### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **thygátrion**, represented by `{{G2365}}`, is a term of endearment derived from the word for daughter, meaning **a daughterling** or **little (young) daughter**. It is a rare word, appearing only **2 times** in **2 unique verses** in the Bible. Its usage conveys a sense of preciousness and vulnerability, highlighting the deep affection of a parent for their child.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Both occurrences of `{{G2365}}` are found in the Gospel of Mark, in contexts of extreme parental distress. In one account, a father beseeches Jesus, saying, "My **little daughter** lieth at the point of death" [[Mark 5:23]]. In the other, a "certain woman, whose **young daughter** had an unclean spirit," came to Jesus for help [[Mark 7:25]]. In both narratives, the term emphasizes the desperation of a parent seeking healing and deliverance for their beloved child from a condition beyond human remedy.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the context surrounding the pleas for a **little daughter**:
* `{{G3870}}` **parakaléō** (to call near, i.e. invite, invoke... beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray): This describes the father's action as he "besought" Jesus greatly for his child's life [[Mark 5:23]].
* `{{G1135}}` **gynḗ** (a woman; specially, a wife): This identifies the second parent, "a certain **woman**" who came to Jesus on behalf of her daughter [[Mark 7:25]].
* `{{G4982}}` **sṓzō** (to save, i.e. deliver or protect... heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole): This expresses the ultimate hope of the father, that his daughter "may be **healed**; and she shall live" [[Mark 5:23]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G2365}}` is tied to the encounters it frames.
* **Crisis and Faith:** The profound crisis facing a **little daughter** acts as a catalyst for faith. Both parents are driven by desperation and love to seek out Jesus, demonstrating that personal suffering can lead to a powerful encounter with the divine ([[Mark 5:23]], [[Mark 7:25]]).
* **Jesus' Authority over Affliction:** These stories highlight Jesus' power. The case of the **young daughter** shows his authority over an unclean **spirit** [[Mark 7:25]], while the **little daughter** at the point of death shows his power over mortality itself [[Mark 5:23]].
* **Compassion for the Helpless:** By focusing on a "daughterling," the narratives emphasize Jesus' care for the most vulnerable. The healing of these children shows that no one is too small or insignificant to receive his attention and miraculous power.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G2365}}` is more than just a diminutive term. It is a word that, in its two scriptural uses, captures the essence of desperate parental love. It sets the stage for dramatic demonstrations of faith and reveals Jesus' compassion for the vulnerable and his absolute authority over demonic oppression and even death itself. The plight of a **little daughter** becomes the context for revealing the saving power of God.
TRV