CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1"/><title>Strong's Greek: 4998. σώφρων (sóphrón) -- Sober-minded, self-controlled, temperate, prudent</title></title><link rel="canonical" href="http://biblehub.com/greek/4998.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/strongsnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/interlinear/vmenus/luke/2-12.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmstrongs/greek/4998.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/strongs.htm">Strong's</a> > <a href="/englishmans_greek.htm">Greek</a> > 4998</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../greek/4997.htm" title="4997">◄</a> 4998. sóphrón <a href="../greek/4999.htm" title="4999">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Strong's Lexicon</div><div align="left"><span class="toptitle2">sóphrón: Sober-minded, self-controlled, temperate, prudent</span></div><p><span class="tophdg">Original Word: </span><span class="greek">σώφρων</span><br><span class="tophdg">Part of Speech: </span>Adjective<br><span class="tophdg">Transliteration: </span>sóphrón<br><span class="tophdg">Pronunciation: </span>so'-frone<br><span class="tophdg">Phonetic Spelling: </span>(so'-frone)<br><span class="tophdg">Definition: </span>Sober-minded, self-controlled, temperate, prudent<br><span class="tophdg">Meaning: </span>of sound mind, self-controlled, temperate, sober-minded, modest, chaste.<p><span class="tophdg">Word Origin: </span>Derived from the combination of two Greek words: "σῶς" (sos, meaning "safe" or "sound") and "φρήν" (phren, meaning "mind" or "understanding").<p><span class="tophdg">Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: </span>While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent to "sóphrón," the concept of self-control and wisdom can be related to Hebrew terms such as "חָכָם" (chakam, meaning "wise") and "בִּינָה" (binah, meaning "understanding").<p><span class="tophdg">Usage: </span>The Greek adjective "sóphrón" conveys the idea of having a sound mind, being self-controlled, and exercising prudence and moderation. It is often used in the New Testament to describe a person who is disciplined in thought and action, exhibiting a balanced and rational approach to life. This term emphasizes the importance of inner restraint and the ability to govern one's desires and impulses in accordance with godly wisdom.<p><span class="tophdg">Cultural and Historical Background: </span>In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of "sophrosyne" (the noun form related to sóphrón) was highly valued as a virtue. It was associated with self-control, moderation, and the ability to live in harmony with societal norms and expectations. In the context of early Christianity, this virtue was redefined to align with the teachings of Christ, emphasizing moral integrity and spiritual discipline as essential qualities for believers.<div class="vheading2">HELPS Word-studies</div><p class="discovery"><b>4998</b> <i>sṓphrōn</i> (from <i>sōos</i>, "sound, safe" and <a href="/greek/5424.htm">5424</a> <i>/phrḗn</i>, "inner outlook" which regulates outward behavior) – properly, safe (sound) because <i>moderated</i>, referring to what is prudent because correctly (divinely) balanced (which is far more than being "the middle of the road").</p><p class="discovery"><a href="/greek/4998.htm">4998</a> <i>/sṓphrōn</i> ("acting in God's definition of<i> balance</i>") makes someone <i>genuinely temperate</i>, i.e. <i>well-balanced</i> from <i>God's perspective</i>. <i>True balance</i> is not "one-size-fits-all" nor is it blandly static. Biblical <i>moderation</i> (<a href="/greek/4998.htm">4998</a> <i>/sṓphrōn</i>) describes "<i>a man who does not command himself</i>, but rather<i> is commanded by God</i>'" (K. Wuest,<i> Word Studies</i>, 2, 46). This root (<i>sōphro-</i>, "soundness") then reflects living in <i>God-defined</i> balance.</p><p class="discovery">[The root (<i>phrēn</i>) is the root of "<i>diaphram</i>," the inner organ (muscle) that regulates physical life, controlling breathing and heart beat.</p><p class="discovery">The whole word-family (root, <i>sōphro-</i>) comes from <i>sōos</i> ("safe") and <i>phrēn</i> ("what <i>regulates</i> life"), which is the root of the English term "<i>diaphram</i>"). </p><p class="discovery"><i>Example</i>: An opera singer controls the length (quality) of their tones by their <i>diaphragm</i> which even controls the ability to breathe and <i>moderates</i> heartbeat. Hence it <i>regulates</i> ("brings <i>safety</i>") to the body, keeping it <i>properly controlled</i>.]</p><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/discovery.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe><div class="vheading2">NAS Exhaustive Concordance</div><span class="hdg">Word Origin</span><br>from the same as <a href="/greek/4982.htm">sózó</a> and from <a href="/greek/5424.htm">phrén</a><br><span class="hdg">Definition</span><br>of sound mind, self-controlled<br><span class="hdg">NASB Translation</span><br>prudent (1), sensible (3).<p><div align="center"><span class="smalltext"><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/nasec.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe></span></div><div class="vheading2">Thayer's Greek Lexicon</div><span class="maintitle">STRONGS NT 4998: σώφρων</span><br><br><span class="arttitle"><span class="grktitle">σώφρων</span></span>, <span class="greek2">σωφρον</span> (from <span class="greek2">σάος</span>, contracted <span class="greek2">σῶς</span> (cf. <span class="greek2"><span class="lexref">σῴζω</span></span>, at the beginning), and <span class="greek2">φρήν</span>, hence, the poetic <span class="greek2">σαοφρων</span>; cf. <span class="greek2"><span class="lexref">ἄφρων</span></span>, <span class="greek2"><span class="lexref">ταπεινόφρων</span></span>, <span class="greek2">μεγαλόφρων</span>) (from <span class="abbreviation">Homer</span> down); <p><span class="emphasized">a.</span> <span class="accented">of sound mind, sane, in one's senses</span> (see <span class="greek2"><span class="lexref">σωφρονέω</span></span>, a. and <span class="greek2">σωφροσύνη</span>, a.). <p><span class="emphasized">b.