διοπετής
diopetḗs
G1356 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
A stone or object believed to have fallen from the sky; specifically, an object venerated as having been sent from the heavens, often in connection with religious cults as a divine sign. In the context of Hellenistic and Roman religious language, typically refers to what is considered a 'heaven-fallen' (meteorite) stone or artifact—sometimes associated with cult images believed to have a celestial origin.
Semantic Range
heaven-fallen, of celestial origin, object fallen from the sky (meteorite), cult image believed to be sent by a deity, stone venerated as divine
Root / Etymology
Formed from δῖος (divine, or related to Zeus) and πετός/πέτω (to fall). Literally meaning 'fallen from Zeus' or 'fallen from the sky.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term διοπετής is rare in Greek literature and has no attested usage in Classical literature prior to Koine. It appears in Acts 19:35 to describe an object associated with the cult of Artemis in Ephesus, traditionally venerated as fallen from the sky—a motif found in various Greco-Roman cults where certain stones (often meteorites) were treated as divine gifts. Other sources (such as Strabo and Pausanias) also attest to so-called 'heaven-fallen' cult images, which could refer to uncarved stones or meteorites considered sacred. In English biblical translations, this is often rendered as 'which fell from Jupiter'; however, 'Jupiter' represents a Latinization of 'Zeus,' not a concept strictly present in the Greek text. The term has a more general sense of 'heaven-sent' or 'of celestial origin,' and is not limited to Jupiter/Zeus or one specific cult object. The concept reflects ancient beliefs about meteorites or unique stones as manifestations of divine action or presence, extending beyond Greco-Roman religion to broader ancient Mediterranean cultic practice.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the alternate of Ζεύς and the alternate of πίπτω; sky-fallen (i.e. an aerolite):--which fell down from Jupiter.
Root Family
διοπετής (diopetēs) — divine, from Zeus, fallen from the sky
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1356-01 |
διοπετοῦς | diopetous | ADJ.S GEN N SG |
that fell from heaven | of the heaven-fallen object | that fell from heaven | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1356-01 |
Acts 19:35 | διοπετοῦς | diopetous | ADJ.S GEN N SG |
that fell from heaven | of the heaven-fallen object | that fell from heaven |