Word Study for G5142 (τρέφω) | Strong's Concordance

tréphō /tref'-o/ Ask about this word

Meaninga primary verb (properly, ; but perhaps strengthened from the base of τροπή through the idea of convolution); properly, to stiffen, i.e. fatten (by implication, to cherish (with food, etc.), pamper, rear)

KJV usagebring up, feed, nourish.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tréphō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word tréphō, represented by G5142, primarily means to feed, cherish, nourish, or bring up. It appears 8 times in 8 unique verses in the Bible. Its meaning ranges from the literal act of providing food and sustenance to the broader concepts of raising a child and the metaphorical nourishment of the heart.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, G5142 illustrates both divine provision and human action. God is shown as the one who feedeth the fowls of the air, which neither sow nor reap, highlighting his care for creation (Matthew 6:26, Luke 12:24). The term is also used to describe the upbringing of Jesus in Nazareth, where he was brought up Luke 4:16. In a negative sense, it can describe self-indulgence, as when the rich are accused, "ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter" James 5:5. It also signifies physical and economic sustenance, as a country was nourished by the king's country Acts 12:20.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which G5142 is used:

G3983 peináō (to famish... to crave): This is the state of hunger that necessitates being fed. It is used in direct contrast to being fed in the question, "when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee?" Matthew 25:37.
G4222 potízō (to furnish drink, irrigate): Often paired with feeding, this word for giving drink completes the picture of providing for basic needs. It appears as a parallel action to feeding the hungry Matthew 25:37.
G2325 therízō (to harvest:--reap): This word is used to contrast the activity of humanity with the provision of God. The fowls do not reap, yet the heavenly Father feeds them Matthew 6:26.
G3962 patḗr (a "father"): This word is central to understanding who performs the act of nourishing. It is the heavenly Father who feeds the birds, establishing a direct link between provision and God's paternal character Matthew 6:26.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of G5142 is focused on the concept of provision and care.

Divine Providence: The word is used to demonstrate God's constant and caring provision for His creation. By feeding the ravens and fowls, He shows that humanity, being much more valuable, can trust in His care (Matthew 6:26, Luke 12:24).
Compassionate Action: Providing food for the hungry is presented as a core righteous act. In Matthew 25:37, to feed the hungry is to serve the Lord himself, highlighting its importance in the life of a believer.
Spiritual Sustenance and Condition: The term extends beyond physical food. The woman in the wilderness is nourished by God, indicating divine protection and preservation (Revelation 12:6, 12:14). Conversely, to nourish one's own heart can signify a dangerous self-indulgence leading to judgment James 5:5.

Summary

In summary, G5142 is a versatile word that conveys the fundamental concept of sustenance. From the literal act of feeding the hungry to the developmental act of raising a child, it carries significant weight. Theologically, it serves as a powerful illustration of God's fatherly providence, the call for human compassion, and the spiritual state of a person's heart.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 9 occurrences, inflected in 8 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Present Active Indicative 3rd Singular 2×
Aorist Active Indicative 1st Plural 1×
Aorist Active Indicative 2nd Plural 1×
Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Perfect Passive Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×
Present Active Subjunctive 3rd Plural 1×
Present Passive Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Passive Infinitive 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Subjunctive: Possibility or purpose — "might", "should".
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 8 verses across 5 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Matthew, Luke, and Revelation (2 verses each); never once in the other 22.

Matthew

Luke

Acts

James

Revelation

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.