Greek word · G5040

τεκνίον

teknion

children

Diminutive of teknon, 'child': 'little child' or 'dear child'. In the New Testament it is used only as an affectionate form of address.

Appears 8 times in 8 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

τεκνίον, -ου, τό

(dimin. of τέκνον),

a little child: as a term of endearment, in voc. pl., John 13:33, Galatians 4:19, 1 John 2:1 John 2:12 Jn 2:28 John 3:7 John 3:13 John 4:4 John 5:21.†

(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 John 2:1

Range of meaning

Diminutive of teknon, 'child': 'little child' or 'dear child'. In the New Testament it is used only as an affectionate form of address.

Against the English

'Little children' (KJV, BSB, WEB) can sound patronising or suggest immaturity today. 'Dear children' (NIV) catches the warmth better.

Used elsewhere in the period

John 13:33, where Jesus addresses his disciples. In 1 John at 2:1, 12, 28; 3:7, 18; 4:4; 5:21. Some manuscripts also have it at Gal 4:19. It belongs to the Jewish wisdom pattern of a teacher addressing pupils as 'my son' (Prov 1:8; 2:1), and the rabbinic idea of a teacher as a father to his students.

From the study of 1 John 4:4

Range of meaning

A diminutive (a "little" form) of teknon, "child." It expresses tenderness. A teacher or elder used it for those under his care.

Against the English

"Little children" (KJV, BSB, ESV) can sound condescending today. NIV and NLT's "dear children" catches the warmth better.

How it drifted

Modern English hears "little children" as a remark about age or immaturity.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used by Jesus of his disciples in John 13:33. Throughout 1 John (2:1, 12, 28; 3:7, 18; 4:4; 5:21). Jewish teachers addressing pupils as "sons" or "children" is a well-known convention in wisdom literature (Proverbs).

From the study of 1 John 2:12

Range of meaning

Diminutive (pet-name form) of teknon, 'child'. Used as an affectionate address from an older person, teacher or spiritual father to those under his care. It says nothing about the hearers' literal age.

Against the English

'Little children' (KJV, BSB, WEB) is accurate but can sound condescending or literal in modern English. 'Dear children' (NIV) catches the warmth better.

How it drifted

Modern English 'little children' usually means young kids. The teacher-to-disciple use is no longer common.

Used elsewhere in the period

Jesus uses this exact word to his disciples at the Last Supper: teknia, eti mikron meth' hymōn eimi, 'Little children, I am with you only a little longer' (John 13:33). In 1 John it addresses the whole readership seven times (2:1, 12, 28; 3:7 [some manuscripts], 3:18; 4:4; 5:21). Jewish teachers commonly called their pupils 'sons' or 'children' (cf. Prov 1:8 and the 'my son' of the wisdom books).

Where it appears

John · 1

  1. John 13:33 τεκνία, Little children,

    Little children, I am with you only a little while longer. You will look for Me, and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’

    Here: A diminutive (a 'small' form) of teknon, 'child'. It is affectionate, not condescending: a father or teacher speaking tenderly to his own. This is the only place in John's Gospel where it appears, so it stands out. Jesus says it right after Judas has gone out (13:30), to the disciples who remain.

1 John · 7

  1. 1 John 2:1 Τεκνία Little children

    My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

    Here: A diminutive of teknon, 'child'. It is a term of affection from an older teacher to people he regards as his spiritual family, not a comment on their age or immaturity.

  2. 1 John 2:12 τεκνία, little children,

    I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven through His name.

    Here: A pet-name form of 'children', the warm way an older teacher speaks to the people in his care. In this letter it is used for the whole congregation (2:1, 2:28, 3:18, 4:4, 5:21), not only for children or new believers.

  3. 1 John 2:28 τεκνία, little children,

    And now, little children, remain in Christ, so that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.

    Here: An affectionate diminutive, "dear children". The elder uses it for the whole community he cares for (2:1, 12; 3:7, 18; 4:4; 5:21). It does not mean the readers are spiritually immature.

  4. 1 John 3:7 Τεκνία, little children,

    Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.

    Here: A warm diminutive of teknon ("child"), used here to address the readers. The aged teacher speaks to his community as a father to his own children. The address carries both affection and authority.

  5. 1 John 3:18 Τεκνία Little children

    Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.

    Here: An affectionate diminutive of teknon, 'child'. It is an older leader speaking warmly to the community, the way a father or teacher addresses those in his care. It softens the command that follows without weakening it.

  6. 1 John 4:4 τεκνία, little children,

    You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

    Here: An affectionate word for the whole congregation, from an older leader who sees them as his spiritual family (2:1, 12, 28; 3:7, 18; 5:21). It is not a comment on their maturity.

  7. 1 John 5:21 τεκνία, Little children,

    Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

    Here: An affectionate form of teknon ('child'), used by the elder as he speaks to an adult congregation he thinks of as his spiritual family. It is the seventh time the letter uses this address, so the closing command comes with the full weight of that relationship.

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