Babe

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

BABE. — 1. βρέφος, lit. ‘nourished’—by the mother, is used of an unborn infant ( Luke 1:41-44), of an infant still in swaddling-bands ( Luke 2:12;  Luke 2:16), and also of young children brought by their mothers to Jesus that He might touch them ( Luke 18:15). 2. νήπιος, literally, ‘one that cannot yet speak’ (νη = ‘not,’ and ἔπος, ‘word’); cf. Lat. in-fans , ‘infant,’ which is a better rendering of νήπιος, though neither Authorized Version nor Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 is consistent in the translation of the two Greek words, νήπιος is a child as contrasted with an older person, e.g. with ‘the wise and prudent’ in  Luke 10:21 and  Matthew 11:25 (cf.  Galatians 4:3,  Ephesians 4:14). It is used also with θηλάζοντες, ‘sucklings,’ in  Matthew 21:16, in which passage the root meaning of νήπιος is specially suggestive, ‘Out of the mouth of speechless (babes) thou hast perfected praise.’

Jesus’ fondness for these little ones was shown, both by His rebuke of the disciples who would have sent them and their mothers away when they came to Him for a blessing ( Luke 18:15 f., cf.  Matthew 19:14), and by His frequent use of children to illustrate the Christian disposition (cf.  Matthew 18:2-5,  Mark 10:15,  Luke 18:16-17). See, further, artt. Infancy, Children.

The word ‘babe’ (βρἐφος) is twice used of the infant Jesus Himself ( Luke 2:12;  Luke 2:16). And it is worth noting that in  Luke 2:12 Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 brings out a significance of meaning which is lost in Authorized Version. In the Gr. there is no art. prefixed to βρέφος in this verse; the sign given to the shepherds was ‘the sign of a babe.’ Moreover, according to the reading which is most strongly supported, σκμεῖον should have the art., so that what the shepherds were told was ‘ The sign is a babe.’ The meaning therefore is, not as Authorized Version suggests, ‘you shall find the babe you are looking for in such and such a condition,’ but rather this ‘most extraordinary and suggestive one, You shall find the Saviour you are looking for, Christ the Lord, in the form of a babe, wrapped in swaddling-clothes, and lying in a manger.’ See Dr. Monro Gibson in Sunday Mag. , Dec. 1891; and cf. Dr. Hastings in Expos. Times , iii. [1892] 196, and [1894] 147.

E. B. Pollard.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Βρέφος (Strong'S #1025 — Noun Neuter — brephos — bref'-os )

denotes (a) "an unborn child," as in  Luke 1:41,44; (b) "a newborn child, or an infant still older,"  Luke 2:12,16;  18:15;  Acts 7:19;  2—Timothy 3:15;  1—Peter 2:2 . See Child , Infant.

2: Νήπιος (Strong'S #3516 — Adjective — nepios — nay'-pee-os )

lit., "without the power of speech," denotes "a little child," the literal meaning having been lost in the general use of the word. It is used (a) of "infants,"  Matthew 21:16; (b) metaphorically, of the unsophisticated in mind and trustful in disposition,  Matthew 11:25 and   Luke 10:21 , where it stands in contrast to the wise; of those who are possessed merely of natural knowledge,  Romans 2:20; of those who are carnal, and have not grown, as they should have done, in spiritual understanding and power, the spiritually immature,  1—Corinthians 3:1 , those who are so to speak partakers of milk, and "without experience of the word of righteousness,"  Hebrews 5:13; of the Jews, who, while the Law was in force, were in state corresponding to that of childhood, or minority, just as the word "infant" is used of a minor, in English law,  Galatians 4:3 , "children;" of believers in an immature condition, impressionable and liable to be imposed upon instead of being in a state of spiritual maturity,  Ephesians 4:14 , "children." "Immaturity" is always associated with this word. See Child , No. 7

 1—Corinthians 14:20

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

I should not have noticed this article, being so perfectly understood in its common sense and meaning, but for the peculiar use that is made of it, in reference to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to his church in him. There is somewhat very sweet and interesting in it, considered in these views. To contemplate the Ancient of days as the Babe of Bethlehem; and to behold the church in every individual member, as babes in Christ, the imagination finds large scope for the indulgence of the most solemn meditation, when the subject is opened to the believer by God the Holy Ghost. We enter upon hallowed ground, when the Lord the Spirit leads us to behold by faith Him, whom the apostles called "the holy child Jesus." ( Acts 4:27) And there is a most blessed and inexpressible sweetness in the soul's joy, when, at the same time, through the same almighty Teacher, we enter into an apprehension of our child-like union with him, and interest in him. ( Luke 2:12-18;  Psalms 8:2;  Matthew 11:25;  1 Peter 2:2)

