τεκν-ίον G5040
Little children; an affectionate diminutive address used by Jesus and the apostle John for disciples or believers.
A tender diminutive of 'teknon' (child), used as a warm term of address for spiritual dependents. Jesus uses it once at the Last Supper—'Little children, I am with you only a little longer' (John 13:33)—and the apostle John adopts it as his signature address throughout 1 John, writing 'little children' when urging believers to walk in righteousness and love. The Spanish 'hijitos' (dear little sons) and German 'Kindlein' both preserve the affectionate diminutive force that distinguishes this word from the more neutral 'tekna.'
Senses
1. little children — An affectionate diminutive meaning 'little children' or 'dear children,' used as a vocative address conveying parental tenderness toward spiritual dependents. Jesus employs it uniquely at the Last Supper to address his disciples with intimacy before his departure (John 13:33). The apostle John then makes it his characteristic address to his congregations (1 John 2:1, 12, 28; 3:7, 18; 4:4; 5:21), echoing the Master's own tone. The Spanish 'hijitos' captures the warmth of the diminutive particularly well, as does the German 'Kindlein,' both conveying familial affection rather than mere age description. 8×
AR["أَيُّها-الأَولادُ", "يا-أَبنائي", "يَا-أَبْنَائِي"]·ben["শিশুরা", "সন্তানেরা"]·DE["Kindlein"]·EN["Little-children", "little-children"]·FR["Kindlein", "petits-enfants"]·heb["יְלָדִים", "יַלְדִים", "יַלְדַי"]·HI["बच्चो"]·ID["Anak-anak,", "Anak-anakku", "anak-anak,", "anak-anak-kecil"]·IT["figlioli", "teknia"]·jav["Lare-alit", "Lare-alit-kawula", "lare-alit", "para-anak,"]·KO["어린-자녀들아"]·PT["Filhinhos", "Filhinhos,", "filhinhos", "filhinhos,"]·RU["Дети", "Дети,", "дети,", "детки"]·ES["Hijitos", "hijitos"]·SW["Watoto-wadogo", "Watoto-wangu-wadogo", "watoto-wadogo"]·TR["Çocuklar", "Çocuklarım", "çocuklar"]·urd["بچو", "بچوں", "بچوں،"]
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
τεκν-ίον, τό, = {τεκνίδιον}, NT+2nd c.AD+.