1169. deilos
Strong's Lexicon
deilos: Cowardly, timid, fearful

Original Word: δειλός
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: deilos
Pronunciation: day-los'
Phonetic Spelling: (di-los')
Definition: Cowardly, timid, fearful
Meaning: cowardly, timid, fearful.

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek root δέος (deos), meaning "fear" or "dread."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "deilos," the concept of fearfulness can be related to Hebrew words like יָרֵא (yare, Strong's H3372), which means "to fear" or "to be afraid."

Usage: The Greek word "deilos" is used in the New Testament to describe a state of fearfulness or timidity. It often carries a negative connotation, implying a lack of faith or courage in the face of challenges. In the context of Christian teaching, it is contrasted with the boldness and confidence that comes from faith in God.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, courage was highly valued, especially in the context of warfare and public life. Fearfulness or cowardice was often looked down upon as a character flaw. In the early Christian context, believers were encouraged to stand firm in their faith despite persecution and trials, making "deilos" a significant term in discussions about faith and courage.

HELPS Word-studies

1169 deilós (an adjective derived from deidō, "fear-driven") – properly, dreadful, describing a person who loses their "moral gumption (fortitude)" that is needed to follow the Lord.

1169 /deilós ("fearful of losses") refers to an excessive fear (dread) of "losing," causing someone to be fainthearted (cowardly) – hence, to fall short in following Christ as Lord.

[1169 /deilós is always used negatively in the NT and stands in contrast to the positive fear which can be expressed by 5401 /phóbos ("fear," see Phil 2:12).]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from deos
Definition
cowardly, fearful
NASB Translation
afraid (2), cowardly (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1169: δειλός

δειλός, δείλη, δειλόν (δείδω to fear), timid, fearful: Matthew 8:28; Mark 4:40; in Revelation 21:8 of Christians who through cowardice give way under persecutions and apostatize. (From Homer down.)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
fearful.

From deos (dread); timid, i.e. (by implication) faithless -- fearful.

Forms and Transliterations
δειλοι δειλοί δειλοις δειλοίς δειλοῖς δειλός δεους δέους deiloi deiloí deilois deiloîs deous déous
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Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 8:26 Adj-NMP
GRK: αὐτοῖς Τί δειλοί ἐστε ὀλιγόπιστοι
NAS: to them, Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?
KJV: are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?
INT: to them Why fearful are you O [you] of little faith

Mark 4:40 Adj-NMP
GRK: αὐτοῖς Τί δειλοί ἐστε οὔπω
NAS: to them, Why are you afraid? Do you still
KJV: so fearful? how is it
INT: to them Why fearful are you still no

Hebrews 12:28 N-GNS
GRK: εὐλαβείας καὶ δέους
INT: fear and reverence

Revelation 21:8 Adj-DMP
GRK: τοῖς δὲ δειλοῖς καὶ ἀπίστοις
NAS: But for the cowardly and unbelieving
KJV: But the fearful, and unbelieving,
INT: but to [the] fearful and unbelieving

Strong's Greek 1169
4 Occurrences


δειλοί — 2 Occ.
δειλοῖς — 1 Occ.
δέους — 1 Occ.

















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