Greek word · G4375

προσφιλής

prosphilēs

lovely

Pleasing, agreeable, lovable, winsome, dear. It describes what attracts affection and goodwill from others.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

προσφιλής, -ές

(φιλέω), [in LXX: Esther 5:1, Sirach 4:7 20:13 * ;]

(a) of persons, in both act, and pass. sense (LXX, ll. with);

(b) of things, pleas­ing, agreeable (EV, lovely): Philippians 4:8.†

(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 4:8

Range of meaning

Pleasing, agreeable, lovable, winsome, dear. It describes what attracts affection and goodwill from others.

Against the English

Most English versions say 'lovely'. That is fine if it means 'lovable', but modern 'lovely' can sound merely pretty or pleasant. The Greek is about the warm attraction of good character and conduct.

How it drifted

English 'lovely' has drifted toward visual beauty or mild pleasantness ('a lovely day').

Used elsewhere in the period

Only here in the New Testament. Sirach 4:7 LXX: 'make yourself prosphilē to the assembly'. It is common in honorific inscriptions describing benefactors beloved by their city, and Josephus uses it too.

Where it appears

Philippians · 1

  1. Philippians 4:8 προσφιλῆ, lovely,

    Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.

    Here: What draws affection and goodwill: winsome, agreeable, lovable. It describes the pull of something on other people, not pretty looks. This is its only use in the New Testament.

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