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Ἰσκαριώτης

Iskariṓtēs

G2469 noun

SILEX Entry

Root Ἰσκαριωτ- from Kerioth, of or belonging to Kerioth, Keriothite

Definition

A byname or epithet indicating an individual from Kerioth; most notably used as a designation for Judas, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. The term marks geographic origin or association.

Semantic Range

inhabitant of Kerioth, person associated with Kerioth, geographic byname for Judas

Root / Etymology

From Hebrew אִישׁ (’ish, 'man') and קְרִיּוֹת (Qiryot, 'Kerioth' or 'towns'), forming אִישׁ־קְרִיּוֹת ('man of Kerioth'). Transliterated through Aramaic/Greek into Ἰσκαριώτης. Greek -της (-tēs) denotes origin or affiliation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Ἰσκαριώτης occurs exclusively for Judas in the New Testament (e.g., Mark 3:19; Matthew 10:4; John 6:71), identifying him in distinction from other figures named Judas. The epithet likely refers to a place of origin, most plausibly Kerioth (a town attested in the south of Judea, Joshua 15:25), distinguishing Judas geographically from the Galilean disciples. Alternative suggestions (e.g., derivation from a term for 'dagger man' or revolutionaries) lack strong linguistic basis. In the period, attaching a byname of geographic reference was a common means of identification. English translations have traditionally rendered Ἰσκαριώτης as 'Iscariot,' treating it as a proper noun rather than conveying its original geographic nuance. The term does not by itself indicate any negative association; its meaning as 'traitor' arises only from narrative context, not inherent in the word. Unattested outside references to Judas in early Christian literature.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of Hebrew origin (probably אִישׁ and קִרְיָא); inhabitant of Kerioth; Iscariotes (i.e. Keriothite), an epithet of Judas the traitor:--Iscariot.

Root Family

Ἰσκαριώτης (Iskariōtēs) — from Kerioth, of Kerioth, Keriothite

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G2469-03 Ἰσκαριώτης iskariotes N NOM M SG Iscariot Keriothite 5
G2469-04 Ἰσκαριώθ iskarioth N ACC M SG Iscariot Keriothite 3
G2469-02 Ἰσκαριώτην iskarioten N ACC M SG Iscariot Keriothite 1
G2469-01 Ἰσκαριώτη iskariote N DAT M SG Iscariot to the Keriothite 1
G2469-05 Ἰσκαριώτου iskariotou N GEN M SG Iscariot of a Keriothite 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G2469-03 Matthew 10:4 Ἰσκαριώτης iskariotes N NOM M SG Keriothite
G2469-03 Matthew 26:14 Ἰσκαριώτης iskariotes N NOM M SG Keriothite
G2469-04 Mark 3:19 Ἰσκαριώθ iskarioth N ACC M SG Iscariot Keriothite
G2469-04 Mark 14:10 Ἰσκαριὼθ iskarioth N NOM M SG Iscariot Keriothite
G2469-04 Luke 6:16 Ἰσκαριὼθ iskarioth N ACC M SG Iscariot Keriothite
G2469-02 Luke 22:3 Ἰσκαριώτην iskarioten N ACC M SG Iscariot Keriothite
G2469-05 John 6:71 Ἰσκαριώτου iskariotou N GEN M SG Iscariot of a Keriothite
G2469-03 John 12:4 Ἰσκαριώτης iskariotes N NOM M SG Iscariot Keriothite
G2469-03 John 13:2 Ἰσκαριώτης iskariotes N NOM M SG Iscariot Keriothite
G2469-01 John 13:26 Ἰσκαριώτη iskariote N DAT M SG Iscariot to the Keriothite
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