Αἰνέας
Ainéas
G132 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Ainéas (Aeneas), a personal name used for a man in the New Testament, notably in Acts 9:33-34. The name designates a specific individual and does not carry an inherent lexical meaning in Koine Greek outside of its use as a proper noun. It refers to an Israelite man residing in Lydda (Lod) who is the subject of a healing narrative.
Semantic Range
proper name; individual name for a man in the New Testament; mythological name in classical Greek literature
Root / Etymology
The etymology is uncertain. While the name Αἰνέας is well-known from Greek myth—especially as the Trojan hero Aeneas (Greek: Αἰνείας)—the direct derivation of the New Testament individual's name from the mythological figure is possible but not certain. There is no clear relationship with attested Semitic names. In the mythological context, ancient sources sometimes relate Αἰνείας to Greek terms for 'praise' (αἶνος), but this is etymologically speculative in the biblical context.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Αἰνέας appears only once in the New Testament (Acts 9:33-34), describing a man paralyzed and bedridden in Lydda whom Peter heals. While the name is identical to that of the legendary Trojan hero of Greco-Roman epic, there is no evidence that the biblical figure is meant to evoke mythological associations. The use of Greek personal names among Israelites in the Hellenistic and Roman periods was not unusual, especially in regions under Hellenistic influence such as Judea and its environs. Standard English translations render the name 'Aeneas,' preserving the Greek form. The identification of Αἰνέας in Acts as an Israelite is based on his location and the narrative context but should not be conflated with the ethnic or mythological connotations of the name in classical literature. The name does not appear elsewhere in the Septuagint or other Jewish-Greek writings in reference to Israelites, nor is there evidence of its use as a common name among Judeans of the period.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of uncertain derivation; Ænĕas, an Israelite:--Æneas.
Root Family
uncertain (bótrys) — proper name, personal name
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G1009 | βότρυς | clusters |
| G1050 | Γάϊος | to Gaius |
| G1055 | γαλήνη | calm stillness |
| G108 | Ἄζωτος | Ashdod |
| G1148 | Δαλμανουθά | of Dalmanoutha |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G132-01 |
Αἰνέα | ainea | N VOC M SG |
Aeneas | Aeneas! | Aineas | 1 |
G132-02 |
Αἰνέαν | ainean | N ACC M SG |
Aeneas | Aeneas | Aineas | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences