Quick Definition
μῦθος, ου, ὁ n.m. an idle tale, fable
Strong's Definition
perhaps from the same as 3453 (through the idea of tuition); a tale, i.e. fiction ("myth")
KJV Usage: fable
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, m. | -ου | παραμυθέομαι · παραμυθία · παραμύθιον
33.13 · Communication · Discourse Types
legend, myth, tale, story, fable a legendary story or account, normally about supernatural beings, events, or cultural heroes, and in the NT always with an unfavorable connotation The term μῦθος may often be translated simply as ‘untrue stories’ or ‘false tales.’
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
μῦθος, -ov, 6, fr. Hom. down; 1. a speech, word, saying. 2. a narrative, story; a. α true narralive. b. a fiction, a fable; univ. an invention, falsehood: 2 Pet. i. 16; the fictions of the Jewish theosophists and Gnostics, esp. concerning the emanations and orders of the zons, are cailed μῦθοι [A.'V. fables] in 1 Tim. i. 4; iv. 7; 2 Tim.iv.4; Tit.i.14. (Cf. Trench ὃ xc., and reff. s. v. yeveadoyia. |
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
μῦθος mythos 5x
a word, speech, a tale; a fable, figment, 1 Tim. 1:4; 4:7; 2 Tim. 4:4; Tit. 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
** μῦθος, -ου, ὁ,
[in LXX: Wi 17:4 A, Si 20:19*;]
speech, conversation.
a story, narrative (Hom.);
later, opp. to λόγος (a true narrative) = Lat. fabula, a myth, fable, fiction: I Ti 1:4 4:7, II Ti 4:4, Tit 1:14, II Pe 1:16.†
SYN.: λόγος, q.v.
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
μῦθος. This subst., which in the NT is confined to the Pastorals and 2 Pet 116 in the sense of ‘‘ fable,” ‘‘ fanciful story,” is similarly used in Aazbe/ 2771£— ᾿ΑΨευδεῖς] μούνη kal πρώτη [τοὺς πρὶν ἀοιδούς δεῖξα,] καὶ οὐκέτι μοι μῦθον [ἐρεῖτ᾽ ἀρετήν. , μυκαομαι Gf. Epict. iii. 24. 18 σὺ δ᾽ Ὁμήρῳ πάντα προσέχεις καὶ τοῖς μύθοις αὐτοῦ. For the more primary sense of ‘‘ word,”’ “story” cf. Sy// 492 (= 3382)? (B.C. 290-280) τοὺς μύθου[ς] τοὺς ἐπιχωρίους γέγραφεν, Avibe! 185° (i/B.c.—i/A.D.) καὶ γνῶθι μύθους, οἷς σοφῶς ἐτέρπετο, and 878!" ἀλκῇ καὶ μύθοισι καὶ ἐν βουλαῖσι κρατίστους | ἄνδρας ἀγακλειτοὺς γείνατο Κεκροπίη. A good ex. of the adv. μυθωδῶς is afforded by Aristeas 168 οὐδὲν εἰκῇ κατατέτακται διὰ τῆς γραφῆς οὐδὲ μυθωδώῶς, ‘nothing has been set down in the Scripture heedlessly or in a mythical sense” (Thackeray).
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
μῦθος (muthos) — myth. μῦθος, ὁ, word, speech, frequently in [Refs 8th c.BC+] and other Poets, in singular and plural, ἔπος καὶ μῦθος [Refs 8th c.BC+]; especially mere word, μύθοισιν, opposed to ἔγχεϊ,[Refs 4th c.BC+] —in special relations:
2. public speech, μ. ἄνδρεσσι μελήσει [Refs 8th c.BC+]; μύθου ἐπισχεσίη the submission of a plea, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; μύθοισι κεκάσθαι to be skilled in speech, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
3. conversation, mostly in plural, [Refs]
4. thing said, fact, matter, μῦθον δέ τοι οὐκ ἐπικεύσω[Refs 5th c.BC+]; threat, command, ἠπείλησεν μῦθον [Refs 8th c.BC+]; charge, mission, [Refs]; counsel, advice, [Refs]
5. thing thought, unspoken word, purpose, design, 1.545 (plural); μύθων οὓς μνηστῆρες ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βυσσοδόμευον [Refs 8th c.BC+]; matter, θεοῖσι μῦθον ἐπιτρέψαι [Refs]; μῦθον μυθείσθην, τοῦ εἵνεκα λαὸν ἄγειραν the reason why.., [Refs]
6. saying, κατὰ τὸν ἡμέτερον μ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οὐκ ἐμὸς ὁ μ. ἀλλ᾽.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; saw, proverb, τριγέρων μ. τάδε φωνεῖ [Refs 4th c.BC+]
7. talk of men, rumour, ἀγγελίαν.. τὰν ὁ μέγας μ. ἀέξει [Refs 5th c.BC+]; report, message, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. tale, story, narrative, [Refs 8th c.BC+] of or about him, [Refs 8th c.BC+] the like ly story, like lihood, [Refs 5th c.BC+], either of a story which never comes to an end, or of one told to those who do not listen, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μ. ἐσώθη 'that's the end of the story', [Refs 9th c.AD+]
II.2. fiction (opposed to λόγος, historic truth), [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.3. generally, fiction, μ. ἴδιοι [Refs 1st c.BC+]; legend, myth, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.4. professed work of fiction, children's story, fable, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of Aesop's fables, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
II.5. plot of a comedy or tragedy, [Refs]
III. ={στάσις}, [Refs]; compare μυθιήτης.