← G2376 G2378 →

θυρωρός

thyrōrós

G2377 noun

SILEX Entry

Root θυρ-ωρ- door, gate, watching, guarding

Definition

One who guards or attends to an entrance, especially a doorkeeper, gatekeeper, or porter. In its core sense, refers to a person responsible for the control, surveillance, or function of a door or gate—monitoring passage and providing access or security. In various contexts, can denote a servant tasked with admitting people or a designated official in charge of an entry point.

Semantic Range

doorkeeper, gatekeeper, porter, servant who attends the door, temple official responsible for entrances, one who controls admission

Root / Etymology

From θύρα (door, gate) and the agentive suffix -ωρός (from ὁράω, 'to see, watch'), signifying 'watcher of the door.' Cognate with similar compounds indicating watching or guarding ('θυρά' + '-ωρός').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, θυρωρός described anyone assigned to keep watch at doors—commonly a household servant or porter in domestic or temple settings. In Hellenistic and Roman urban life, large homes, temples, and public institutions often employed θυρωροί to control access. In the New Testament (e.g., John 10:3; Mark 13:34), the role frequently refers to a household servant or functionary rather than an official or guard. In the Septuagint, it corresponds to Hebrew שׁוֹעֵר‎ (sho‘er, 'gatekeeper'), a Levitical role in the Jerusalem temple. Gendered forms (θυρωρός for masculine, θυρωρίς for feminine) exist, with female doorkeepers attested (cf. John 18:16-17). English translations commonly render θυρωρός as 'porter,' 'doorkeeper,' or 'gatekeeper,' though 'porter' (from Latin portarius) best reflects the connotation of a servant rather than an armed guard. The term differs from φύλαξ ('guardian, sentinel'), which implies active defense rather than custodianship of entry. Over time, the social rank and security aspect associated with θυρωρός could vary greatly, from menial servant to significant trusted official in large institutions.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from θύρα and (a watcher); a gate- warden:--that kept the door, porter.

Root Family

θυρωρός (thyrōros) — door, gate, watching, guarding

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G2377-02 θυρωρὸς thuroros N NOM M SG doorkeeper door-guardian 2
G2377-01 θυρωρῷ thuroro N DAT M SG doorkeeper to the door-guardian 2

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G2377-01 Mark 13:34 θυρωρῷ thuroro N DAT M SG doorkeeper to the door-guardian
G2377-02 John 10:3 θυρωρὸς thuroros N NOM M SG gatekeeper door-guardian
G2377-01 John 18:16 θυρωρῷ thuroro N DAT F SG doorkeeper to the door-guardian
G2377-02 John 18:17 θυρωρός thuroros N NOM F SG doorkeeper door-guardian
← G2376 Greek Lexicon G2378 →