ὀρφᾰνός G3737
orphaned, bereft of parents; deprived or forsaken
The primary meaning is one who has lost parents, especially father—an orphan. Classical usage extends the concept to animals, houses left empty, or anyone bereft of protection. In the New Testament, both uses carry metaphorical weight. John 14:18 records Jesus' promise, 'I will not leave you orphans'—he will return after his death and resurrection. James 1:27 defines pure religion as caring for 'orphans and widows' in distress. The word evokes vulnerability, loss of protection, and the need for divine or human care.
Senses
1. sense 1 — John 14:18 uses the term metaphorically for the disciples who might feel abandoned after Jesus' departure, while James 1:27 uses it literally for fatherless children. The multilingual glosses consistently render 'orphans': Spanish 'huérfanos,' French 'orphelin,' German 'Waisen.' The semantic core is loss of parental protection and provision. James' usage reflects biblical concern for the vulnerable classes (orphans and widows), while John's extends the familial metaphor to the community of believers who must not be left unprotected. 2×
AR["اليَتامى", "يَتَامَى"]·ben["এতিম", "এতিমদের"]·DE["Waisen"]·EN["orphans"]·FR["orphelin"]·heb["יְתוֹמִים"]·HI["अनाथ", "अनाथों-की"]·ID["anak-anak-yatim", "yatim"]·IT["orphanous"]·jav["bocah-yatim", "dados-lola;"]·KO["고아들-과", "고아로"]·PT["órfãos"]·RU["сирот", "сиротами"]·ES["huérfanos"]·SW["yatima"]·TR["yetimleri", "öksüz"]·urd["یتیم", "یتیموں"]
Related Senses
H0376 1. man, person, human male (2130×)H0251 1. brother (blood sibling) (573×)H0120 1. man, human being (individual/generic) (527×)H0802 1. woman, female person (519×)H0802 2. wife, spouse (255×)H0517 1. mother, female parent (217×)G0435 1. man, male person (202×)G1135 1. woman, adult female (190×)H2233 1. offspring, descendants (172×)H0001 2. ancestor, forefather (146×)H5288 1. Youth, young man (122×)H0269 1. sister (female sibling) (113×)H1755 1. generation, contemporaries (96×)G5043 1. child, offspring (89×)G0444 2. people, humankind (86×)H3206 1. child, boy, youth (86×)H2145 1. male (human being) (79×)G3384 1. mother (77×)H6485a 1. Qal passive participle: numbered ones, enrollment (76×)H1397 1. man (strong/mighty) (65×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ὀρφᾰνός, ή, όν, also ός, όν Refs 5th c.BC+:— orphan, without parents, fatherless, αἱ δ᾽ ἐλίποντο ὀρφαναί Refs 8th c.BC+: as substantive, orphan, ἐπίκληροι καὶ ὀ. Refs 5th c.BC+; of animals, ὄρνις Refs 5th c.BC+; ὀ. οἶκος, δόμος, Refs 5th c.BC+: metaphorically, neglected, ἡ δέλτος ὀρφανὴ κεῖται Refs 3rd c.BC+; ὀρφανὰ κεῖται σκῦλα epigram cited in Refs 2nd c.AD+ __II with genitive, bereaved or…