← G914 G916 →

βάρβαρος

bárbaros

G915 substantive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

A person who is not Greek in language or culture; more broadly, one considered an outsider to Greek civilization. The term primarily denotes someone whose speech was perceived as unintelligible or foreign (i.e., not speaking Greek), and by extension, anyone outside the Hellenic cultural sphere. In various contexts, it can carry nuances ranging from neutral ethnolinguistic distinctiveness to a pejorative sense of 'uncivilized' or 'alien.'

Semantic Range

non-Greek in language or custom, member of a foreign nation, outsider to Greek culture, person whose speech is unintelligible, foreigner (sometimes with connotation of uncivilized or alien)

Root / Etymology

Imitative root βαρβ-, representing unintelligible or foreign-sounding speech (onomatopoeic, from 'bar-bar'). The word is likely formed by reduplication expressing unintelligibility. Cognates or analogs appear in several Indo-European languages, often serving similar functions.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, βάρβαρος was originally used to describe those whose language was incomprehensible to Greeks (i.e., non-Greek speaking). While it initially had a neutral, descriptive sense ('foreigner'), usage in classical sources often developed a pejorative connotation of 'uncultured' or 'uncivilized,' contrasting Greek identity and customs with those of others. In Hellenistic and Roman periods, especially in Koine and the New Testament (Acts 28:2,4; Romans 1:14; 1 Corinthians 14:11; Colossians 3:11), βάρβαρος typically denotes non-Greeks or outsiders, often without the harshly negative sense found in earlier sources. In the Septuagint, its use for non-Israelite peoples is rare. English translations frequently use 'barbarian,' but this term in modern English can overstate the ancient value judgment; not all uses imply savagery or lack of civilization. In some New Testament contexts, the term highlights linguistic and cultural distinctions rather than ethnic or moral inferiority. The Greek term is unrelated to the English sense of 'barbaric' (i.e., cruel or brutal behavior), though later semantic developments in European languages produced that association.

Translation Consistency

primary "foreigner" 3 occurrences

βάρβαρος primarily denotes someone outside the Greek linguistic/cultural sphere. "Foreigner" is a natural, widely-understood English word that captures the basic sense (non‑Greek/outsider) without the archaic or strongly pejorative tone of "barbarian," and so works consistently across all forms (singular/plural/ adjectival uses).

Alternatives (3 occurrences):
"non-greek outsiders" (2x) "non-greeks" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain derivation; a foreigner (i.e. non-Greek):--barbarian(-rous).

Root Family

βάρβαρος (barbaros) — non-Greek, foreign, outsider

Root βαρβ- non-Greek, foreign, outsider

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G915-03 βάρβαρος barbaros ADJ.P NOM M SG a barbarian a non-Greek foreigner a non-Greek foreigner 3
G915-01 βάρβαροι barbaroi ADJ.S NOM M PL barbarians non-Greek outsiders non-Greek outsiders 2
G915-02 βαρβάροις barbarois ADJ.S DAT M PL to barbarians to the non-Greeks to the non-Greeks 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G915-01 Acts 28:2 βάρβαροι barbaroi ADJ.S NOM M PL barbarians non-Greek outsiders non-Greek outsiders
G915-01 Acts 28:4 βάρβαροι barbaroi ADJ.S NOM M PL natives non-Greek outsiders non-Greek outsiders
G915-02 Romans 1:14 βαρβάροις barbarois ADJ.S DAT M PL to barbarians to the non-Greeks to the non-Greeks
G915-03 1 Corinthians 14:11 βάρβαρος barbaros ADJ.P NOM M SG a barbarian a non-Greek foreigner a non-Greek foreigner
G915-03 1 Corinthians 14:11 βάρβαρος barbaros-2 ADJ.P NOM M SG a barbarian a non-Greek foreigner a non-Greek foreigner
G915-03 Colossians 3:11 βάρβαρος barbaros ADJ.S NOM M SG barbarian a non-Greek foreigner a non-Greek foreigner
← G914 Greek Lexicon G916 →