Greek word · G527

ἁπαλός

hapalos

tender

Soft, tender, delicate. Used of young shoots, young animals, soft skin, or a gentle temperament.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀπαλός, -ή, -όν

[in LXX for רַךְ ;]

tender: Matthew 24:32, Mark 13:28.†

(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 Matthew 24:32

Range of meaning

Soft, tender, delicate. Used of young shoots, young animals, soft skin, or a gentle temperament.

Against the English

'Tender' is good. KJV's 'is yet tender' can mislead today's readers (see drift).

Used elsewhere in the period

In the NT only here and in the Mark 13:28 parallel. In the LXX it is used of young, tender things, e.g. Gen 18:7 (a tender calf), Deut 28:54, 56 (a tender, delicate person).

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 24:32 ἁπαλὸς tender

    Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near.

    Here: Soft and supple. In spring the sap rises, the stiff winter twigs swell and soften, and new green growth appears. Anyone who handled fig trees knew this feel.

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 13:28 ἁπαλὸς tender

    Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near.

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