Babe
From Bible Encyclopedia
bāb:
In King James Version, it is used of children generally (Matthew 11:25; Matthew 21:16; Luke 10:21; Romans 2:20).
(1) נער, na‛ar; παῖς, país of a male infant 3 months old (Exodus 2:6) translated elsewhere “boy” or “lad.”
(2) עולל, ‛ōlēl, תּעלוּלים, ta‛ălūlīm, 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 Version 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). It is used also of those who are weak in Christian faith and knowledge (1 Corinthians 3:1; Hebrews 5:13; 1 Peter 2:2). “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).
(5) In Isaiah 3:4 the word “babes” refers to a succession of weak and wicked princes who reigned over Judah from the death of Josiah downward to the destruction of Jerusalem.
