Ἐφέσιος
Ephésios
G2180 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
A person native to, or residing in, Ephesus; a member or citizen of the city of Ephesus in western Asia Minor. In literary use, it denotes someone associated with Ephesus either by origin, residence, or connection. In some contexts, it can also refer broadly to things pertaining to the city (civic, cultural, or religious).
Semantic Range
person from Ephesus, resident of Ephesus, citizen of Ephesus, belonging to Ephesus, pertaining to Ephesus (city, region, or culture)
Root / Etymology
Derived from Ἔφεσος (Ephesos), the name of the city Ephesus, with the adjectival suffix -ιος (-ios) indicating belonging or origin. Literally, 'of/from Ephesus.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
Ἐφέσιος is first attested in classical sources, used to designate someone from Ephesus, a major Ionian city famed for its Artemis temple and as a commercial and cultural center in Asia Minor. In Hellenistic and Roman contexts, the term retains a primarily civic and geographic meaning, denoting one who belongs to the city-state or provincial community of Ephesus, regardless of ancestry or ethnicity. In the New Testament (Acts 19, 21; Ephesians Superscription), Ἐφέσιος identifies inhabitants of Ephesus and highlights episodes involving the city's civic identity, religious practices (notably relating to Artemis), and communal concerns. English translations routinely render it 'Ephesian,' but this modern form may obscure the complex civic, cultural, and religious identities of ancient Ephesians. The term does not imply ethnicity; it is comparable in usage to other Greek city-based gentilics.
Translation Consistency
Ephesian is the natural English demonym/adjective that covers both the substantive sense (‘a person from Ephesus’) and the adjectival sense (‘pertaining to Ephesus’). It matches common Bible-English usage (e.g., ‘the Ephesian(s)’) and provides consistent, natural wording for all forms under G2180.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from Ἔφεσος; an Ephesian or inhabitant of Ephesus:--Ephesian, of Ephesus.
Root Family
Ἐφέσιος (Ephesios) — from Ephesus, pertaining to Ephesus, citizen or inhabitant of Ephesus
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2180-02 |
Ἐφεσίων | ephesion | ADJ.S GEN M PL |
of the Ephesians | of the Ephesians | of the Ephesians | 4 |
G2180-01 |
Ἐφέσιοι | ephesioi | ADJ.S VOC M PL |
of Ephesus | Ephesian men | Ephesians | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2180-02 |
Acts 19:28 | Ἐφεσίων | ephesion | ADJ.S GEN M PL |
of the Ephesians | of the Ephesians | of the Ephesians |
G2180-02 |
Acts 19:34 | Ἐφεσίων | ephesion | ADJ.S GEN M PL |
of the Ephesians | of the Ephesians | of the Ephesians |
G2180-01 |
Acts 19:35 | Ἐφέσιοι | ephesioi | ADJ.S VOC M PL |
of Ephesus | Ephesian men | Ephesians |
G2180-02 |
Acts 19:35 | Ἐφεσίων | ephesion | ADJ.S GEN M PL |
of Ephesians | of the Ephesians | of the Ephesians |
G2180-02 |
Acts 21:29 | Ἐφέσιον | ephesion | ADJ.R ACC M SG |
Ephesian | of the Ephesians | Ephesian |