κεντυρίων
kentyríōn
G2760 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A centurion; a military officer in the Roman army, typically commanding approximately one hundred soldiers. In the context of the New Testament and broader Greco-Roman usage, the term refers specifically to this rank within the Roman legion, but the number of soldiers under a centurion could vary based on era and operational structure. The centurion was considered the backbone of Roman order and military discipline.
Semantic Range
military officer in charge of a century; officer (Roman context); centurion (Roman military rank); Roman imperial representative
Root / Etymology
Borrowed from the Latin 'centurio,' from 'centum' (a hundred), referring to the unit size. The Greek κεντυρίων (kentyríōn) is a Hellenized form of the Latin word.
Historical & Contextual Notes
κεντυρίων is a direct loanword from Latin, reflecting the Roman imperial context of the New Testament period. Its usage appears only in later Koine texts; the more common Greek word is ἑκατοντάρχης (hekatontarchēs). In the New Testament, κεντυρίων appears primarily in Mark and Acts, whereas ἑκατοντάρχης is more common in Luke and Matthew. The choice of κεντυρίων versus ἑκατοντάρχης may reflect regional linguistic preferences or attempts to preserve the Latin military rank's specific implications. English translations universally render it as 'centurion,' but this does not convey the nuanced military and cultural connotations of a Roman imperial officer. The role of centurions in New Testament narratives often highlights their authority, discipline, and status as representatives of Roman order. Unlike other Greek words for military officers, κεντυρίων directly signals the integration or influence of Roman terminology and structure within local Greek speech of the time.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Latin origin; a centurion, i.e. captain of one hundred soldiers:--centurion.
Root Family
κεντυρίων (kentyríōn) — leader of one hundred, centurion, Roman officer
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2760-03 |
κεντυρίωνος | kenturionos | N GEN M SG |
centurion | of a centurion | centurion | 1 |
G2760-02 |
κεντυρίωνα | kenturiona | N ACC M SG |
centurion | a centurion | the centurion | 1 |
G2760-01 |
κεντυρίων | kenturion | N NOM M SG |
centurion | centurion | centurion | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2760-01 |
Mark 15:39 | κεντυρίων | kenturion | N NOM M SG |
centurion | centurion | centurion |
G2760-02 |
Mark 15:44 | κεντυρίωνα | kenturiona | N ACC M SG |
centurion | a centurion | the centurion |
G2760-03 |
Mark 15:45 | κεντυρίωνος | kenturionos | N GEN M SG |
centurion | of a centurion | centurion |