3504. neophutos
Strong's Lexicon
neophutos: Newly planted, new convert

Original Word: νεόφυτος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: neophutos
Pronunciation: neh-OF-oo-tos
Phonetic Spelling: (neh-of'-oo-tos)
Definition: Newly planted, new convert
Meaning: (lit: newly-planted), newly converted to Christianity, recent convert.

Word Origin: From the Greek words νέος (neos, meaning "new") and φύω (phuo, meaning "to grow" or "to plant")

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent to "neophutos," the concept of newness and growth can be related to Hebrew terms like "נָטַע" (nata, meaning "to plant") and "חָדָשׁ" (chadash, meaning "new").

Usage: The term "neophutos" is used in the New Testament to describe someone who is newly converted to the Christian faith. It carries the connotation of being freshly planted, akin to a young plant that has just taken root. This metaphor highlights the early and formative stage of a believer's spiritual journey, emphasizing the need for growth and maturity.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, agriculture was a common part of daily life, and the imagery of planting and growth would have been easily understood by early Christians. The concept of a "new plant" or "neophyte" was used to describe those who had recently embraced Christianity, distinguishing them from more mature believers who had been in the faith longer and had deeper roots in Christian doctrine and practice.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from neos, and phuó
Definition
newly planted
NASB Translation
new convert (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3504: νεόφυτος

νεόφυτος, νεόφυτον (νέος and φύω), newly-planted (Job 14:9; Isaiah 5:7, etc.); tropically, a new convert, neophyte (A. V. novice, i. e.) (one who has recently become a Christian): 1 Timothy 3:6. (Ecclesiastical writings.)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
novice.

From neos and a derivative of phuo; newly planted, i.e. (figuratively) a young convert ("neophyte") -- novice.

see GREEK neos

see GREEK phuo

Forms and Transliterations
νεόφυτα νεοφυτον νεόφυτον νεώσατε neophuton neophyton neóphyton
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Timothy 3:6 Adj-AMS
GRK: μὴ νεόφυτον ἵνα μὴ
NAS: [and] not a new convert, so
KJV: Not a novice, lest
INT: not a novice that not

Strong's Greek 3504
1 Occurrence


νεόφυτον — 1 Occ.

















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