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Μίλητος

Mílētos

G3399 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Miletus; a prominent city of Ionia in western Asia Minor, located near the mouth of the Maeander River on the Aegean coast. The word refers specifically to this geographic location, denoting the city itself. In New Testament context, it identifies the historical and civic entity of Miletus, an urban center with a significant harbor, known for commerce, culture, and as a meeting place for the apostle Paul with elders from Ephesus (Acts 20:15, 17; 2 Timothy 4:20).

Semantic Range

Miletus (the city in Ionia), the location near the mouth of the Maeander River, urban center in Asia Minor, prominent Greek city

Root / Etymology

Greek Μίλητος. The ultimate etymology of the name is uncertain; it may be pre-Greek or related to Anatolian toponyms. The name appears widely in classical Greek literature as the designation of the Ionian city.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Miletus was one of the foremost ancient Greek cities of Ionia, prominent from the Archaic through Roman periods. In the classical and Hellenistic periods, Μίλητος was renowned for philosophy, science, and cultural exchange. In Roman times, it retained regional importance. The name occurs in the New Testament as the city where Paul met with Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17) and as the location where Trophimus was left ill (2 Tim 4:20). English translations traditionally render Μίλητος simply as 'Miletus,' but the Greek term inherently refers to the specific Hellenistic city in Asia Minor with its distinctive cultural legacy and should not be confused with other ancient cities. The term is a toponym and not a common noun or adjective; it does not denote an ethnic identity or broader region. There is no evidence in the period for the name's use in non-geographical senses. The Roman province context during the 1st century CE frames the significance of Μίλητος as a waypoint in early Christian movement, but the word itself has no religious or theological meaning.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain origin; Miletus, a city of Asia Minor:--Miletus.

Root Family

Μίλητος (Milētos) — Miletus, Ionian city, toponym, urban center in Asia Minor

Root Μιλ- Miletus (the city), toponym, city name

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3399-03 Μιλήτου miletou N GEN F SG Miletus of Miletus of Miletus 1
G3399-01 Μιλήτῳ mileto N DAT F SG Miletus to Miletus 1
G3399-02 Μίλητον mileton N ACC F SG Miletus Miletus Miletus 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3399-02 Acts 20:15 Μίλητον mileton N ACC F SG Miletus Miletus Miletus
G3399-03 Acts 20:17 Μιλήτου miletou N GEN F SG Miletus of Miletus of Miletus
G3399-01 2 Timothy 4:20 Μιλήτῳ mileto N DAT F SG Miletus to Miletus
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