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Matthew 11:25 21:16 Luke 10:21 Romans 2:20 1 Corinthians 3:1 Hebrews 5:13 1 Peter 2:2 Isaiah 3:4

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Hebrews 5:13 (a) This is typical of the child of GOD who has not grown in grace through the years, but must be fed on the simplest things of the Scriptures because he cannot understand the deep things of GOD. The same truth is found in1Co  3:1-2.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): (n.) An infant; a young child of either sex; a baby.

(2): (n.) A doll for children.

King James Dictionary

BABE, n. L. pupus,a word of endearment pupa, little girl whence pupillus, pupilla, pupil.

An infant a young child of either sex.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

BABE . See Child.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

bāb  :

(1) נער , na‛ar  ; παῖς , paı́s of a male infant 3 months old ( Exodus 2:6 ) translated elsewhere "boy" or "lad."

(2) עולל , ‛ōlēl , תּעלוּלים , ta‛ălūlı̄m , in the general sense of "child" ( Psalm 8:2;  Psalm 17:14;  Isaiah 3:4 ).

(3) βρέφος , bréphos an unborn or newborn child (King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) of  Luke 1:41 ,  Luke 1:44;  Luke 2:12 ,  Luke 2:16;  1 Peter 2:2 and the Revised Version (British and American) of   Luke 18:15 [AV "infants"  ;   Acts 7:19 [King James Version, "young children" and   2 Timothy 3:15 [King James Version, "child").

(4) νήπιος , nḗpios = Latin infans , "a child that cannot speak." (King James and the Revised Version (British and American) of  Matthew 11:25;  Matthew 21:16;  Luke 10:21;  Romans 2:20;  1 Corinthians 3:1;  Hebrews 5:13 ) the same word is translated "child," plural "children" (in the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) of  1 Corinthians 13:11;  Galatians 4:1 ,  Galatians 4:3;  Ephesians 4:14 ) the verb nēpiázete is translated in the King James Version "be ye children" and in the Revised Version (British and American) "be ye babes" ( 1 Corinthians 14:20 ). Nēpios is used metaphorically of those who are like children, of simple and single minds, as opposed to the "wise and understanding" (  Matthew 11:25 =   Luke 10:21; compare  1 Corinthians 14:20 ). "Babes in Christ" are men of little spiritual growth, carnal as opposed to spiritual ( 1 Corinthians 3:1; compare  Hebrews 5:13;  Ephesians 4:14 ). Nēpios is also used of a child as a minor or infant in the eye of the law (  Galatians 4:1 ,  Galatians 4:3 ).

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( עוֹלעֵל , Olel', or עֹלָל , ola', so called from its Petulance,  Psalms 8:2;  Psalms 17:14, elsewhere "child" or "infant תִּעֲלוּלַים , Taalulim', from the same root,  Isaiah 3:4; once נִעִר , Na'Ar,  Exodus 2:6, usually a "Lad;" Gr. Βρέφος , prop. an unborn Foetus,  Luke 1:41;  Luke 1:44, but also a very young child,  Luke 2:12;  Luke 2:16;  1 Peter 2:2; Νήπιον , strictly an Infant [i.e. as yet unable to talk], but likewise used of children generally,  Matthew 11:25;  Matthew 21:16;  Luke 10:21;  Romans 2:10;  1 Corinthians 3:1;  Hebrews 5:13). This term is used figuratively in  Isaiah 3:4, to represent the succession of weak and wicked princes who reigned over the kingdom of Judah from the death of Josiah to the destruction of the city and Temple. In the New Testament, the term refers to those who are weak in the Christian faith and knowledge, being ignorant and inconstant: or being but just Born Again, begotten from above, they require that heavenly nourishment which is suited to their nature — "the sincere milk of the word" ( 1 Corinthians 3:1;  Hebrews 5:13;  1 Peter 2:2). (See Child).