Babe

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.

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.