</span> <span class="accented">curbing one's desires and impulses, self-controlled, temperate</span> (<span class="abbreviation">R. V.</span> <span class="accented">soberminded</span>) ((<span class="greek2">ἐπιθυμεῖ</span> <span class="greek2">ὁ</span> <span class="greek2">σώφρων</span> <span class="greek2">ὧν</span> <span class="greek2">δεῖ</span> <span class="greek2">καί</span> <span class="greek2">ὡς</span> <span class="greek2">δεῖ</span> <span class="greek2">καί</span> <span class="greek2">ὅτε</span>, Aristot eth. Nic. 3, 15 at the end), see (<span class="greek2">σωφροσύνη</span>, b.): <a href="/interlinear/1_timothy/3-2.htm">1 Timothy 3:2</a>; <a href="/interlinear/titus/1-8.htm">Titus 1:8</a>; <a href="/interlinear/titus/2-2.htm">Titus 2:2, 5</a>.<FOOTNOTE:1> <p><span class="maintitle">STRONGS NT 4998a: τ</span> [<span class="arttitle"><span class="grktitle">τ</span></span> ,Tau: on the receding <span class="greek2">(ττ(</span> in the vocabulary of the N. T. before <span class="greek2">(σς(</span>, see under Sigma.] <br><br><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/bsoft.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe><div class="vheading2">Strong's Exhaustive Concordance</div>discreet, sober, temperate. <p>From the base of <a href="/greek/4982.htm">sozo</a> and that of <a href="/greek/5424.htm">phren</a>; safe (sound) in mind, i.e. Self-controlled (moderate as to opinion or passion) -- discreet, sober, temperate. <p>see GREEK <a href="/greek/4982.htm">sozo</a> <p>see GREEK <a href="/greek/5424.htm">phren</a> <div class="vheading2">Forms and Transliterations</div>σωφρονα σώφρονα σωφρονας σώφρονας sophrona sōphrona sṓphrona sophronas sōphronas sṓphronas<div class="vheading2">Links</div><a href="/interlinear/matthew/1-1.htm">Interlinear Greek</a> • <a href="/interlinear/genesis/1-1.htm">Interlinear Hebrew</a> • <a href="/strongs.htm">Strong's Numbers</a> • <a href="/englishmans_greek.htm">Englishman's Greek Concordance</a> • <a href="/englishmans_hebrew.htm">Englishman's Hebrew Concordance</a> • <a href="/texts/matthew/1-1.htm">Parallel Texts</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="vheading">Englishman's Concordance</div><b><a href="/text/1_timothy/3-2.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">1 Timothy 3:2</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular">Adj-AMS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/1_timothy/3.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">ἄνδρα νηφάλιον <b>σώφρονα</b> κόσμιον φιλόξενον</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/1_timothy/3.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> temperate, <span class="itali">prudent,</span> respectable,<br><a href="/kjvs/1_timothy/3.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> vigilant, <span class="itali">sober,</span> of good behaviour,<br><a href="/interlinear/1_timothy/3-2.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> husband sober <span class="itali">self-controlled</span> respectable hospitable<p><b><a href="/text/titus/1-8.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Titus 1:8</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular">Adj-AMS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/titus/1.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">φιλόξενον φιλάγαθον <b>σώφρονα</b> δίκαιον ὅσιον</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/titus/1.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> loving what is good, <span class="itali">sensible,</span> just,<br><a href="/kjvs/titus/1.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> a lover of good men, <span class="itali">sober,</span> just,<br><a href="/interlinear/titus/1-8.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> hospitable a lover of good <span class="itali">self-controlled</span> righteous holy<p><b><a href="/text/titus/2-2.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Titus 2:2</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural">Adj-AMP</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/titus/2.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">εἶναι σεμνούς <b>σώφρονας</b> ὑγιαίνοντας τῇ</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/titus/2.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> dignified, <span class="itali">sensible,</span> sound<br><a href="/kjvs/titus/2.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> grave, <span class="itali">temperate,</span> sound<br><a href="/interlinear/titus/2-2.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> to be dignified <span class="itali">self-controlled</span> sound<p><b><a href="/text/titus/2-5.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Titus 2:5</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Adjective - Accusative Feminine Plural">Adj-AFP</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/titus/2.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3"><b>σώφρονας</b> ἁγνάς οἰκουργούς</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/titus/2.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> <span class="itali">[to be] sensible,</span> pure,<br><a href="/kjvs/titus/2.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> <span class="itali">[To be] discreet,</span> chaste,<br><a href="/interlinear/titus/2-5.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> <span class="itali">self-controlled</span> pure keepers at home<p><b><a href="/greek/4998.htm">Strong's Greek 4998</a><br><a href="/greek/strongs_4998.htm">4 Occurrences</a></b><br><br><a href="/greek/so_phrona_4998.htm">σώφρονα — 2 Occ.</a><br><a href="/greek/so_phronas_4998.htm">σώφρονας — 2 Occ.</a><br><br></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script><br /><br /> </div> <div id="left"><a href="/greek/4997.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="4997"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="4997" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/greek/4999.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="4999"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="4999" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchap.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>