Berean Strong's Lexicon phileó: To love, to have affection for, to be fond of Original Word: φιλέω Word Origin: From the Greek word φίλος (philos), meaning "friend" or "loved one." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew equivalent often associated with "phileó" is אָהַב (ahav), Strong's Hebrew 157, which also means to love or have affection for. Usage: The Greek verb "phileó" is used to express a type of love characterized by friendship, affection, and fondness. It denotes a warm, tender, and personal love, often associated with close relationships and emotional bonds. Unlike "agapao," which is often used to describe a more unconditional, sacrificial love, "phileó" emphasizes mutual respect and shared experiences. Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Greek culture, "phileó" was commonly used to describe the love between friends and family members. It was considered an essential component of social relationships and community life. The concept of "philia" (the noun form) was highly valued in Greek philosophy, particularly in the works of Aristotle, who saw it as a vital element of human happiness and societal harmony. HELPS Word-studies 5368 philéō (from 5384 /phílos, "affectionate friendship") – properly, to show warm affection in intimate friendship, characterized by tender, heartfelt consideration and kinship. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom philos Definition to love NASB Translation kiss (3), love (13), loved (3), loves (6). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5368: φιλέωφιλέω, φιλῶ; imperfect 3 person singular ἐφίλει; 1 aorist ἐφίλησα; perfect πεφίληκα; (φίλος); from Homer down; 1. to love; to be friendly to one (the Sept. several times for אָהַב): τινα, Matthew 10:37; John 5:20 (here L marginal reading ἀγαπᾷ); 2. to kiss: τινα, Matthew 26:48; Mark 14:44; Luke 22:47 (often in the Greek writings; the Sept. for נָשַׁק, Genesis 27:26f, and often). 3. As to the distinction between ἀγαπᾶν and φιλεῖν: the former, by virtue of its connection with ἄγαμαι, properly denotes a love founded in admiration, veneration, esteem, like the Latindiligere, to be kindly disposed to one, wish one well; but φιλεῖν denotes an inclination prompted by sense and emotion, Latinamare; ὁ μή τοῦ δεόμενος οὐδέ τί ἀγαπωη ἄν. ὁ δέ μή ἀγαπωη (ἀγαπῶν (?)), ὀυδ' ἄν φίλοι, Plato, Lysias, p. 215 b.; ἐφιλησατε αὐτόν (Julius Caesar) ὡς πατέρα καί ἠγαπησατε ὡς εὐεργέτην, Dio Cassius, 44, 48; ut scires, eum a me non diligt solum, verum etiam amari, Cicero, ad fam. 13, 47; L. Clodius valde me diligit vel, ut ἐμφατικωτερον dicam, valde me amat, id. ad Brut. 1. Hence, men are said ἀγαπᾶν God, not φιλεῖν; and God is said ἀγαπῆσαι τόν κόσμον (John 3:16), and φιλεῖν the disciples of Christ (John 16:27); Christ bids us ἀγαπᾶν (not φιλεῖν) τούς ἐχθρούς (Matthew 5:44), because love as an emotion cannot be commanded, but only love as a choice. Wisdom says, τούς ἐμέ φιλοῦντας ἀγαπῶ, Proverbs 8:17. As a futher aid in judging of the different, between the two words compare the following passages: John 11:3, 5, 36; John 21:15-17; (even in some eases where they might appear to be used interchangeably (e. g. John 14:28; John 16:27) the difference can still be traced). From what has been said, it is evident that ἀγαπᾶν is not, and cannot be, used of sexual love (but it is so used occasionally by the later writers; cf. Plutarch, Pericl. 24, 12, p. 165 e.; symp. 7, p. 180 b. ὁ ἐρώμενος τόν ἐραστην ἀγαπᾷ; cf. Stephanus Thesaurus i., p. 209 a.; Sophocles' Lexicon, under the word ἀγαπάω, 2; Woolsey in the Andover Rev. for Aug. 1885, p. 170f). Cf. Tittmann, Syn. N. T. i., p. 50ff; Cremer, under the word ἀγαπάω (4te Aufl., p. 9f); Trench, § xii.; (Schmidt, chapter 136, especially § 6; Cope, Aristotle, rhet. vol. 1m Appendix A. (also given in the Journ. of Philol. for 1868, p. 88ff); also Höhne in (Luthardt's) Zeitschr. f. kirchl. Wissensch. as above with for 1882, p. 6ff; especially Woolsey as above Compare: καταφιλέω.) From philos; to be a friend to (fond of (an individual or an object)), i.e. Have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling; while agapao is wider, embracing especially the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety: the two thus stand related very much as ethelo and boulomai, or as thumos and nous respectively; the former being chiefly of the heart and the latter of the head); specially, to kiss (as a mark of tenderness) -- kiss, love. see GREEK philos see GREEK thumos see GREEK agapao see GREEK ethelo see GREEK boulomai see GREEK nous Englishman's Concordance Matthew 6:5 V-PIA-3PGRK: ὑποκριταί ὅτι φιλοῦσιν ἐν ταῖς NAS: the hypocrites; for they love to stand KJV: [are]: for they love to pray INT: hyprocrites for they love in the Matthew 10:37 V-PPA-NMS Matthew 10:37 V-PPA-NMS Matthew 23:6 V-PIA-3P Matthew 26:48 V-ASA-1S Mark 14:44 V-ASA-1S Luke 20:46 V-PPA-GMP Luke 22:47 V-ANA John 5:20 V-PIA-3S John 11:3 V-PIA-2S John 11:36 V-IIA-3S John 12:25 V-PPA-NMS John 15:19 V-IIA-3S John 16:27 V-PIA-3S John 16:27 V-RIA-2P John 20:2 V-IIA-3S John 21:15 V-PIA-1S John 21:16 V-PIA-1S John 21:17 V-PIA-2S John 21:17 V-PIA-2S John 21:17 V-PIA-1S 1 Corinthians 16:22 V-PIA-3S Titus 3:15 V-PPA-AMP Revelation 3:19 V-PSA-1S Revelation 22:15 V-PPA-NMS Strong's Greek 5368 |