Ταβέρναι
Tabérnai
G4999 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A place of lodging or shelter, specifically a wayside inn, hostel, or roadside station; in the New Testament, a proper noun referring to 'Tabernai,' a location on the Appian Way south of Rome known as 'Three Taverns.' While the term generally denotes simple inns, shelters, or public resting-places, its use in Acts 28:15 is as a geographical designation, referring to a known stopping point for travelers.
Semantic Range
place of lodging; hut or shack; wayside inn or station; specific location name ('Three Taverns') on the Appian Way near Rome
Root / Etymology
Borrowed from Latin 'taberna' (plural 'tabernae'), meaning 'shop,' 'inn,' or 'tavern.' The Greek Ταβέρναι is a transliteration rather than an etymologically Greek formation. The term entered Greek usage under Roman cultural influence, particularly for Latin place names or institutions in the western regions of the Empire.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Ταβέρναι is not a native Greek term but borrowed directly from Latin, reflecting the increasing Latinization of certain regions and language in the later Hellenistic and Roman periods. In classical Latin, 'taberna' meant a simple hut, shop, or inn—contrasting with more elaborate Greek hospitality structures (e.g., πανδοχεῖον, 'inn'). In Acts 28:15, Ταβέρναι stands as a placename, denoting a notable roadside stop ('Three Taverns') on the route to Rome, well-known among travelers. English Bible translations often render the term in its Latinized form as 'Three Taverns,' though 'inns' or 'roadside lodgings' would be a literal rendering. The lexical scope of Ταβέρναι therefore overlaps with, but is not identical to, Greek hostel/inn terms and is highly context-bound in Hellenistic and New Testament literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
plural of Latin origin; huts or wooden-walled buildings; Tabernæ:--taverns.
Root Family
Ταβέρναι (Tabernai) — inn, hut, tavern, lodging place
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4999-01 |
Ταβερνῶν | tabernon | N GEN F PL |
Taverns | of the inns | of the taverns | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4999-01 |
Acts 28:15 | Ταβερνῶν | tabernon | N GEN F PL |
Taverns | of the inns | of the taverns |