Στάχυς
Stáchys
G4720 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Stáchys (as a proper noun): a personal name, 'Stachys,' likely meaning 'ear of grain' or 'spike' (of corn/wheat). Used in early Christian contexts as the name of a notable individual addressed by Paul. The lexical meaning as a noun: an ear or head of grain; as a personal name, taken from the common noun and used as a given/literary name.
Semantic Range
personal name Stachys; ear or head of grain (in its original, non-personal noun sense)
Root / Etymology
From στάχυς (stachys), the common Greek noun meaning 'ear of grain.' Adopted directly as a proper name, originally descriptive or symbolic.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the New Testament (Romans 16:9), Στάχυς refers specifically to a person among the recipients of Paul’s greeting, likely a member of the early Roman synagogal/house-church community. As a personal name, it is also attested in secular Greek inscriptions from the Hellenistic and Roman periods, typically used by both Greeks and non-Greeks, sometimes as a freedman's name. The base noun στάχυς ('ear of grain') appears in both literary and agricultural contexts in classical Greek, and as a given name it may evoke imagery of fruitfulness or bounty. English Bible translations simply transliterate the name, but the root meaning is not conveyed in the translation. There is no evidence for any symbolic or appellative use beyond its function as a proper name in the New Testament context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as στάχυς; Stachys, a Christian:--Stachys.
Root Family
Στάχυς (Stachys) — ear of grain, head of grain, spike of grain; personal name Stachys
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4720-01 |
Στάχυν | stachun | N ACC M SG |
Stachys | Stachys | Stachys | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4720-01 |
Romans 16:9 | Στάχυν | stachun | N ACC M SG |
Stachys | Stachys | Stachys |