Brief Overview of παρθένος (Strong’s G3933: parthenos)

Strong’s G3933: A noun meaning “virgin, maiden,” with special theological significance in the New Testament. First appears in Matthew 1:23 quoting Isaiah’s prophecy about the virgin birth. Used both literally for unmarried women and metaphorically for spiritual purity. Central to Christian doctrine of the virgin birth.

U- Unveiling the Word

παρθένος carries profound significance in biblical usage, particularly in its application to Mary and the virgin birth of Christ. The term denotes not just physical virginity but often implies moral purity and spiritual dedication. In the New Testament, it appears in both literal contexts regarding unmarried women and metaphorically in Paul’s discussion of presenting the church as a pure virgin to Christ. Early church fathers extensively used this term in developing Christological and ecclesiastical doctrines. Today, it remains central to discussions of both the incarnation and spiritual purity.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: παρθένος, parthenos, /PAR-then-os/
• Detailed pronunciation: PAR (stressed) + then + os (as in ‘dose’)
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• Basic root word without prefixes or suffixes
• Ancient Indo-European origin
• Related to Sanskrit ‘pṛthuka’ (young girl)

D – Defining Meanings

• Virgin
• Maiden
• Unmarried woman
• Pure one

Translation Options:

• “Virgin” – emphasizes physical and moral purity
• “Maiden” – captures social status
• “Unmarried woman” – emphasizes marital status

E – Exploring Similar Words

• κόρη (korē) /KOR-ay/ – young woman, less emphasis on virginity
• νεᾶνις (neanis) /neh-AN-is/ – young woman, focuses on age
• γυνή (gynē) /goo-NAY/ – woman, general term

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a noun, παρθένος exhibits:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Gender: Feminine (usually)
• Declension: 2nd

Examples:
παρθένος (nom. sing.)
παρθένου (gen. sing.)
παρθένοι (nom. pl.)
παρθένους (acc. pl.)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes both physical and spiritual aspects. Thayer’s notes its importance in virgin birth texts. LSJ documents extensive cultural usage. Vine’s highlights its metaphorical applications. Moulton and Milligan note its legal and social significance.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“Behold, the [παρθένος] virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (Matthew 1:23)

Additional References:
Matthew 25:1-11, Luke 1:27, Acts 21:9, 1 Corinthians 7:25-38, 2 Corinthians 11:2

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

παρθένος represents a complex concept encompassing physical virginity, moral purity, and spiritual dedication, crucial to both Christological doctrine and ecclesiastical metaphor.

D – Did You Know?

• The term appears in the Septuagint translation of Isaiah 7:14
• It became central to early church debates about Christ’s nature
• The word influenced development of Marian doctrine

[Lexicon Summary]
A noun meaning “virgin, maiden,” with special theological significance in the New Testament. First appears in Matthew 1:23 quoting Isaiah’s prophecy about the virgin birth. Used both literally for unmarried women and metaphorically for spiritual purity. Central to Christian doctrine of the virgin birth.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: #noun #virgin #mary #virgin_birth #christology #purity #biblical_greek #new_testament #prophecy #incarnation​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​