"loved, dear; devoted; Acts 19:31; as a subst., a friend, Lk. 7:6; 11:5, 6, 8; a congenial associate, Mt. 11:19; Lk. 7:34; Jas. 4:4; used as a word of courteous appellation, Lk. 14:10"
Definition and meaning
loved, dear; devoted; Acts 19:31; as a subst., a friend, Lk. 7:6; 11:5, 6, 8; a congenial associate, Mt. 11:19; Lk. 7:34; Jas. 4:4; used as a word of courteous appellation, Lk. 14:10
In the original Greek the word is written: φίλος
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of philos (G5384) across the King James Bible.
The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:
The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
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Common questions
Strong's G5384 (philos) is a Greek word that means: loved, dear; devoted; Acts 19:31; as a subst., a friend, Lk. 7:6; 11:5, 6, 8; a congenial associate, Mt. 11:19; Lk. 7:34; Jas. 4:4; used as a word of courteous appellation, Lk. 14:10 It appears 27 times in the King James Bible.
The word philos (G5384) appears 27 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5384 is philos, a Greek word defined as: loved, dear; devoted; Acts 19:31; as a subst., a friend, Lk. 7:6; 11:5, 6, 8; a congenial associate, Mt. 11:19; Lk. 7:34; Jas. 4:4; used as a word of . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
philos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.