880. aphónos
Strong's Lexicon
aphónos: Mute, silent, without voice

Original Word: ἄφωνος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: aphónos
Pronunciation: ah-fo'-nos
Phonetic Spelling: (af'-o-nos)
Definition: Mute, silent, without voice
Meaning: soundless, voiceless, speechless, dumb.

Word Origin: From the Greek prefix ἀ- (a-, "without") and φωνή (phonē, "voice" or "sound")

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H457 (אֵלִיל, 'elil): Often translated as "worthless" or "vain," referring to idols.

- H483 (אִלֵּם, 'illem): Meaning "mute" or "dumb," used in contexts describing idols or those unable to speak.

Usage: The Greek word "aphónos" is used to describe something that is mute or silent, lacking the ability to produce sound or voice. In the New Testament, it is often used metaphorically to describe idols or false gods that are unable to speak or respond, highlighting their impotence and the futility of worshiping them.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the ancient Greco-Roman world, idolatry was prevalent, with many people worshiping gods represented by statues and images. These idols were often crafted from wood, stone, or metal and were considered sacred by their worshipers. However, from a biblical perspective, these idols were lifeless and powerless, unable to communicate or act. The use of "aphónos" in the New Testament underscores the contrast between the living God of Israel and the silent idols of the pagans.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from alpha (as a neg. prefix) and phóné
Definition
without voice, i.e. speechless
NASB Translation
mute (2), silent (1), without meaning (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 880: ἄφωνος

ἄφωνος, ἁφῶν (φωνή), voiceless, dumb; without the faculty of speech; used of idols, 1 Corinthians 12:2 (cf. Psalm 115:5 (); Habakkuk 2:18); of beasts, 2 Peter 2:16. 1 Corinthians 14:10 τοσαῦτα γένη φωνῶν καί οὐδέν αὐτῶν (L T Tr WH omit αὐτῶν) ἄφωνον, i. e. there is no language destitute of the power of language (R. V. text no kind (of voice) is without signification) (cf. the phrases βίος ἀβίωτος a life unworthy of the name of life, χάρις ἄχαρις). used of one that is patiently silent or dumb: ἀμνός, Acts 8:32 from Isaiah 53:7. (In Greek writings from (Theog.), Pindar, Aeschylus down.)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
speechless, mute, silent

From a (as a negative particle) and phone; voiceless, i.e. Mute (by nature or choice); figuratively, unmeaning -- dumb, without signification.

see GREEK a

see GREEK phone

Forms and Transliterations
αφωνα άφωνα ἄφωνα αφωνον άφωνον ἄφωνον αφωνος άφωνος ἄφωνος aphona aphōna áphona áphōna aphonon aphōnon áphonon áphōnon aphonos aphōnos áphonos áphōnos
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Acts 8:32 Adj-NMS
GRK: κείραντος αὐτὸν ἄφωνος οὕτως οὐκ
NAS: ITS SHEARER IS SILENT, SO
KJV: like a lamb dumb before his
INT: shears him [is] mute thus not

1 Corinthians 12:2 Adj-ANP
GRK: εἴδωλα τὰ ἄφωνα ὡς ἂν
NAS: [you were] led astray to the mute idols,
KJV: unto these dumb idols,
INT: idols mute as anyhow

1 Corinthians 14:10 Adj-NNS
GRK: καὶ οὐδὲν ἄφωνον
NAS: and no [kind] is without meaning.
KJV: none of them [is] without signification.
INT: and none without meaning

2 Peter 2:16 Adj-NNS
GRK: παρανομίας ὑποζύγιον ἄφωνον ἐν ἀνθρώπου
NAS: transgression, [for] a mute donkey,
KJV: iniquity: the dumb ass
INT: wickedness [the] beast of burden mute in a man's

Strong's Greek 880
4 Occurrences


ἄφωνα — 1 Occ.
ἄφωνον — 2 Occ.
ἄφωνος — 1 Occ.















879b
Top of Page
Top of Page