3120. malakos
Strong's Lexicon
malakos: Soft, effeminate

Original Word: μαλακός
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: malakos
Pronunciation: mah-lah-KOS
Phonetic Spelling: (mal-ak-os')
Definition: Soft, effeminate
Meaning: (a) soft, (b) of persons: soft, delicate, effeminate.

Word Origin: Derived from a root meaning "soft" or "effeminate."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "malakos," but concepts of moral weakness or softness can be found in terms like רַךְ (rak, Strong's H7390), meaning "tender" or "soft."

Usage: The term "malakos" is used in the New Testament to describe something that is soft or luxurious. In a moral context, it refers to effeminacy or moral softness, often implying a lack of self-discipline or moral fortitude. It is used to describe individuals who are morally weak or indulgent.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, the term "malakos" was often associated with luxury and decadence. It could describe clothing, lifestyle, or behavior that was considered overly indulgent or lacking in traditional masculine virtues. In a moral sense, it was used to criticize those who were seen as lacking the strength of character expected in a patriarchal society.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
soft, effeminate
NASB Translation
effeminate (1), soft (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3120: μαλακός

μαλακός, μαλακή, μαλακον, soft; soft to the touch: ἱμάτια, Matthew 11:8 R G L brackets; Luke 7:25 (ἱματίων πολυτελῶν καί μαλακων, Artemidorus Daldianus, oneir. 1, 78; ἐσθής, Homer, Odyssey 23, 290; Artemidorus Daldianus, oneir. 2, 3; χιτών, Homer, Iliad 2, 42); and simply τά μαλακά, soft raiment (see λευκός, 1): Matthew 11:8 T Tr WH. Like the Latinmollis, metaphorically, and in a bad sense: effeminate, of a catamite, a male who submits his body to unnatural lewdness, 1 Corinthians 6:9 (Dionysius Halicarnassus, Antiquities 7, 2 under the end; ((Diogenes Laërtius 7, 173 at the end)).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
effeminate, soft.

Of uncertain affinity; soft, i.e. Fine (clothing); figuratively, a catamite -- effeminate, soft.

Forms and Transliterations
εμαλάκυνε μαλακα μαλακά μαλακὰ μαλακή μαλακοι μαλακοί μαλακοὶ μαλακοις μαλακοίς μαλακοῖς μαλακώς malaka malakà malakoi malakoì malakois malakoîs
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 11:8 Adj-DNP
GRK: ἄνθρωπον ἐν μαλακοῖς ἠμφιεσμένον ἰδοὺ
NAS: dressed in soft [clothing]? Those
KJV: clothed in soft raiment? behold,
INT: a man in fine [clothes] having been dressed Behold

Matthew 11:8 Adj-ANP
GRK: οἱ τὰ μαλακὰ φοροῦντες ἐν
NAS: who wear soft [clothing] are in kings'
KJV: they that wear soft [clothing] are
INT: those who the fine [clothes] wear in

Luke 7:25 Adj-DNP
GRK: ἄνθρωπον ἐν μαλακοῖς ἱματίοις ἠμφιεσμένον
NAS: A man dressed in soft clothing? Those
KJV: clothed in soft raiment? Behold,
INT: a man in fine clothing arrayed

1 Corinthians 6:9 Adj-NMP
GRK: μοιχοὶ οὔτε μαλακοὶ οὔτε ἀρσενοκοῖται
NAS: nor effeminate, nor
KJV: nor effeminate, nor
INT: adulterers nor effeminate nor homosexuals

Strong's Greek 3120
4 Occurrences


μαλακὰ — 1 Occ.
μαλακοὶ — 1 Occ.
μαλακοῖς — 2 Occ.

















3119
Top of Page
Top of Page