Σκευᾶς
Skeuâs
G4630 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper name referring to an individual called Sceuas/Sceva, specifically identified in Acts 19:14 and 19:16 as a prominent Israelite—described as a 'chief priest'. The term itself functions solely as a personal name in extant Greek sources, without an inherent lexical meaning apart from naming this individual.
Semantic Range
proper name of an Israelite individual; no independent noun or adjective meaning attested; used solely as a personal name in NT context
Root / Etymology
The etymology is uncertain. While traditionally presumed to be of Latin origin (possibly from 'Scaeva', meaning 'left-handed', 'ill-omened', or 'awkward'), there is no direct evidence of the name Σκευᾶς as a common Greek rendering of the Latin cognomen. The name may have been adopted from a Latin or Semitic source, but this cannot be confirmed from available Greek sources.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Σκευᾶς appears only in Acts 19:14–16, where he is called ἀρχιερεύς ('chief priest') and is the father of the seven sons who attempted to use the name of Jesus as an incantation. There is no corroborating evidence outside Acts for this individual's historical existence. The name does not otherwise occur in Greek literature; it is unique in the Septuagint, New Testament, and other Hellenistic Jewish sources. Latin Scaeva was a cognomen meaning 'left-handed' or 'unlucky,' but its application to a Judean context through the Greek form Σκευᾶς is speculative. English Bible translations typically render it 'Sceva' but do not convey any underlying meaning. In the narrative context, Σκευᾶς is an Israelite (likely a Judean) bearing a possibly Romanized or Hellenized name, reflecting the linguistic and cultural blending of the period.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
apparently of Latin origin; left-handed; Scevas (i.e. Scævus), an Israelite:--Sceva.
Root Family
Σκευᾶς (Skeuas) — proper name, personal designation
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4630-01 |
Σκευᾶ | skeua | N GEN M SG |
Sceva | of Sceva | Skeuas | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4630-01 |
Acts 19:14 | Σκευᾶ | skeua | N GEN M SG |
Sceva | of Sceva | Skeuas |