Ἐπαίνετος
Epaínetos
G1866 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name meaning 'praised' or 'worthy of praise.' In the New Testament, Ἐπαίνετος specifically refers to an individual, Epaenetus, mentioned in Romans 16:5 as someone highly regarded by the apostle Paul. The primary sense is 'worthy of praise, esteemed,' conveying commendation.
Semantic Range
praised, worthy of praise, commendable (as adjective); Epaenetus (as a proper name)
Root / Etymology
Derived as an adjective or substantive from the verb ἐπαινέω (to praise, commend), composed of the prefix ἐπί (upon, over) and αἰνέω (to praise).
Historical & Contextual Notes
Ἐπαίνετος is attested in Greek literature as an adjective meaning 'praised' or 'commendable,' and is used here as a proper name. The name appears exclusively in the New Testament in Romans 16:5, where Paul refers to Epaenetus as 'my beloved,' the 'firstfruit of Asia for Christ.' This reflects a Hellenistic practice of using virtue-names (e.g., Agapetos, Sophronos) for individuals. The translation 'Epenetus' in many English Bibles follows the Septuagint and Vulgate naming conventions but obscures the meaning of the original Greek. In the New Testament context, the name likely signified the person's high regard within the community. There is no indication in Greek sources that Ἐπαίνετος was a uniquely Israelite or Judean name; rather, it was a Greek-style personal name in common use throughout the Hellenistic world. Its use as a name corresponds with the broader Hellenistic-Judean context of the early Jesus movement, where Greek names were widespread among followers.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐπαινέω; praised; Epænetus, a Christian:--Epenetus.
Root Family
Ἐπαίνετος (Epaínetos) — praised, worthy of praise, commendable
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1866-01 |
Ἐπαίνετον | epaineton | N ACC M SG |
Epaenetus | Worthy-of-Praise | Epainetos | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1866-01 |
Romans 16:5 | Ἐπαίνετον | epaineton | N ACC M SG |
Epaenetus | Worthy-of-Praise | Epainetos |