Greek word · G262
ἀμαράντινος
amarantinos
unfading
From ἀ- ("not") and μαραίνω ("to wither, fade"). It means "unfading". Greek adjectives ending in -ινος usually tell what something is made of (ξύλινος, "wooden"; λίθινος, "of stone"). So it may mean "made of amaranth", a flower named for not fading.
Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
- Range of meaning
From ἀ- ("not") and μαραίνω ("to wither, fade"). It means "unfading". Greek adjectives ending in -ινος usually tell what something is made of (ξύλινος, "wooden"; λίθινος, "of stone"). So it may mean "made of amaranth", a flower named for not fading.
- Against the English
English versions say "unfading" or "that will never fade away". That is the essential point, but it drops the possible picture of a real flower wreath.
- Used elsewhere in the period
This exact form is rare. Its close relative ἀμάραντος ("unfading") describes the believer's inheritance in 1 Peter 1:4 and appears in Wisdom 6:12 ("wisdom is radiant and unfading"). Pliny the Elder (Natural History 21.47) says the amaranth revives when moistened even after it seems to fade, and that winter garlands were made from it. Philostratus (Heroicus) describes amaranth wreaths placed at Achilles' tomb.
Similar words
Where it appears
1 Peter · 1
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1 Peter 5:4 ἀμαράντινον unfading
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Here: Built from a word meaning "not withering". Its ending can also mean "made of amaranth", a flower famous for keeping its colour. Either way it contrasts with every leafy wreath in the ancient world, all of which wilted within days.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.