babe, child (+ -ish)

Dictionary of Biblical Words:

Two words, distinct in the original, are thus translated in the New Testament. The one (neepios) is used reproachfully as descriptive of the state of Jews under the law (Gal. 4:3,³Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: (Galatians 4:3) trans. “children”) but is never used of a proper Christian state (Rom. 2:20²⁰An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. (Romans 2:20); 1 Cor. 3:1;13¹And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:1). 11; Eph. 6.14; Heb. 5.13). The word implies stunted, undeveloped, and especially “one who has not learned to speak.” Many children of God are in this state, and have never yet been able to say in childlike confidence “Abba Father!” The other word (brephos) is used 1 Peter 2:2,²As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (1 Peter 2:2) and is descriptive of the true simplicity that should characterize every believer rather than of any particular stage of Christian growth. These will be found in 1 John 2 It may thus be said that in the first sense we ought never, and in the second, we ought always, to be babes.

Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:

Number:

3516 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)

Greek:

νήπιος

Transliteration:

nepios

Phonic:

nay’-pee-os

Meaning:

from an obsolete particle νή- (implying negation) and 2031; not speaking, i.e. an infant (minor); figuratively, a simple-minded person, an immature Christian

KJV Usage:

babe, child (+ -ish)