Meaning
denotes (a) "an unborn child," as in Luk 1:41, Luk 1:44; (b) "a newborn child, or an infant still older," Luk 2:12, Luk 2:16, Luk 18:15, Act 7:19, 2Ti 3:15, 1Pe 2:2. See CHILD, INFANT.
<2,,3516, nepios>
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," Mat 21:16; (b) metaphorically, of the unsophisticated in mind and trustful in disposition, Mat 11:25 and Luk 10:21, where it stands in contrast to the wise; of those who are possessed merely of natural knowledge, Rom 2:20; of those who are carnal, and have not grown, as they should have done, in spiritual understanding and power, the spiritually immature, 1Co 3:1, those who are so to speak partakers of milk, and "without experience of the word of righteousness," Heb 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, Gal 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, Eph 4:14, "children." "Immaturity" is always associated with this word. See CHILD, No. 7
Note: The corresponding verb, nepiazo, is found in 1Co 14:20, where believers are exhorted to be as "babes" (RV) in malice, unable to think or speak maliciously.
