"considerate, thoughtful, prudent, discreet, Mt. 7:24; 10:16; 24:45; 25:2, 4, 8, 9; Lk. 12:42; sensible, wise, Rom. 11:25; 12:16; 1 Cor. 4:10; 10:15; 2 Cor. 11:19*"
Definition and meaning
considerate, thoughtful, prudent, discreet, Mt. 7:24; 10:16; 24:45; 25:2, 4, 8, 9; Lk. 12:42; sensible, wise, Rom. 11:25; 12:16; 1 Cor. 4:10; 10:15; 2 Cor. 11:19*
In the original Greek the word is written: φρόνιμος
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 phronimos (G5429) across the King James Bible.
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
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Common questions
Strong's G5429 (phronimos) is a Greek word that means: considerate, thoughtful, prudent, discreet, Mt. 7:24; 10:16; 24:45; 25:2, 4, 8, 9; Lk. 12:42; sensible, wise, Rom. 11:25; 12:16; 1 Cor. 4:10; 10:15; 2 Cor. 11:19* It appears 14 times in the King James Bible.
The word phronimos (G5429) appears 14 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5429 is phronimos, a Greek word defined as: considerate, thoughtful, prudent, discreet, Mt. 7:24; 10:16; 24:45; 25:2, 4, 8, 9; Lk. 12:42; sensible, wise, Rom. 11:25; 12:16; 1 Cor. 4:10; 10:15; 2. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
phronimos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.