Διοτρεφής
Diotrephḗs
G1361 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper name used for a male individual, primarily attested as a personal name in the New Testament. Semantically, the name means 'nourished by Zeus' or 'supported by Zeus,' combining the divine name Zeus with a verb meaning 'to nourish' or 'to rear.' In context, it exclusively refers to an individual named Diotrephes mentioned in 3 John, identified as an early leader within a local assembly. The name does not function as a common noun but carries connotations of honor, likely referencing favor or blessing ascribed to the leadership of Zeus in Hellenistic culture.
Semantic Range
personal name meaning 'nourished by Zeus'; used exclusively for the specific individual named Diotrephes in 3 John; not a common noun, and not used outside of this proper name context
Root / Etymology
Formed from Διός (genitive of Ζεύς, Zeus, the chief deity in Greek tradition) and the verb τρέφω ('to nourish' or 'to raise'). The name literally means 'nourished by Zeus.' It is a compounded proper noun typical of Hellenistic onomastics.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Διοτρεφής is only attested as a personal name in the New Testament, found uniquely in 3 John 9–10 as an individual noted for his dominant and controlling behavior within an early Christ-following community. The construction of the name is consistent with other Hellenistic theophoric names, indicating a cultural background in which names invoking gods were common and conferred honor, legitimacy, or divine favor. In English translation traditions, Diotrephes is used as a transliteration and is not rendered by meaning. The name itself does not carry a specific negative or positive connotation apart from the narrative context in which Diotrephes appears, where it refers to a local leader who resisted the itinerant emissaries associated with the author of 3 John. The use of the name reflects the ongoing presence of Greek personal naming customs in the context of early Judean assemblies under Roman influence.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the alternate of Ζεύς and τρέφω; Jove-nourished; Diotrephes, an opponent of Christianity:--Diotrephes.
Root Family
Διοτρ- (Diotrephḗs) — Zeus, to nourish
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1361-01 |
Διοτρέφης | diotrephes | N NOM M SG |
Diotrephes | Zeus-nourished one | Diotrephes | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1361-01 |
3 John 1:9 | Διοτρέφης | diotrephes | N NOM M SG |
Diotrephes | Zeus-nourished one | Diotrephes |