Ἐλαμίτης
Elamítēs
G1639 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A person originating from Elam; specifically, an inhabitant or native of Elam, which in antiquity referred to the region east of Babylonia, often associated with the southwestern part of the Iranian plateau. In Greek sources, denotes individuals identified by origin, descent, or cultural association with Elam. In Koine and biblical contexts, refers to individuals either originating from the historical region itself or descended from people of Elam, occasionally referencing language or heritage.
Semantic Range
person from Elam, Elamite by ethnicity or descent, Elamite-speaking person, someone associated with the Elamite region
Root / Etymology
A Hellenized adjective/noun formed upon the Hebrew עֵילָם ('Elam'), the name of an ancient Near Eastern region and its people. Utilizes the Greek adjectival suffix -ίτης to indicate origin or affiliation. Borrowed directly from Semitic languages via biblical tradition.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term appears in LXX (e.g., Genesis 10:22; Ezra 4:9) and in the New Testament (Acts 2:9) to denote those from Elam. In Acts, 'Elamites' signifies linguistic or ethnic origin among diaspora groups present in Jerusalem. In the Hellenistic and Roman periods, 'Elamite' referred more broadly to people associated with the historical region of Elam. Standard English translations (such as 'Elamite' or 'person from Elam') are accurate, though the precise scope—ancestry, language, or residence—can vary by context. The term does not denote a religious or political association, and is distinct from broader Persian identity, though Elam was often incorporated into the Persian Empire. The Greek use via the LXX reflects adoption from the Hebrew Bible where 'Elam' is an ancestral nation, with continued usage into the Koine period.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Hebrew origin (עֵילָם); an Elamite or Persian:--Elamite.
Root Family
Ἐλαμίτης (Elamitēs) — Elamite person, person of Elam, native of Elam
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1639-01 |
Ἐλαμεῖται | elameitai | N NOM M PL |
Elamites | Elamites | Elamites | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1639-01 |
Acts 2:9 | Ἐλαμεῖται | elameitai | N NOM M PL |
Elamites | Elamites | Elamites |