ὀλῐγωρ-έω G3643
To regard lightly, think little of, or treat as insignificant; to despise or make light of something
This verb means to esteem something lightly, to regard it as insignificant or make small account of it. In Hebrews 12:5, the writer quotes Proverbs: 'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord.' The word implies a dismissive attitude—treating God's correction as trivial or unimportant rather than seeing its redemptive purpose. The opposite error (also warned against in the same verse) is losing heart under discipline. Right response requires taking God's correction seriously without becoming despondent.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To esteem lightly or regard as insignificant, particularly in relation to divine discipline. Hebrews 12:5 warns against 'regarding lightly the Lord's discipline,' citing Proverbs 3:11. The verb captures a dismissive attitude that fails to recognize correction as an expression of God's fatherly love. To 'make light' of discipline is to miss its formative, redemptive intent—treating it as mere inconvenience rather than divine pedagogy. 1×
AR["تَسْتَهِنْ"]·ben["অবজ্ঞা-কর"]·DE["geringschaetzen"]·EN["regard-lightly"]·FR["mépriser"]·heb["תְּזַלְזֵל"]·HI["तुच्छ-जान"]·ID["menganggap-remeh"]·IT["oligōrei"]·jav["nganggep-entheng"]·KO["가볍게-여기지"]·PT["desprezes"]·RU["пренебрегай"]·ES["menosprecies"]·SW["dharau"]·TR["hafife-al"]·urd["حقیر-جان"]
Related Senses
H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H7451c 1. moral evil or wickedness (234×)H5771 1. iniquity, sin, wrongdoing (222×)H6662 1. righteous person (substantive) (195×)G0266 1. sin, failure, transgression (173×)H2403b 1. sin, transgression (170×)H2617a 1. Covenant faithfulness, steadfast love (167×)H2398 1. Qal: to sin, commit sin (165×)H6666 1. righteousness, moral uprightness (145×)G5485 1. grace, divine favor (141×)H7451a 1. morally evil, wicked (129×)H2403b 2. sin-offering, sacrifice for sin (120×)G2570 1. good, right, excellent (98×)H6588 1. transgression, offense against God (88×)G0018 1. good (moral quality) (85×)H2896b 1. good, what is good (85×)H7451b 1. evil, wickedness (moral) (83×)H7451a 2. evil, harm, calamity (80×)G1342 1. righteous, upright (of persons) (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ὀλῐγωρ-έω, aorist I written ὠλιώρησα Refs 2nd c.BC+: —esteem little or lightly, make small account of, with genitive, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 absolutely, take no heed, Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, Refs 5th c.BC+ __3 later with accusative, neglect, τὴν ἄμπελον Refs 1st c.BC+: with infinitive, intermit, neglect to do something, Refs 2nd c.AD+