ἦθος G2239
Habits, customs, manners; characteristic behavior patterns; settled ways of life or moral character.
This word captures both external customs and internal character dispositions. In classical Greek it could mean the haunts of animals, the customs of nations, or the settled character traits of individuals. Paul quotes a Greek poet in 1 Corinthians 15:33 using this term to warn that bad company corrupts good character. The plural form here emphasizes patterns of behavior rather than a single trait. The multilingual evidence shows translators grappling with whether to emphasize 'customs,' 'habits,' or 'character.'
Senses
1. sense 1 — Paul's quotation of Menander emphasizes how habitual association shapes moral character. The term encompasses both outward behavioral patterns and inward dispositions. Classical usage ranged from the dwelling places of creatures to the settled character traits that define a person. The Spanish and French glosses ('costumbres,' 'mœurs') capture the moral-behavioral dimension, while German 'Sitten' suggests customs and manners. The context in 1 Corinthians warns believers about the formative power of their social environment. 1×
AR["أخلاقًا"]·ben["নীতি"]·DE["Sitten"]·EN["habits"]·FR["mœurs"]·heb["מִדּוֹת"]·HI["आचरण-को"]·ID["kebiasaan-kebiasaan"]·IT["costume"]·jav["budi-pekerti"]·KO["습관들을"]·PT["costumes"]·RU["нравы"]·ES["costumbres"]·SW["tabia"]·TR["iyi"]·urd["اخلاق"]
Related Senses
H3212 1. go, depart, travel (884×)H1980 1. to go, travel (Qal) (283×)G4198 1. go, proceed (physical movement) (139×)H1980 2. to walk in conduct (Qal) (132×)G0565 1. go away, depart physically (112×)H3212 2. walk in, follow a way (79×)G5217 1. go, proceed (78×)H1980 3. to walk about, traverse (Hitpael) (63×)H5162 1. comfort, console (Piel) (51×)G4043 1. conduct oneself, live (48×)G4043 2. walk physically (47×)H5162 2. relent, repent, change mind (Nifal) (35×)G3340 1. repent, change one's mind (34×)H1980 4. to walk habitually (Piel) (30×)H4546 1. highway, raised road (25×)H5637 1. be stubborn, rebellious (17×)G0391 1. conduct, way of life, behavior (13×)H3212 4. lead, bring, cause to go (13×)G1485 1. custom, habit, established practice (12×)H5162 3. be comforted, receive comfort (Nifal) (10×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἦθος, εος, τό (compare ἔθος), an accustomed place: hence, in plural, haunts or abodes of animals, μετά τ᾽ ἤθεα καὶ νομὸν ἵππων Refs 8th c.BC+; of lions, Refs 5th c.BC+; of fish, Refs 2nd c.AD+; of the abodes of men, Refs 8th c.BC+; ἔλεγον ἐξ ἠθέων τὸν ἥλιον ἀνατεῖλαι away from his accustomed place, Refs 5th c.BC+; of plants, Refs 4th c.AD+: metaphorically, with play on signification Refs 5th…