Greek word · G263

ἀμάραντος

amarantos

unfading

Unfading, unwithering. Used of flowers and greenery, and by extension of anything whose beauty or vigour does not decline.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀμάραντος, -ον

(μαραίνομαι), [in LXX: Wisdom of Solomon 6:12 (σοφία)* ;]

un­fading (whence ὁ ἀ., the amaranth, an unfading flower): 1 Peter 1:4 (cf. MM, VGT, see word).†

(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 1 Peter 1:4

Range of meaning

Unfading, unwithering. Used of flowers and greenery, and by extension of anything whose beauty or vigour does not decline.

Against the English

'Unfading' (BSB, ESV, YLT) and 'fadeth not away' (KJV) are both accurate. A modern reader may hear only 'fading colour'. The picture is withering vegetation.

Used elsewhere in the period

It occurs only here in the New Testament. The related ἀμαράντινος describes the 'unfading crown of glory' in 1 Pet 5:4, set against the leafy wreaths given to athletic victors, which withered within days. Wisdom 6:12: 'Wisdom is radiant and unfading.' The amaranth flower took its name from the belief that it did not wither. The word also appears in Greek epitaphs.

Similar words

Where it appears

1 Peter · 1

  1. 1 Peter 1:4 ἀμάραντον unfading

    and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,

    Here: It never withers like a plant or a victor's wreath. The image is from flowers and leaves, and anticipates the quotation in 1:24 that 'all flesh is like grass… the flower falls.'

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