anthrōpos (G444)

< 1 min read

G444 anthrōpos (AN-thro-pos) — a person, a human being. Not the word for a male.

Word: ἄνθρωπος, plural ἄνθρωποι (anthrōpoi) · noun · Strong's G444

In brief

Anthrōpos means a human being. Greek has a different word, anēr, for a male. When a New Testament writer chooses anthrōpos, the meaning is "person," yet English Bibles have long translated it "man" or "men," which narrows who the verse is about.

Where it appears

  • 2 Timothy 2:2 — Paul tells Timothy to entrust what he has learned to faithful anthrōpois, people who will teach others. Translated "faithful men," this verse has been used to limit teaching to men.
  • 1 Timothy 2:8 — compare: here Paul uses andras, from anēr, for men praying. In the same letter he uses both words. The difference is visible in Greek and hidden in many English Bibles.
  • Romans 3:28 — a person is justified by faith. The KJV says "a man"; modern translations say "one" or "a person."
  • 1 Timothy 2:5 — "the anthrōpos Christ Jesus." Paul's point is that the mediator is human, not that he is male.

What the lexicons say

Standard lexicons give "human being, person" as the basic sense of anthrōpos, distinct from anēr, "male, husband."  Anthrōpos can refer to a specific man when context says so, the way "person" can in English.

How translations render it

Translation 2 Timothy 2:2 Romans 3:28
KJV "faithful men" "a man"
ESV "faithful men" "one"
NIV (2011) "reliable people" "a person"
NRSVue "faithful people" "a person"
CEB "faithful people" "a person"

Translation history

  • 1611, KJV: "man" and "men" throughout, then the normal English for humanity.
  • May 1997, Colorado Springs Guidelines: said "man" should ordinarily be used for the human race or human beings in general.
  • 2001, ESV: follows that approach in verses like 2 Timothy 2:2, while using "one" in others like Romans 3:28.
  • 2011, NIV: "people" or "person" where the Greek is anthrōpos and the context is general.

The ESV is not consistent: the same word becomes "one" in Romans 3:28 and "men" in 2 Timothy 2:2, the verse about who passes on teaching.

See for yourself

  1. Read 1 Timothy 2:8 and 2 Timothy 2:2. One uses anēr, the other anthrōpos. Which verse is about males?
  2. In 2 Timothy 2:2, what qualifies someone to be entrusted with teaching: being male, or being faithful and able to teach?

Related words

anēr (G435, man, husband) · adelphoi (G80, brothers and sisters) · gynē (G1135, woman, wife)

Sources