Lexical Definition

‎ξένος‎ xénos (xen'-os) foreign ^G:A
apparently a primary word

host, strange(-r).

• foreign (literally, alien, or figuratively, novel)
• by implication, a guest or (vice-versa) entertainer

Abbott-Smith

ξένος, -η, -ον, [in LXX chiefly for נׇכְרִי;]

(a) foreign, alien: δαιμόνια, Ac 17:18; διδαχαί, He 13:9;
(b) c. gen. rei, strange to, estranged from, ignorant of : Eph 2:12;
(c) strange, unusual: I Pe 4:12.
As subst., ὁ ξ.,
(a) a foreigner, stranger: Mt 25:35, 38, 43, 44 27:7, Ac 17:21, III Jo 5; ξένοι κ. τάροικοι (opp. to συμπολῖται, οίκεῖοι), Eph 2:19; ξ. καὶ παρεπίδημοι, He 11:13;
(b) one of the parties bound by ties of hospitality;
α the guest;
β the host ( = ξενοδόκος, Hom., Il., xv, 532): Ro 16:23.†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

ξένος, ὁ,

Epic dialect and Ionic dialect ξεῖνος (also frequently in [Refs 5th c.BC+], used by Trag. for the sake of meter even in trimeter, mostly in vocative, [Refs 5th c.BC+], Aeolic dialect ξέννος [Refs]; scanned ¯ ?\~X and written ξεῖνος in [Refs 3rd c.BC+].

__I guest-friend, applied to persons and states bound by a treaty or tie of hospitality, [ξένος καὶ φίλος 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 21.110, compare 18.46, 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 2.1.5, 5th c.BC: Lysias Orator 19.19; βασιλέως πατρικὸς ξ. 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Meno” 78d. ">Refs 8th c.BC+]
__I.2 of parties giving or receiving hospitality, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; mostly of the guest, opposed to the host, ξεινοδόκοι καὶ ξεῖνος [Refs], etc.; ἁ ξείνα the visitor, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; of guests at a club, opposed to σύνδειπνοι, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]: less frequently of the host, [NT+8th c.BC+]
__II stranger, especially wanderer, refugee (under the protection of Ζεὺς ξένιος), sometimes coupled with ἱκέτης, Ζεὺς ἐπιτιμήτωρ ἱκετάων τε ξείνων τε ξείνιος [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__III generally, stranger, foreigner, opposed to ἔνδημος, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; opposed to ἀστός, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; opposed to ἐπιχώριος, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; with ἔπηλυς, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; opposed to a member of the family, [Refs 6th c.AD+]
__III.b as a term of address to any stranger, ὦ ξένε [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__III.2 ={βάρβαρος}, at Sparta, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__IV hireling, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; especially mercenary soldier, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: rarely simply, ally, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B as adjective ξένος, η, ον (also ος, ον [Refs 5th c.BC+], Ionic dialect ξεῖνος, η, ον, foreign, not in [Refs 8th c.BC+]; frequently in later writers, ξείνα γαῖα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐν ξένῃσι χερσί by foreign hands, [Refs]; ξ. δόμοι, πόλις, etc., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of alien property, ξ. ἄρουραι [Refs 6th c.AD+]
__B.II with genitive of things, strange to a thing, unacquainted with, ignorant of it, ξ. τοῦ λόγου [NT+5th c.BC+] adverb ξένως, ἔχω τῆς ἐνθάδε λέξεως I am a stranger to the mode of speech, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.III strange, unusual, λόγοι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὡς ξένου συμβαίνοντος NT.1Pet.4.12 [NT]: superlative, πράξεων ὡς -οτάτων [Refs 1st c.BC+] adverb ξένως, λαλεῖν [Refs 1st c.BC+]
__B.III.2 τοῦ πνεύματος.. ῥύσις ὡς -ωτάτη air as fresh as possible, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: Rom.16.23 ☩ Eph.2.12 ☩ 1Pet.4.12 ☩ Heb.13.9 ☩ Acts.17.18}