βωμός
bōmós
G1041 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A raised platform or structure dedicated to religious purposes; primarily, an altar on which offerings or sacrifices are placed. In Greek contexts, refers to any sort of constructed elevation for presenting sacrifices, gifts, or dedications to a deity. The primary sense is a base or elevated platform, with specific application to places of sacrifice or veneration in both civic and cultic Greek settings and, in some Jewish literature, the altar in the Jerusalem sanctuary.
Semantic Range
raised platform; altar (for sacrifice in Greek or non-Israelite cults); celebratory or commemorative structure; cultic site for offerings
Root / Etymology
Derived from the base βω- of the verb βαίνω (to go, to step) or the noun βάσις (a step, base, or foot), indicating something that is set up, raised, or stepped upon. The root sense is that of a base or elevation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, βωμός denoted any raised mound, stone, or constructed platform used for sacrifice, dedication, or veneration, whether in domestic, civic, or temple contexts. It appears in Homer as a general term for a sacred altar or mound. By the Hellenistic period, βωμός was the standard term for Greek cultic altars, distinguishing them from ἱερόν ('temple, sacred precinct') and from θυσιαστήριον, which is the term usually adopted in the Septuagint for the Israelite or Judean altar, reflecting a specifically Israelite cultic context. In the New Testament, βωμός is rare (e.g., Acts 17:23, referring to a Greek 'altar to an unknown god'), while θυσιαστήριον is preferred for references to the Jerusalem altar. The Latin altar derives from a different root and applies to both pagan and Judean contexts in later translations. English Bibles often translate both βωμός and θυσιαστήριον simply as 'altar,' obscuring the distinction between Greek and Judean cultic concepts. βωμός does not inherently carry Judean religious significance but rather refers generically to any cultic platform in the Greek cultural world.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the base of βάσις; properly, a stand, i.e. (specially) an altar:--altar.
Root Family
βωμ- (bōmós) — raised platform, altar, base (for sacrifice or dedication)
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1041-01 |
βωμὸν | bomon | N ACC M SG |
altar | a raised altar | a raised altar | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1041-01 |
Acts 17:23 | βωμὸν | bomon | N ACC M SG |
altar | a raised altar | a raised altar |