Ὀλυμπᾶς

Olympâs

G3652 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Proper name: Olympas. Used as a personal name for an individual in the early assemblies referred to in Paul's letter to the Romans. The name itself does not carry a lexical meaning in Koine usage beyond its function as a proper noun.

Semantic Range

proper name (personal name), person associated by name with Mount Olympus, bearer of a Greek theophoric name

Root / Etymology

Derived from the Greek Ολυμπίας (Olympias) or Ὀλύμπιος (Olympios), relating to Mount Olympus or that which pertains to the gods of Olympus. The exact etymology of the abbreviated form Ὀλυμπᾶς is uncertain but likely a theophoric name referencing divine origin or connection, as Mount Olympus was mythologically the home of the Greek gods.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Ὀλυμπᾶς is attested in the New Testament only in Romans 16:15, where Paul greets this person among a list of others in Rome. The name was common across the Greek world in both male and female forms (cf. Olympias, mother of Alexander the Great), generally indicating a cultural connection to Greek tradition or geography. In the context of early Christianity, the name does not denote any specific ethnic, religious, or regional identity. Standard English translations transliterate the name directly, but its mythological and Hellenistic resonance may not be apparent to English readers. The name itself is not unique to Judean or Israelite tradition but is thoroughly Greek in character, reflecting the cultural diversity of early Christ groups.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably a contraction from (Olympian-bestowed, i.e. heaven-descended); Olympas, a Christian:--Olympas.

Root Family

Ὀλυμπᾶς (Olympas) — proper name, name associated with Olympus, relating to the Olympian gods

Root Ὀλυμπ- name associated with Olympus, relating to Mount Olympus or the Olympian gods

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3652-01 Ὀλυμπᾶν olumpan N ACC M SG Olympas Olympas Olympas 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3652-01 Romans 16:15 Ὀλυμπᾶν olumpan N ACC M SG Olympas Olympas Olympas