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Ἔφεσος

Éphesos

G2181 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain city, settlement, urban center

Definition

Proper name: Ephesus — a major city located on the west coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), significant as a cultural, religious, and commercial center in antiquity. In Greco-Roman and biblical contexts, refers specifically to the city as a geographic and political entity. May also imply affiliation or origin from Ephesus when used adjectivally or contextually linked to groups or individuals (such as assemblies or residents).

Semantic Range

Ephesus (the city), the civic body or territory of Ephesus, cultural/political referent to the city

Root / Etymology

Probably of non-Greek (Anatolian or possibly Luwian) origin, adapted into Greek as Ἔφεσος. The specific etymology is uncertain and not directly derived from a known Greek linguistic root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Ἔφεσος occurs exclusively as a proper noun referring to a city. In classical Greek, Ephesus was renowned for the Temple of Artemis and as a Hellenistic metropolis. In the Roman period, it became the capital of the Roman province of Asia. Within the Septuagint and non-biblical Greek usage, the name is tied to the city’s prominence. In the New Testament, Ephesus is central to early assemblies (notably, the addressee of the letter to the Ephesians—though the designation's manuscript evidence is mixed) and mentioned in Acts and Pauline letters. Translation traditions universally retain the toponym as 'Ephesus'; however, the Greek term carries connotations of civic status, urban culture, and religious significance in antiquity that may not be evident in mere English transliteration. The term should not be confused with personal or ethnic designations (e.g., Ephesian) nor with religious titles. Its usage is always geo-political; population could be ethnically mixed.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably of foreign origin; Ephesus, a city of Asia Minor:--Ephesus.

Root Family

Ἔφεσος (Ephesos) — city, settlement, urban center

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2181-02 Ἔφεσον epheson N ACC F SG Ephesus Ephesus Ephesos 8
G2181-01 Ἐφέσῳ epheso N DAT F SG Ephesus to Ephesus Ephesos 6
G2181-03 Ἐφέσου ephesou N GEN F SG Ephesus of Ephesus Ephesos 2

Occurrences in Scripture

16 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2181-02 Acts 18:19 Ἔφεσον epheson N ACC F SG Ephesus Ephesus Ephesos
G2181-03 Acts 18:21 Ἐφέσου ephesou N GEN F SG Ephesus of Ephesus Ephesos
G2181-02 Acts 18:24 Ἔφεσον epheson N ACC F SG Ephesus Ephesus Ephesos
G2181-02 Acts 19:1 Ἔφεσον epheson N ACC F SG Ephesus Ephesus Ephesos
G2181-02 Acts 19:17 Ἔφεσον epheson N ACC F SG Ephesus Ephesus Ephesos
G2181-03 Acts 19:26 Ἐφέσου ephesou N GEN F SG in Ephesus of Ephesus Ephesos
G2181-02 Acts 20:16 Ἔφεσον epheson N ACC F SG Ephesus Ephesus Ephesos
G2181-02 Acts 20:17 Ἔφεσον epheson N ACC F SG Ephesus Ephesus Ephesos
G2181-01 1 Corinthians 15:32 Ἐφέσῳ epheso N DAT F SG Ephesus to Ephesus Ephesos
G2181-01 1 Corinthians 16:8 Ἐφέσῳ epheso N DAT F SG Ephesus to Ephesus Ephesos
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