Greek word · G3890
παραμύθιον
paramythion
comfort
A word of comfort, a soothing or calming address, an encouragement. Related to mythos, 'word, speech', so literally a 'word spoken alongside' to quiet or cheer someone.
Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
παραμύθιον, -ου, τό
(παραμυθέομαι) [in LXX: Wisdom of Solomon 3:18 * ;]
1. an exhortation, persuasion, encouragement: Philippians 2:1 (cf. Plat., Legg., vi, 773 E, al.; see Lft. and ICC, Phi., l.with).
2. assuagement, abatement, hence, consolation (Wis, l.with, and frequently in cl.).†
(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 Philippians 2:1
- Range of meaning
A word of comfort, a soothing or calming address, an encouragement. Related to mythos, 'word, speech', so literally a 'word spoken alongside' to quiet or cheer someone.
- Against the English
'Comfort' (KJV, BSB, ESV) and 'consolation' (WEB, NASB) are accurate. The modern sense of 'comfort' as ease or coziness is weaker than the original, which is a steadying word given to someone in trouble.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Found here only in the NT. The related noun paramuthia appears in 1 Cor 14:3, and the verb is paired with parakaleō in 1 Thess 2:12 and 5:14. In Wisdom of Solomon 3:18 the ungodly 'have no consolation' on the day of judgment. Classical Greek uses it of hope as a 'comfort in danger' (Thucydides 5.103).
Similar words
Where it appears
Philippians · 1
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Philippians 2:1 παραμύθιον comfort
Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,
Here: A gentle, soothing word spoken to steady someone. This is the only place the noun appears in the New Testament. It is close in meaning to paraklēsis but softer.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.