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ἱππεύς

hippeús

G2460 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A mounted soldier; specifically, an individual who serves as a cavalryman or horseman. In Greek military and civic contexts, primarily denoting one who rides a horse, whether as part of an organized military unit, a messenger or courier, or in ceremonial roles. The term can broadly refer to any rider, but typically designates members of a formal cavalry group, especially in accounts of battles or Roman/Greek military organization.

Semantic Range

mounted soldier, cavalryman, horseman, rider, member of a cavalry corps, sometimes official courier

Root / Etymology

Derived from ἵππος (hippos, 'horse') with the agentive suffix -εύς, indicating 'one who is associated with a horse.' The term thus literally means 'horseman.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἱππεύς referred broadly to a cavalryman, often as a social class, especially at Athens, where it denoted a citizen eligible for cavalry service (the 'hippeis' class). In Hellenistic and Roman periods, it typically referred to professional soldiers in the cavalry, as opposed to infantry (πεζός). In the Septuagint and New Testament, ἱππεύς consistently refers to mounted soldiers or horsemen, sometimes contrasted with foot soldiers. In Roman contexts, it may also have a technical connotation, referring to members of the equestrian order (though this nuance is rare in the New Testament and LXX). English translations often render ἱππεύς as 'horseman' or 'cavalryman,' which generally matches its historical usage. It is distinct from στρατιώτης (soldier, generally) and πεζός (infantryman). The term does not carry direct social-class implications in all periods, and in most Koine contexts simply indicates a mounted combatant or official courier.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἵππος; an equestrian, i.e. member of a cavalry corps:--horseman.

Root Family

ἱππεύς (hippeus) — horse, riding, mounted service

Root ἱππ- horse, riding, to be on horseback

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2460-01 ἱππεῖς ippeis N ACC M PL horsemen mounted soldiers horsemen 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2460-01 Acts 23:23 ἱππεῖς ippeis N ACC M PL horsemen mounted soldiers horsemen
G2460-01 Acts 23:32 ἱππεῖς ippeis N ACC M PL horsemen mounted soldiers mounted soldiers
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