UBS Greek Dictionary Article

Form 1

Part of speech: noun, m./f.

Inflections: παρθένος; -ου

Sense 1: virgin, young woman

Semantic entry: 9.39

Semantic domains: People

Subdomains: Females

Definition: a female person beyond puberty but not yet married and a virgin (though in some contexts virginity is not a focal component of meaning)

Notes: In RV ACT 21:9 · LV ACT 21:9 · Read together ACT 21:9 (τούτῳ δὲ ἦσαν θυγατέρες τέσσαρες παρθένοι ‘he had four virgin daughters’) the emphasis seems to be upon the fact that the daughters were not as yet married. (See 34.77: παρθένος.) Similarly, in RV MAT 25:1 · LV MAT 25:1 · Read together MAT 25:1 the ten παρθένοι are unmarried girls desirous of participating in a wedding party, and the emphasis would seem to be more upon their being unmarried rather than upon their being virgins.|In obtaining a satisfactory term for ‘virgin,’ there are often a number of difficulties. For example, a term which designates a virgin may also imply participation in a particular set of ritual or cult practices consisting of puberty rites, in which ritual sexual intercourse is an integral element. In some languages a term which technically means ‘virgin’ is also employed with unacceptable connotations in that it may suggest that the woman in question has a queer personality or unattractive appearance and therefore is to be sexually avoided. In some instances a term which in some contexts may be equivalent to ‘virgin’ may also refer to a homosexual female who has not had relations with a man but who does engage in sexual relations with women.

MAT 1:23: RV MAT 1:23 · LV MAT 1:23 · Read together MAT 1:23

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OET-RV MAT 1:23

23 “Listen, the virgin will get pregnant and she’ll have a son, and they’ll call him Imanu -El (Grk. Emmanuel) (in Hebrew) which means ‘God with us.’ ”

OET-LV MAT 1:23

23 Behold, the virgin will _be _having in womb and will _be _bearing a_son, and they _will _be _calling the name of _him Emmanouaʸl/(ˊImmānū^ʼēl), which is being _translated:
- god With us.

MAT 25:1: RV MAT 25:1 · LV MAT 25:1 · Read together MAT 25:1

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OET-RV MAT 25:1

25 “The heavenly kingdom can also be likened to ten young women in a wedding party who took their lamps and went off to meet the groom.

OET-LV MAT 25:1

25 Then the kingdom of _the heavens will _be _being _likened to _Ten virgins, who having _taken the lamps of _them, came _out in meeting of _the bridegroom.

All 11 recorded passages for this sense

MAT: RV MAT 1:23 · RV MAT 25:1 · RV MAT 25:7 · RV MAT 25:11 · LV MAT 1:23 · LV MAT 25:1 · LV MAT 25:7 · LV MAT 25:11 · Read together MAT 1:23 · Read together MAT 25:1 · Read together MAT 25:7 · Read together MAT 25:11

LUK: RV LUK 1:27 · LV LUK 1:27 · Read together LUK 1:27

ACT: RV ACT 21:9 · LV ACT 21:9 · Read together ACT 21:9

CO1: RV CO1 7:34 · RV CO1 7:36–38 · LV CO1 7:34 · LV CO1 7:36–38 · Read together CO1 7:34 · Read together CO1 7:36–38

CO2: RV CO2 11:2 · LV CO2 11:2 · Read together CO2 11:2

Sense 2: virgin, chaste

Semantic entry: 9.33

Semantic domains: People

Subdomains: Males

Definition: an adult male who has not engaged in sexual relations with a woman

Notes: It is very rare that the same term can be applied to a man who has not engaged in sexual relations with a woman as is used in speaking of a woman who has not had sexual relations with a man. In fact, in English the use of ‘virgin’ as applied to a man seems strange. In many languages there is simply no term for a man who is a virgin, since such a state is regarded as being rather unthinkable. However, the first part of this statement in RV REV 14:4 · LV REV 14:4 · Read together REV 14:4 indicates clearly the state of the persons in question. But if one does attempt to find a satisfactory term, it is important to determine whether such a word implies homosexuality, for this tends to be the case in some languages. See also comments at 9.39: παρθένος.|In most languages terms for the age-grading of females parallel quite closely those relating to males. The principal distinctions in age include (1) girl babies before the age of weaning; (2) from weaning to puberty; (3) from puberty to marriage; (4) from marriage to menopause; and (5) after menopause.

REV 14:4: RV REV 14:4 · LV REV 14:4 · Read together REV 14:4

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OET-RV REV 14:4

4 They are all virgins and they follow the lamb wherever he goes. Out of all people, these ones have been purchased as a first fruits offering for God and for the lamb,

OET-LV REV 14:4

4 These are those who with women not were _defiled, because/for virgins they _are.
These are the ones following after _the lamb wherever wishfully he _is _going _away.
These were _bought from the mankind as _first-fruit to_ the _god and to _the lamb,

Sense 3: unmarried person

Semantic entry: 34.77

Semantic domains: Association

Subdomains: Marriage, Divorce

Definition: a person who has not as yet married (and possibly implying virginity)

Notes: Some scholars interpret παρθένος[c] as referring not only to those who have never married, but also to widows and widowers who have not remarried. The meaning of unmarried persons who are not necessarily virgins is well attested in Greek from classical times.

CO1 7:25: RV CO1 7:25 · LV CO1 7:25 · Read together CO1 7:25

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OET-RV CO1 7:25

25 Now concerning unmarried women, I don’t have instructions from Yahweh but I’ll give my opinions as someone who’s trustworthy thanks to Yahweh’s mercy.

OET-LV CO1 7:25

25 And concerning the virgins, a_command of_the_master not I _am _having, but opinion I _am _giving, as having _been _shown _mercy by the_master, trustworthy to _be.

CO1 7:28: RV CO1 7:28 · LV CO1 7:28 · Read together CO1 7:28

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OET-RV CO1 7:28

28 But if a single guy or single girl get married, that’s not a sin, but they’ll likely face difficult circumstances and I’m trying to spare you from that.

OET-LV CO1 7:28

28 But if also you _may _marry, not you _sinned.
And if may _marry the virgin, not she _sinned.
But tribulation in _the flesh will _be _having the such, and I from _you _all am _sparing.

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

παρθένος

Form 1

Sense 1: virgin, young woman

Sense 2: virgin, chaste

Sense 3: unmarried person