Πόπλιος
Póplios
G4196 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A Roman personal name, transliterating the Latin name Publius; used as a proper noun for a specific individual. In the New Testament, refers to an official in Malta. Does not intrinsically carry the semantic sense of 'popular' in Greek usage; specifically a name, not a descriptive term.
Semantic Range
personal name, specifically the Latin praenomen Publius; refers to Publius, the chief official of Malta in Acts 28:7; no broader lexical meaning
Root / Etymology
Borrowed from the Latin personal name Publius; etymology uncertain. Greek Πόπλιος is directly adopted from the Latin.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Πόπλιος appears in the New Testament only in Acts 28:7, referring to the leading official of Malta during Paul's shipwreck. The name is attested in Latin inscriptions as 'Publius,' one of the most common praenomina (given names) in Roman society. In Greek, the form is preserved as a transliteration, serving no meaning beyond designating an individual's name. There is no evidence that the Greek-speaking audience associated Πόπλιος with the meaning 'popular,' nor does the name function as an adjective in Greek. English translations of Acts tend to use 'Publius,' maintaining the Latin form of the name. The use of Πόπλιος in the New Testament reflects contemporary practice of transliterating Roman names. There is no semantic range beyond its onomastic (naming) usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Latin origin; apparently "popular"; Poplius (i.e. Publius), a Roman:--Publius.
Root Family
Ποπλ- (Póplios) — personal name, Roman praenomen
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4196-01 |
Ποπλίῳ | poplio | N DAT M SG |
Publius | to Publius | Poplios | 1 |
G4196-02 |
Ποπλίου | popliou | N GEN M SG |
Publius | of Publius | Poplios | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences