δεσμώτης
desmṓtēs
G1202 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A person who is held in bonds, specifically one confined in captivity; most often refers to a prisoner or detainee, typically one held in custody or in a place of imprisonment. In most Koine Greek contexts, especially in legal and carceral language, refers to someone deprived of liberty by external authority or force. May also have a broader application to anyone bound, whether for punitive, judicial, or enemy-captive purposes.
Semantic Range
prisoner, captive, detainee, one held in bonds, one confined in prison
Root / Etymology
From the root δεσμ- (desm-, 'bond, fetter, tie') with the agent or patient suffix -ώτης (-ōtēs), indicating a person characterized by being in bonds. Related to δεσμός ('bond, chain'), δεσμωτήριον ('prison'), and the verb δέω ('to bind').
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, δεσμώτης typically referred to a captive, especially a prisoner of war or one confined by judicial authority. In the Hellenistic and Roman contexts, including the Septuagint and New Testament, it almost always means 'prisoner'—that is, someone who is held in custody under guard. The term is not inherently specific to the legal status or cause of imprisonment; it does not distinguish between criminal, political, or military captivity. In contrast to φυλακισμένος (phylakismenos, 'one kept under guard'), δεσμώτης stresses the state of being in chains or bonds. English translations often render δεσμώτης as 'prisoner,' but this can obscure the sense of physical restraint and may not always convey its resonance with ancient systems of incarceration or captivity. In the Pauline Epistles (e.g., Philemon 1:9), Paul uses the term self-referentially to highlight both literal imprisonment and the resulting social status. Septuagint uses closely mirror the Greek usage, denoting both Israelite and non-Israelite captives. This term ramifies in ancient literature surrounding captivity and social marginalization.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as δεσμωτήριον; (passively) a captive:--prisoner.
Root Family
δεσμώτης (desmōtēs) — one bound, captive, detainee, person in bonds
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1202-01 |
δεσμώτας | desmotas | N ACC M PL |
prisoners | bound ones | prisoners | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1202-01 |
Acts 27:1 | δεσμώτας | desmotas | N ACC M PL |
prisoners | bound ones | prisoners |
G1202-01 |
Acts 27:42 | δεσμώτας | desmotas | N ACC M PL |
prisoners | bound ones | prisoners |