← G489 G491 →

Ἀντιόχεια

Antiócheia

G490 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Antioch; a city or settlement named Antioch. Refers primarily to two major ancient cities named Antioch: one in Syria (on the Orontes River), the capital of the Seleucid Empire, and another in Pisidia (Asia Minor, modern Turkey), founded during the Hellenistic period. The term designates a locality, particularly a prominent urban center established or renamed as Antioch during the Hellenistic period.

Semantic Range

Antioch (city in Syria); Antioch (city in Pisidia); potentially other cities named Antioch; a Hellenistic urban center named for a Seleucid ruler; city of administrative and cultural importance

Root / Etymology

From the masculine personal name Ἀντίοχος (Antíochos), a dynastic name of rulers of the Seleucid Empire. The name Ἀντιόχεια is a toponym formed as a feminine derivative (suffix -εια) to denote a city named after a person named Antiochos. Origin traces to Seleucus I Nicator, who named several cities after his father, Antiochos.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Ἀντιόχεια is an urban toponym widely used for cities founded or renamed by the Seleucid dynasty, especially by Seleucus I and his successors. The most prominent is Antioch-on-the-Orontes (Syria), a major administrative, economic, and cultural center of the Hellenistic and later Roman eastern Mediterranean, and a significant site in the early development of the Jesus movement mentioned in the New Testament (Acts, Galatians). The Pisidian Antioch (central Anatolia) was an important colony and regional center. While English translations uniformly render Ἀντιόχεια as 'Antioch,' the term in antiquity could refer to any number of cities with the same name throughout the Seleucid realm (approximately fifteen). In Koine Greek, the name served not only as a geographic identifier but also as a marker of Hellenistic urban culture and civic identity. The continued use of the name reflects the widespread pattern of rulers naming cities after themselves or their family members in the Hellenistic world. In Jewish, Roman, and early Christian texts, context typically clarifies which Antioch is meant, particularly Syria or Pisidia. The name does not itself connote religious or ethnic identity beyond the association with Hellenistic founders.

Translation Consistency

primary "Antioch" 18 occurrences

This entry is a proper place name; the natural, consistent English form is the proper noun "Antioch." It matches the majority of existing renderings and covers all occurrences (Syria, Pisidia, or other cities named Antioch) without inflection.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from (a Syrian king); Antiochia, a place in Syria:--Antioch.

Root Family

Ἀντιόχεια (Antiócheia) — city named after Antiochos, Hellenistic urban center, settlement bearing dynastic name

Root Ἀντιοχ- named after Antiochos, city establishment, centered on Antiochos

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G490-02 Ἀντιόχειαν antiocheian N ACC F SG Antioch Antioch (city) Antioch (city) 11
G490-01 Ἀντιοχείᾳ antiocheia N DAT F SG Antioch in Antioch to Antioch 4
G490-03 Ἀντιοχείας antiocheias N GEN F SG Antioch of Antioch Antioch 3

Occurrences in Scripture

18 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G490-03 Acts 11:19 Ἀντιοχείας antiocheias N GEN F SG Antioch of Antioch Antioch
G490-02 Acts 11:20 Ἀντιόχειαν antiocheian N ACC F SG Antioch Antioch (city) Antioch (city)
G490-03 Acts 11:22 Ἀντιοχείας antiocheias N GEN F SG Antioch of Antioch Antioch
G490-02 Acts 11:26 Ἀντιόχειαν antiocheian N ACC F SG Antioch Antioch (city) Antioch (city)
G490-01 Acts 11:26 Ἀντιοχείᾳ antiocheia N DAT F SG Antioch in Antioch to Antioch
G490-02 Acts 11:27 Ἀντιόχειαν antiocheian N ACC F SG Antioch Antioch (city) Antioch (city)
G490-01 Acts 13:1 Ἀντιοχείᾳ antiocheia N DAT F SG Antioch in Antioch to Antioch
G490-02 Acts 13:14 Ἀντιόχειαν antiocheian N ACC F SG Antioch Antioch (city) Antioch (city)
G490-03 Acts 14:19 Ἀντιοχείας antiocheias N GEN F SG Antioch of Antioch of Antioch
G490-02 Acts 14:21 Ἀντιόχειαν antiocheian N ACC F SG Antioch Antioch (city) Antioch (city)
← G489 Greek Lexicon G491 →