παιδίον

Pronunciation Guide: pah-hee-DEE-ohn

Quick Answer: παιδίον (paidion) refers to a young child under training and care, from newborn infants to children around seven years old. This precious Greek word captures both physical childhood and spiritual vulnerability, emphasizing God’s tender heart for the little ones and our need for childlike faith in His Kingdom.

What Does παιδίον Mean?

Strong’s G3813: παιδίον represents far more than just biological age—it encompasses the beautiful vulnerability and teachability of young children who are actively under training and care. As the diminutive form of παῖς (pais), παιδίον specifically denotes “a child under training,” typically referring to children perhaps seven years old or younger. The word carries profound theological weight throughout Scripture, appearing most memorably in reference to the infant Messiah in Matthew’s nativity account and in Yeshua’s teachings about childlike faith. This “childling” encompasses both male and female children, from newborn infants to half-grown boys and girls. The term beautifully captures God’s design for childhood as a season of formation, protection, and wonder under loving authority.

Key Insight: Children represent the Kingdom’s values—humility, dependence, trust, and teachability that every believer must cultivate.

Where Does παιδίον Come From?

• Part of Speech: Neuter noun
• Root Words: Diminutive of παῖς (pais – child, servant)
• Language Origin: Classical Greek, found from Herodotus onward
• Primary Usage: Young child under care and training
• Hebrew Equivalents: יֶלֶד (yeled), נַעַר (na’ar), טַף (taph), בֵּן (ben)

What Is the Historical and Cultural Context of παιδίον?

The etymology traces back to Greek παιδαγωγός (paidagōgos), combining ἄγω (ágō, “I lead”) and παῖς (país, “child”): hence, “attendance on boys, to lead a child”. In classical Greek culture, the period of παιδίον represented the crucial formative years when children required constant guidance and protection.

Young boys of privileged rank would be taken by a paidagōgos (παιδαγωγός), who was generally a respected slave within the parents’ household, serving as chaperone, teacher, and guide. This cultural backdrop illuminates why Scripture uses παιδίον to emphasize both vulnerability and the need for careful nurturing. The paidotribēs was often a professional athlete who supervised physical training, while education focused on preparing young boys for both local competitions and cultivating the strong, beautiful body essential to Greek culture.

Hebrew Connections and Development

The Septuagint translators chose παιδίον to render multiple Hebrew terms, each capturing different aspects of childhood. The word appears in the Septuagint for טַף (taph – little ones), נַעַר (na’ar – young man/child), בֵּן (ben – son), and other Hebrew terms for children. This rich semantic range demonstrates how παιδίον became the comprehensive Greek term for expressing the Hebrew understanding of childhood as a sacred, protected season of life.

Historical Summary: From classical education through biblical revelation, παιδίον embodies the essential truth that children require devoted care, training, and protection during their formative years.

How Is παιδίον Used in the Bible?

παιδίον occurs 52 times in 49 verses throughout the New Testament, ranging from literal references to infants and young children to metaphorical applications for spiritual immaturity and affectionate address. The word spans usage from “an infant just born” (John 16:21) to “a more advanced child” (Matthew 18:2, 4) and even metaphorically for spiritual children (1 Corinthians 14:20).

The most theologically significant usage appears in Matthew’s nativity narrative, where the infant Yeshua is consistently called τὸ παιδίον (the child), emphasizing His vulnerability and need for protection during His early years. John uses παιδία affectionately to address mature believers, while Paul employs it metaphorically to describe spiritual immaturity.

Usage Summary: Biblical usage encompasses literal children needing protection and care, plus metaphorical applications for spiritual development and affectionate address.

• Matthew 2:8 – “And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child [παιδίον], and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.’”
• Matthew 2:11 – “And going into the house, they saw the child [παιδίον] with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.”
• Mark 9:36 – “And he took a child [παιδίον] and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them”
• Luke 2:17 – “And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child [παιδίον].”
• John 21:5 – “Jesus said to them, ‘Children [παιδία], do you have any fish?’”
• 1 John 2:18 – “Children [παιδία], it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming”
• Hebrews 11:23 – “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child [παιδίον] was beautiful”

How Should παιδίον Be Translated?

