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Ἔραστος

Érastos

G2037 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ἐραστ- to love (with desire), to be beloved

Definition

A proper personal name: Erastus. The name means 'beloved' or 'loved one.' In the New Testament, refers to a specific individual mentioned as an associate of Paul, such as the city treasurer of Corinth or a companion in various missions.

Semantic Range

proper name; beloved, esteemed; the personal name of one or more individuals in early Christian communities

Root / Etymology

From the Greek adjective ἐραστός (erastos), meaning 'lovely' or 'beloved,' which is derived from the verb ἐράω (eraō, 'to love’ in the sense of passionate desire). Used as a personal name in the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Cognate with other Greek roots related to romantic or desirable love.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Ἔραστος is attested as a common Greek personal name from the classical period onward. In the New Testament (Romans 16:23; Acts 19:22; 2 Timothy 4:20), it denotes a specific individual or possibly two individuals involved with the early assemblies associated with Paul. The use of ἔραστος as a name likely conveyed the sense of being beloved or pleasing, similar to the positive connotations found in other Greek names. In the Hellenistic world, it was not uncommon for names to be formed from adjectives or participles. Standard English Bible translations usually transliterate the name as 'Erastus,' but the lexical meaning underlying the name is 'beloved' or 'esteemed.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from (to love); beloved; Erastus, a Christian:--Erastus.

Root Family

Ἔραστος (Erastos) — to love with desire, beloved, lovely, esteemed

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G2037-02 Ἔραστος erastos N NOM M SG Erastus Erastos 2
G2037-01 Ἔραστον eraston N ACC M SG Erastus Erastus 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G2037-01 Acts 19:22 Ἔραστον eraston N ACC M SG Erastus Erastus
G2037-02 Romans 16:23 Ἔραστος erastos N NOM M SG Erastus Erastos
G2037-02 2 Timothy 4:20 Ἔραστος erastos N NOM M SG Erastus Erastos
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