: φιλάργυρος, philarguros, /fil-AR-gu-ros/
• Detailed pronunciation: fee-LAR-goo-ross
• Part of Speech: Adjective

Etymology:

• φίλος (philos) – prefix meaning “loving, fond of”
• ἄργυρος (arguros) – root word meaning “silver, money”
• -ος (-os) – adjectival suffix denoting the characteristic

D – Defining Meanings

• Money-loving
• Avaricious
• Covetous of wealth

For compound words:

• φίλος (philos) – conveys deep affection or fondness
• ἄργυρος (arguros) – specifically refers to silver/money
• Combined meaning emphasizes an excessive love or desire for money

Translation Options:

• “Lover of money” – captures the personal attachment implied
• “Money-obsessed” – emphasizes the consuming nature
• “Greedy for gain” – reflects the behavioral manifestation

E – Exploring Similar Words

• πλεονέξια (pleonexia) /ple-on-EX-ee-a/ – broader term for greed/covetousness See G4124
• αἰσχροκερδής (aischrokerdes) /ais-khro-ker-DACE/ – greedy for shameful gain See G146
• φιλοκερδής (philokerdes) /fil-ok-er-DACE/ – loving gain/profit See G5366

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological Features:

• Case: Nominative/Accusative/Vocative
• Number: Singular/Plural
• Gender: Masculine/Feminine
• Declension: Second

The word follows standard second-declension adjectival patterns:

• Nominative Singular: φιλάργυρος
• Genitive Singular: φιλαργύρου
• Dative Singular: φιλαργύρῳ
• Accusative Singular: φιλάργυρον

Related forms:

• φιλαργυρέω (philargureo) – verb form meaning “to love money”
• φιλαργυρία (philarguria) – noun form meaning “love of money”

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The major lexicons provide nuanced insights into φιλάργυρος. BDAG emphasizes its connection to character rather than mere possession of wealth, suggesting it describes an orientation of the heart. Thayer’s highlights its usage in classical Greek to describe those whose primary pursuit is material gain. LSJ notes its frequent appearance in moral discourse, often paired with other vices. Vine’s emphasizes the active nature of the term—not just having money but actively loving and pursuing it. Strong’s connects it to the broader semantic domain of greed and avarice. LEH notes its usage in the Septuagint to translate Hebrew terms for greed. Moulton and Milligan provide papyri evidence showing its use in common discourse to describe those whose financial pursuits override other concerns.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Luke 16:14: “The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed Him.”

Additional References:
2 Timothy 3:2

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

φιλάργυρος serves as a powerful warning about the spiritual danger of allowing money to capture our hearts. The word doesn’t merely describe someone who has wealth, but rather someone whose heart is oriented toward the pursuit and love of money above all else. This orientation stands in direct opposition to the good news of King Jesus, who calls us to store up treasures in heaven rather than on earth. The gospel liberates us from the enslaving love of money by offering us the supreme treasure of knowing and serving our Lord, whose riches in glory far surpass any earthly wealth.

D – Did You Know?

1. The term appeared in ancient Greek financial contracts as a warning against corrupt money handlers.
2. Early church fathers used this word specifically to critique wealthy members who refused to share with the poor.
3. The compound structure of φιλάργυρος influenced the development of similar compound terms in other languages to describe materialistic behavior.

Strong’s G5366: A compound adjective combining philos (loving) and arguros (silver/money), meaning “money-loving” or “avaricious.” In New Testament usage, it describes those whose hearts are captivated by material wealth, representing a spiritual condition opposed to genuine faith and godly contentment.

Part of speech: Adjective

Tags: money, greed, materialism, wealth, Pharisees, moral character, vice, worldliness, spiritual dangers, heart condition, attachment, values​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​