Κίς

Kís

G2797 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Proper noun: Kís, the Greek rendering of the Hebrew personal name Qīš (Kish); refers specifically to an individual of Israelite descent, most notably known as the father of Saul, the first king of Israel, in biblical tradition. In Greek texts (particularly the Septuagint and New Testament references), the name is transliterated directly from the Hebrew and functions solely as a personal name without further lexical or semantic development beyond denoting this individual.

Semantic Range

Kís (Kish), father of Saul; personal name of a Benjaminite; reference to a biblical ancestor

Root / Etymology

Borrowed from Hebrew קִישׁ (Qīš). The Greek term Κίς is a transliteration rather than a translation, indicating Hebraic origin.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Κίς appears as a proper name both in the Septuagint and the New Testament (e.g., Acts 13:21, where Saul's ancestry is mentioned). In all instances, it designates the same individual known from Hebrew scripture: Kish, father of Saul. The name itself is not explained etymologically within Greek texts, as it is treated as a foreign personal name. Septuagint Greek typically preserves foreign names in transliteration for major Israelite figures; thus, Κίς does not acquire independent meaning or broader lexical range in Greek. English Bibles often render the name as 'Kish,' maintaining the Hebraic form. Usage is limited to reference to the historical or biblical personage; no common or figurative use developed in Koine Greek.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of Hebrew origin (קִישׁ); Cis (i.e. Kish), an Israelite:--Cis.

Root Family

Κίς (Kís) — personal name, Israelite ancestor

Root Κις- personal name, name of an Israelite ancestor

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2797-01 Κείς keis N GEN M SG of Cis of Kís Kis 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2797-01 Acts 13:21 Κείς keis N GEN M SG of Cis of Kís Kis