Εὐνίκη
Euníkē
G2131 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name: Eunike, meaning 'good victory' or 'of good victory.' The primary sense reflects a compound of positive connotation ('good', 'well') and 'victory', so 'she of good victory' or 'fortunate victor.' Used in the New Testament as the personal name of Timothy's mother. As a personal name, the semantic range is limited to its function as an identifier, but its components evoke auspiciousness or good fortune in triumph.
Semantic Range
(as a proper name) Eunike, 'good victory'; auspicious victory; used as a feminine personal name
Root / Etymology
From εὖ ('well, good') + νίκη ('victory'), a common Greek construction for creating auspicious names. Both components are standard in Greek names and vocabulary.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Εὐνίκη is a common feminine Greek personal name, attested in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, especially among Greek-speaking communities. It follows a pattern of theophoric or auspicious names common in the Greek world, wishing or proclaiming positive attributes. In the New Testament (2 Timothy 1:5), Eunike is named as the mother of Timothy and is described as a Judean, underscoring the presence of such Hellenistic names among Judeans in the eastern Mediterranean. Standard English translations render it as 'Eunice,' following the name’s transliteration into Latin and other languages. The name does not carry a specific religious or ethnic content but reflects the adaptation of Greek naming practices among Judeans and other groups in the period. The components εὖ and νίκη also appear in other Greek words and names (e.g., Ἀγωνίκη, Εὐανίκη). In the Septuagint and most of contemporary literature, the name is not significant beyond its use as a personal identifier; it does not function as a lexical item with an independent semantic range.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from εὖ and νίκη; victorious; Eunice, a Jewess:--Eunice.
Root Family
Εὐνίκη (Eunikē) — good, well, victory, to win
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2131-01 |
Εὐνίκῃ | eunike | N DAT F SG |
Eunice | to Good-Victory | Eunike | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2131-01 |
2 Timothy 1:5 | Εὐνίκῃ | eunike | N DAT F SG |
Eunice | to Good-Victory | Eunike |