νησίον
nēsíon
G3519 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Diminutive form of 'island'; refers to a small island, islet, or a minor landmass surrounded by water. While generally designating a physically small island, in some contexts it may refer to a minor or remote island territory rather than a major or inhabited landmass.
Semantic Range
small island, islet, minor island, satellite island, lesser island in a group
Root / Etymology
Diminutive from νῆσος (nēsos, 'island'), formed with the diminutive suffix -ιον, indicating smallness or lesser size. Thus, νησίον literally means 'little island' or 'islet.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Koine Greek, νησίον occurs infrequently and almost exclusively as a diminutive of νῆσος, marking a distinction in scale (cf. νῆσος: larger geographic unit vs. νησίον: small, perhaps uninhabited islet). The term is rare in literary sources but appears in some inscriptions and Hellenistic writings for small islands among larger archipelagos. In the New Testament, the term is attested in Acts 27:16, with reference to Clauda, a small island off Crete, distinguishing it from larger landmasses in the narrative. Standard English translations often render both νῆσος and νησίον as "island," sometimes obscuring the nuance of size or significance denoted by the diminutive. The diminutive does not imply endearment or affection, but a literal reduction in physical scale. There is no significant semantic shift between Classical and Koine periods, but in Koine, the usage may encompass minor satellite islets near principal islands.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
diminutive of νῆσος; an islet:--island.
Root Family
νησίον (nēsion) — small island, islet, minor island
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3519-01 |
νησίον | nesion | N ACC N SG |
small island | a small island | a small island | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3519-01 |
Acts 27:16 | νησίον | nesion | N ACC N SG |
small island | a small island | a small island |