Lexical Definition

‎στέφανος‎ stéphanos (stef'-an-os) crown ^G:N-M
from an apparently primary (to twine or wreathe)

crown.

• a chaplet (as a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a symbol of honor generally
• but more conspicuous and elaborate than the simple fillet, ‎διάδημα‎), literally or figuratively

Abbott-Smith

στέφανος, -ου, ὁ (< στέφω, to encircle), [in LXX chiefly for עֲטָרָה ;]
1. that which surrounds or encompasses (as a wall, a crowd: Hom., al.).
2. a crown, i.e. the wreath, garland or chaplet given as a prize for victory, as a festal ornament, or as a public honour for disting­uished service or personal worth (so to sovereigns, especially on the occasion of a παρουσία, q.v.; cf. Deiss., LAE, 372 ff.; on its use in LXX for the golden crown of royalty (prop., διάδημα, q.v., cf. Hort and Mayor on Ja 1:12): Mt 27:29, Mk 15:17, Jo 19:2, 5, I Co 9:25, Re 4:4, 10 6:2 9:7 12:1 14:14. Metaph.: Phl 4:1, Re 3:11; τ. δικαιοσύνης (cf. Deiss., LAE, 312), II Ti 4:8; τ. δόξης, I Pe 5:4; καυχήσεως, I Th 2:19 (v. M, Th., in l.); τ. ζωῆς (gen. appos.), Ja 1:12, Re 2:10.†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

στέφανος, ὁ,

(στέφω) that which surrounds or encompasses, πάντῃ γάρ σε περὶ σ. πολέμοιο δέδηεν the circling fight, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of the wall round a town, [Refs 6th c.BC+]; καλλίπαις σ. circle of fair children, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

__II crown, wreath, chaplet, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; δάφνας σ. [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; ῥόδινος, ῥοδόεις, [Refs 6th c.BC+]; σ. εἴρειν, πλέκειν, ἀνείρειν, [Refs 7th c.BC+]; θεῖσα ἀμφὶ βοστρύχοις[Refs 5th c.BC+]; μύρα, στεφάνους ἑτοίμασον for a feast, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; hung at the door on festive occasions, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II.b in plural, οἱ σ. the garland-market, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II.2 crown of victory at the public games, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τῆς ἐλαίης τὸν διδόμενον σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ σ., title of an officer who had charge of these matters in Roman times, [Refs]
__II.2.b honorary wreath or crown, frequently worked in gold, awarded for public services in war or peace, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: such crowns were frequently dedicated in temples, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; περὶ τοῦ σ., title of [Refs 4th c.BC+]: metaphorically, prize, reward, αὑτῷ μὲν σ. περιθείς, Σαμίοισι δὲ κῦδος epigram cited in [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τοῦδε γὰρ ὁ σ. his is the prize (or perhaps for (bringing) him the prize is offered), [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.2.c σ. πυργωτὸς καὶ οὐαλλάριος,= Latin corona muralis et vallaris, a Roman military decoration, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
__II.3 crown of glory, honour, οὐκ ἂν αἰσχυνθείην εἰπὼν στέφανον τῆς πατρίδος εἶναι τὰς ἐκείνων ψυχάς [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἐλευθερίας ἀμφέθετο σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σ. ζωῆς, δόξης, [NT]; ὁ τῆς δικαιοσύνης σ. [NT+8th c.BC+]
__II.4 crown as a badge of office, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ὁ σ. οὗτος, of the office of ἀρχιερεὺς Ἀσίας, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; ἔχειν τὸν σ. to be in office, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; ἀναδήσασθαι τὸν σ. τοῦτον [Refs 3rd c.AD+]: see at {στεφανηφόρος} [Refs]
__II.5 in Egypt, money gift to the sovereign, levied by the state, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; like wise in Syria, [LXX]; also of similar gifts to a court favourite, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
__II.6 τὰς εἰς τὸν σ. ἐπαγγελίας οὐκ ἔλαβον,= aurum coronarium non accepi, Mon.Anc.[Refs 3rd c.AD+]
__II.7 donation, euphemism for a bribe, διεθέντος μου ὑπάρξει σοι εἰς σ. τάλαντα δεκαπέντε [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; gratuity, bonus, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II.8 the constellation [Refs 6th c.BC+]; σ. τόν τε κλείουσ᾽ Ἀριάδνης [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
__II.9 name of a πηγή in the Chaldaean system, [Refs 5th c.AD+]
__II.10= δάφνη Ἀλεξανδρεία, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; Ἡλίου σ.,= ἅλιμος, Ps.-[Refs 1st c.AD+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: Jas.1.12 ☩ 1Pet.5.4 ☩ 2Tim.4.8 ☩ 1Thess.2.19}