Ἰταλικός

Italikós

G2483 predicate adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Belonging to Italy or originating from Italy; relating to the people, language, or culture of the Italian peninsula. In the Koine period, specifically within the Roman imperial context, denotes something or someone from Italia (Italy), as opposed to regions from other provinces.

Semantic Range

Italian, belonging to Italy, originating from Italy, relating to the Italian peninsula or its people, characteristic of Italy or Italians

Root / Etymology

Derived from Ἰταλία (Italia), the Greek term for the region of Italy, with the adjectival suffix -ικός indicating pertaining to or originating from; literally meaning 'Italian' or 'of Italy.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Ἰταλικός is primarily found in Hellenistic and Roman-era Greek to signify a connection to Italy, reflecting the administrative and geographic realities of the period when 'Italia' was a distinct region under Roman rule. The term is rare in the Septuagint and New Testament, appearing only in specific historical contexts (e.g., Acts 10:1, where it refers to the 'Italian cohort'—a Roman military unit composed in or from Italy). In secular and epigraphic Greek, Ἰταλικός can refer to people, objects, or customs considered to originate from the Italian peninsula. It does not encompass ethnic connotations beyond geographic origin unless specified by context. English translations often simply use 'Italian,' which conveys the general sense but may lose specificity regarding the Roman imperial or regional context of the term in Koine Greek sources. The adjective does not carry associations of citizenship or ethnicity unless clarified by the text.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from Ἰταλία; Italic, i.e. belonging to Italia:--Italian.

Root Family

Ἰταλικός (Italikos) — pertaining to Italy, of Italy, Italian

Root Ἰταλ- pertaining to Italy, of Italy

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2483-01 Ἰταλικῆς italikes ADJ.P GEN F SG Italian of Italy Italian 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2483-01 Acts 10:1 Ἰταλικῆς italikes ADJ.P GEN F SG Italian of Italy Italian