Greek word · G2365

θυγάτριον

thygatrion

little daughter

A diminutive of thygatēr, “daughter”: “little daughter, dear daughter.” Greek diminutives often express affection more than size.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

θυγάτριον, -ου, τό

(dimin. of θυγάτηρ),

a little daughter, a term of endearment used in late Gk. (cf. B1., § 27, 4): Mark 5:23 7:25.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Mark 5:23

Range of meaning

A diminutive of thygatēr, “daughter”: “little daughter, dear daughter.” Greek diminutives often express affection more than size.

Against the English

Most versions keep “little daughter.” NIV and others sometimes use “little girl” for the related word in 5:41–42 (korasion, “little girl”). “Little” can make English readers picture a small child, but Mark says she is twelve (5:42).

Used elsewhere in the period

Used in classical and Hellenistic Greek as a term of endearment. In the New Testament only here and Mark 7:25 (the Syrophoenician woman's daughter, also begged for by a parent).

From the study of Mark 7:25

Range of meaning

A diminutive of θυγάτηρ ('daughter'), meaning 'little daughter' or 'little girl'. In Greek of this period diminutives often carry affection more than size, but here the child really is young: verse 30 calls her a παιδίον ('little child').

Against the English

KJV has 'young daughter'. BSB, WEB, YLT and ESV have 'little daughter'. NLT has 'little girl'. All are fair. A plain 'daughter' would lose the tenderness.

Used elsewhere in the period

Found in classical and Hellenistic Greek as an affectionate term. In the New Testament it appears only twice, both times in Mark: of Jairus's daughter (5:23) and here.

Similar words

Where it appears

Mark · 2

  1. Mark 5:23 θυγάτριόν little daughter

    and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live.”

    Here: A diminutive (a “little” form) of “daughter.” It is a word of tenderness, roughly “my little girl,” even though she is twelve (5:42).

  2. Mark 7:25 θυγάτριον little daughter

    Instead, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit soon heard about Jesus, and she came and fell at His feet.

    Here: An affectionate diminutive ('little daughter', 'my little girl'). The child is young and the word carries the mother's tenderness. Jairus uses the same word of his dying daughter in Mark 5:23.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.