Ἀρίσταρχος
Arístarchos
G708 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper masculine name, Aristarchos; meaning 'best ruler' or 'best in leadership'. The name combines the notions of excellence (the best) with rule, leadership, or authority. In the New Testament, refers specifically to an individual from Macedonia accompanying Paul on missionary journeys.
Semantic Range
a proper name, a man called 'Aristarchos'; the meaning of the name: best ruler, excellent leader; in NT: companion of Paul from Macedonia
Root / Etymology
Derived from ἄριστος (best, excellent) + ἄρχω (to lead, rule); thus, 'best ruler' or 'he who rules best'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Ἀρίσταρχος is a personal name of Greek origin, attested in wider Hellenistic and Roman contexts as a proper name. In the New Testament (Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:2; Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:24), Aristarchos is a companion of Paul identified as a Macedonian, illustrating the presence and roles of Greeks in early assemblies. The semantic components of the name (best + ruler) do not appear to have an interpretive function in the New Testament text; the name is not translated but used as a name. There is no distinct religious or ethnic marker in the name itself, and it does not imply Israelite heritage. The English tradition renders the name phonetically as 'Aristarchus,' preserving its Greek form. The name was common among Greeks and Macedonians of the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Its use as a personal name in the LXX is rare or unattested; it is found in historical sources outside the biblical text, e.g., Aristarchus of Samothrace, the Alexandrian grammarian.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as ἄριστον and ἄρχω; best ruling; Aristarchus, a Macedonian:--Aristarchus.
Root Family
Ἀρίσταρχος (Aristarchos) — best, excellent, to rule, to lead
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G708-02 |
Ἀρίσταρχος | aristarchos | N NOM M SG |
Aristarchus | Best-Ruler | 3 |
G708-03 |
Ἀριστάρχου | aristarchou | N GEN M SG |
Aristarchus | of Best-Ruler | 1 |
G708-01 |
Ἀρίσταρχον | aristarchon | N ACC M SG |
Aristarchus | Best-Ruler | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G708-01 |
Acts 19:29 | Ἀρίσταρχον | aristarchon | N ACC M SG |
Aristarchus | Best-Ruler |
G708-02 |
Acts 20:4 | Ἀρίσταρχος | aristarchos | N NOM M SG |
Aristarchus | Best-Ruler |
G708-03 |
Acts 27:2 | Ἀριστάρχου | aristarchou | N GEN M SG |
Aristarchus | of Best-Ruler |
G708-02 |
Colossians 4:10 | Ἀρίσταρχος | aristarchos | N NOM M SG |
Aristarchus | Best-Ruler |
G708-02 |
Philemon 1:24 | Ἀρίσταρχος | aristarchos | N NOM M SG |
Aristarchus | Best-Ruler |