βραβεῖον
brabeîon
G1017 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A prize or award given to the victor; primarily, the reward conferred in public games or athletic contests, but also more generally any mark of distinction or recognition for achievement. While its basic sense is a tangible reward for victory, in figurative contexts it can refer to any object or outcome regarded as a goal or ultimate reward.
Semantic Range
prize, reward, award, goal (metaphorical), mark of achievement, object given as a token of victory
Root / Etymology
From the noun βραβεύς (brabeus), meaning 'judge' or 'umpire', itself of uncertain derivation. βραβεῖον is a noun formed with the suffix -ειον, denoting an object or result associated with an agent (the umpire’s decision or prize).
Historical & Contextual Notes
βραβεῖον is attested in Hellenistic Greek for the prize awarded by an umpire at athletic or other competitions—a central cultural motif in Greco-Roman society where public games were prominent. In the New Testament (e.g., 1 Corinthians 9:24; Philippians 3:14), it is used metaphorically to describe the goal or reward at the end of life's contest, drawing on familiar imagery of the athletic stadium. The term does not carry religious overtones by itself; rather, it evokes the universally recognized system of awards in Hellenistic festivals. In the Septuagint, the concept of a 'prize' is rare, as athletic imagery is less culturally central in Israelite literature. βραβεῖον differs from στεφανός (stephanos, 'wreath, crown')—the physical wreath awarded to victors—by emphasizing the prize or reward as a whole rather than the specific object. Standard English translations often render it 'prize,' which effectively captures the basic meaning; however, the wider Greco-Roman associations of honor, public recognition, and the competitive context should be recognized for full nuance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from (an umpire of uncertain derivation); an award (of arbitration), i.e. (specially) a prize in the public games:--prize.
Root Family
βραβεῖον (brabeion) — prize, award, reward, mark of victory
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1017-01 |
βραβεῖον | brabeion | N ACC N SG |
prize | victory prize | victory prize | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1017-01 |
1 Corinthians 9:24 | βραβεῖον | brabeion | N ACC N SG |
prize | victory prize | victory prize |
G1017-01 |
Philippians 3:14 | βραβεῖον | brabeion | N ACC N SG |
prize | victory prize | victory prize |