Βαριωνᾶς
Bariōnâs
G920 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name meaning 'son of Iōnas'; used as a patronymic or identifier to indicate someone whose father's name was Iōnas (Jonah, possibly John). The word functions as an Aramaic-Greek compound personal designation, particularly as ascribed to Simon, one of Jesus' disciples, to distinguish him by his paternal lineage.
Semantic Range
patronymic designation, son of Jonah/John, identifier of lineage or paternity, proper name
Root / Etymology
Composed of the Aramaic element בַּר (bar, 'son of') and the Greek transliteration of Ἰωνᾶς (Iōnas), itself ultimately from Hebrew יוֹנָה (Yonah, 'Jonah'). Thus, 'son of Iōnas' (Jonah or perhaps John).
Historical & Contextual Notes
Βαριωνᾶς appears only in Matthew 16:17 where Simon is addressed as 'Simon Bariona' (Σίμων Βαριωνᾶ). The Aramaic prefix 'bar' (son of) indicates paternal lineage, similar to Hebrew 'ben' (בֶּן). The second element, Ἰωνᾶς, could reflect either 'Jonah' or a Hellenized/Aramaic pronunciation close to 'John,' a possibility given onomastic variations in Second Temple Judean and Galilean usage. In Christian tradition, 'Bar-Jona' became standard, but the original nuance might simply indicate 'Simon, son of Jonas (Jonah/John).' In the New Testament, patronymics like this reflect contemporary Semitic naming practice and serve as identifiers distinguishing individuals with common first names. Later English Bibles use 'Bar-jona' or 'son of Jonas,' but these do not always capture the subtlety that the term marks a familial, ethnic, and social affiliation within the context of Galilean Judeans under Roman rule.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Chaldee origin (בַּר and יוֹנָה); son of Jonas (or Jonah); Bar-jonas, an Israelite:--Bar-jona.
Root Family
Βαριωνᾶς (Bariōnas) — son of, offspring of, patronymic designation
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G920-01 |
Βαριωνᾶ | bariona | N VOC M SG |
Barjona | O son of Iōnas | Barionas | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G920-01 |
Matthew 16:17 | Βαριωνᾶ | bariona | N VOC M SG |
Barjona | O son of Iōnas | Barionas |