Primary Meanings:

• Little child, young child (most common)
• Infant, baby (newborns)
• Child under training (emphasizing education/formation)
• Beloved ones (affectionate address)
• Spiritually immature believers (metaphorical)

Translation Tip: Context determines whether παιδίον refers to literal children, spiritual development, or affectionate address—always consider the relationship and setting.

παιδίον Translation Options:

What Does παιδίον Teach Us About God?

The frequent use of παιδίον reveals יהוה’s (Yahweh’s) heart as the ultimate Father who cherishes, protects, and nurtures His children. When Yeshua chose to become a παιδίον, He demonstrated God’s willingness to embrace complete vulnerability and dependence for our salvation. The divine humility displayed in the Messiah’s childhood shows that God’s power is perfected in weakness and His kingdom belongs to those who become like little children.

God’s protective love shines through every biblical reference to παιδίον, from the angel’s warning to Joseph about fleeing to Egypt to preserve the child Yeshua, to the Father’s delight when Yeshua blessed the little children. The teachable spirit that characterizes παιδίον reflects the heart attitude God desires from all His people—humble dependence, eager learning, and trusting obedience. This word reminds us that our Heavenly Father sees us as His precious children, worthy of His constant care, patient training, and tender protection.

Theological Core: God’s nature as Father is revealed through His tender care for literal children and His desire for childlike faith in all believers.

How Can I Apply παιδίον to My Life?

Every time you encounter παιδίον in Scripture, let it remind you of your identity as יהוה’s beloved child who needs His daily care, guidance, and protection. Embrace the childlike qualities that characterize παιδίον—wonder, trust, humility, and eagerness to learn. Rather than seeing spiritual childlikeness as immaturity, recognize it as the key to Kingdom living that Yeshua Himself commanded.

When you interact with actual children, remember they represent the heart of God’s Kingdom and deserve your respect, protection, and nurturing care. Let their natural dependence and trust challenge you to approach your Heavenly Father with similar simplicity and confidence. Allow the Holy Spirit to cultivate in you the tender responsiveness and teachable spirit that makes παιδίον such a beautiful picture of authentic faith.

Self-Examination Questions: Am I approaching God with childlike trust and dependence? How am I protecting and nurturing the children in my sphere of influence? What childish things do I need to put away while retaining childlike faith?

What Words Are Similar to παιδίον?

• παῖς (pais) – “Child, servant, young person” – Broader age range, often includes servanthood aspect – See G3816
• τέκνον (teknon) – “Child, offspring” – Emphasizes biological relationship and descent – See G5043
• τεκνίον (teknion) – “Little child” – Affectionate diminutive emphasizing endearment – See G5040
• παιδάριον (paidarion) – “Little boy, young child” – Slightly older child, typically male – See G3808
• νήπιος (nēpios) – “Infant, immature person” – Emphasizes inability to speak or reason – See G3516

Did You Know?

• What does παιδίον mean in modern Greek? The word continues to mean “child” in contemporary Greek, maintaining its tender connotations across millennia.
• How did Herodotus use παιδίον? The ancient historian employed παιδίον to describe young children in his accounts, establishing its classical usage for the vulnerable years of childhood.
• What’s the difference between παιδίον and τέκνον? While τέκνον emphasizes the child’s relationship to parents, παιδίον focuses on the child’s stage of life requiring training and protection.
• Why does the Bible use παιδίον in Matthew’s nativity? This word choice emphasizes the Messiah’s complete vulnerability and humanity, showing God’s willingness to become utterly dependent for our salvation.
• How does παιδίον relate to Kingdom theology? Yeshua’s teaching that the Kingdom belongs to such as these (children) makes παιδίον central to understanding authentic faith and spiritual receptivity.
• What causes spiritual immaturity today? Paul’s metaphorical use of παιδίον suggests that remaining in spiritual infancy results from feeding on milk rather than solid food (1 Corinthians 14:20).
• The word appears in the Septuagint’s most tender passages – From Moses being hidden as a beautiful παιδίον to Samuel’s childhood service, this word marks some of Scripture’s most precious moments of divine care for the vulnerable.

Remember This

When you see παιδίον in Scripture, remember that you are reading about God’s heart for the vulnerable, His design for humble dependence, and His Kingdom values of trust, wonder, and teachability that should characterize every believer’s relationship with their Heavenly Father.