Lexical Definition
Ἕλλην Héllēn (hel'-lane) Greek, Gentile N:N--LG
from Ἑλλάς
Gentile, Greek.
- a Hellen (Grecian) or inhabitant of Hellas
- by extension a Greek-speaking person, especially a non-Jew
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Ἕλλησιν | to Greeks | Acts.19.17 • Acts.20.21 • 1Cor.1.24 • 1Cor.10.32 |
| Ἕλλησίν | To Greeks | Rom.1.14 |
| Ἕλληνοσ | Greek | Rom.10.12 |
| a Greek | Acts.16.1 | |
| of Greek | Rom.2.9 | |
| Ἕλληνι | to Greek | Rom.1.16 • Rom.2.10 |
| Ἕλληνεσ | Greeks | Acts.18.17 • 1Cor.1.22 • 1Cor.12.13 |
| Ἕλληνασ | Greeks | John.7.35 • Acts.18.4 • Acts.19.10 • Acts.21.28 • Rom.3.9 |
| Ἕλληνέσ | Greeks | John.12.20 |
| Ἕλλην | Greek | Gal.3.28 • Col.3.11 |
| a Greek | Acts.16.3 • Gal.2.3 | |
| Ἑλλήνων | Greeks | John.7.35 • Acts.14.1 • Acts.17.4 |
Abbott-Smith
Ἕλλην, -ηνος, ὁ [in LXX: Jl 3:6, Za 9:13 (יָוָן), etc.; I Mac 1:10, al. * ;]
a Greek; opp. to βάρβαρος, Ro 1:14; usually in ΝΤ of Greek Gentiles, opp. to Ἰουδαῖοι: Jo 7:35, Ac 11:20 14:1 16:1, 3 18:4 19:10, 17 20:21 21:28, Ro 1:16 2:9, 10 3:9 10:12, I Co 1:22, 24 10:32 12:13, Ga 2:3 3:28, Col 3:11; of proselytes, Jo 12:20, Ac 17:4.†
Abbott-Smith References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Joel | 3:6 |
| Zechariah | 9:13 |
| John | 7:35 · 12:20 |
| Acts | 11:20 · 14:1 · 16:1 · 16:3 · 17:4 · 18:4 · 19:10 · 19:17 · 20:21 · 21:28 |
| Romans | 1:14 · 1:16 · 2:9 · 2:10 · 3:9 · 10:12 |
| 1 Corinthians | 1:22 · 1:24 · 10:32 · 12:13 |
| Galatians | 2:3 · 3:28 |
| Colossians | 3:11 |
Liddell-Scott-Jones
Greek of: יָוָן
-
Ἕλλην=Ἕλλην , son of Deucalion, [8th/7th c.BC]
-
the Ἕλληνες of [8th/7th c.BC] are the Thessalian tribe of which Ἕλλην=Ἕλλην was the reputed chief (compare Ἑλλάς 1), [8th/7th c.BC]
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later, Ἕλληνες was the regularly name for Greeks , opposite to βάρβαροι, [Refs 5th c.BC], etc.
-
later still, of Gentiles , Opp. to Jews, [Refs 1st c.AD]
-
as adjective = Ἑλληνικός, [Refs 5th c.BC], etc.:—;even with a fem. Substantive, [6th/5th c.BC, Refs 5th c.BC] (Middle Liddel)
Profile
Male • Son of Japheth • Son of Japheth; ancestor of Greek people
Man living at the time of the Patriarchs
Javan, the ancestor of the Greek people, was a son of Japheth and grandson of Noah.
- A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.2;
- referred to as Javan יָוָן, or Greek יְוָנִי, Gentile or Greek (NIV= Gentile) Ἕλλην, or Gentile (KJV, NIV= Greek) Ἑλληνίς;
- son of Japheth יֶפֶת;
- a brother of Gomer גֹּמֶר, Magog מָגוֹג, Madai מָדַי, Tubal תּוּבַל, Meshech מֶשֶׁךְ and Tiras תִּירָס;
- father of Elishah אֱלִישָׁה, Tarshish תַּרְשִׁישׁ, Kittim כִּתִּי and Dodanim דֹּדָנִים.
Javan is mentioned in the Table of Nations (Genesis 10:2,4; 1 Chronicles 1:5,7) as one of the sons of Japheth and grandsons of Noah. He is considered the ancestor of the Greek people, and his name is often used in the Bible as a reference to Greece or the Greek people. In the Old Testament, Javan is associated with the trading of slaves (Joel 3:6), suggesting that the Greeks were involved in the slave trade. In the New Testament, the term "Greeks" (Hellenes) is used to refer to non-Jewish people, particularly those influenced by Greek culture. The Greeks are mentioned in various contexts, such as seeking Jesus (John 12:20), attending synagogues (Acts 14:1; 17:4; 18:4), and being among the first Gentile converts to Christianity (Acts 16:1,3). The inclusion of Greeks in the early church underscores the universal nature of the gospel message (Romans 1:16; 10:12; Galatians 3:28). The Greeks are also depicted as seekers of wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:22) and are contrasted with the Jews in terms of their religious and cultural background (Romans 1:14; 2:9-10; 1 Corinthians 10:32; 12:13). In Mark 7:26, a Syrophoenician woman is described as a Greek, highlighting the widespread influence of Greek culture in the region.
All entries for Javan or Greek: יָוָן ☩ יְוָנִי ☩ Ἕλλην ☩ Ἑλληνίς