Ἕλλην (G1672) — Greek Lexicon

Ἕλλην

Héllēn

G1672 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A person of Greek identity, particularly one belonging to or associated with Greek-speaking peoples; in context, generally refers to individuals identified by language and culture as Greek, distinct from non-Greek peoples. In classical and Hellenistic usage, Ἕλλην denotes an inhabitant of Greece (Hellas) or one participating in Hellenic culture. In later Hellenistic and Roman periods, including in the New Testament, the term can designate anyone aligned with Greek language and culture, often contrasted with those from other ethno-religious groups (e.g., Judeans).

Semantic Range

inhabitant of Hellas (Greece), Greek-speaking person, participant in Greek culture, contrasted with non-Greeks or Judeans, representative of non-Judean peoples in a cultural sense, 'Gentile' (in interpretive Christian contexts)

Root / Etymology

From Ἑλλάς (Hellas), the Greek name for Greece; Ἕλλην originally denoted an inhabitant of Hellas (central Greece) but expanded in scope after the classical period. The root is ἑλλ- (hell-), referring to the Greek people collectively.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical literature, Ἕλλην referred specifically to native Greeks or those belonging to Greek polities. From the Hellenistic period onward, especially in writings influenced by the spread of Greek language and culture, the term increasingly denotes any person associated with Greek language, culture, or identity, regardless of geographic origin. In the Septuagint and New Testament, Ἕλλην occurs regularly as the principal descriptor for non-Judean, Greek-speaking peoples, often contrasted with 'Ἰουδαῖος' (Judean). English translations frequently render Ἕλλην as 'Greek' or, in theological contexts, as 'Gentile,' though the latter introduces an interpretive layer not intrinsic to the Greek term. The identification between 'Greek' and 'Gentile' in such translations reflects later religious boundary-making rather than the precise cultural-ethnic distinctions assumed in Greek usage. In New Testament contexts, Ἕλλην can have sociolinguistic or religious implications (as in Romans 1:16—'Greek' as a representative of the non-Judean world), but primarily refers to those associated with the Greek-speaking cultural sphere.

Translation Consistency

primary "Greek" 25 occurrences

Héllēn refers to a person identified by Greek language/culture (an inhabitant of Hellas or someone aligned with Hellenic culture). "Greek" is the natural, widely understood English noun/adjective that covers the typical uses (singular/plural forms will be inflected in the SIBI). It avoids more confining terms like "Gentile" or geographic-only terms like "Greece," and best preserves the cultural-linguistic sense used in the New Testament and Hellenistic contexts.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from Ἑλλάς; a Hellen (Grecian) or inhabitant of Hellas; by extension a Greek-speaking person, especially a non-Jew:-- Gentile, Greek.

Root Family

Ἕλλην (Hellēn) — Greek person, inhabitant of Hellas, participant in Greek culture

Root ἑλλ- Greek person, inhabitant of Hellas, participant in Greek culture

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G1672-07`	Ἕλλησιν	ellesin	`N DAT M PL`	to Greeks	to Greek people	to Greek people	5
`G1672-02`	Ἕλληνας	ellenas	`N ACC M PL`	Greeks	Greek persons	Greek persons	5
`G1672-01`	Ἕλλην	ellen	`N NOM M SG`	a Greek	a Greek man	a Greek man	4
`G1672-05`	Ἑλλήνων	ellenon	`N GEN M PL`	Greeks	of Greek people	of Greek people	3
`G1672-03`	Ἕλληνές	ellenes	`N NOM M PL`	Greeks	Greeks	Greeks	3
`G1672-06`	Ἕλληνος	ellenos	`N GEN M SG`	Greek	of a Greek	of a Greek	3
`G1672-04`	Ἕλληνι	elleni	`N DAT M SG`	to the Greek	to a Greek	to a Greek	2

Occurrences in Scripture

25 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G1672-05`	John 7:35	Ἑλλήνων	ellenon	`N GEN M PL`	Greeks	of Greek people	Greek people
`G1672-02`	John 7:35	Ἕλληνας	ellenas	`N ACC M PL`	Greeks	Greek persons	Greek persons
`G1672-03`	John 12:20	Ἕλληνές	ellenes	`N NOM M PL`	Greeks	Greeks	Greeks
`G1672-05`	Acts 14:1	Ἑλλήνων	ellenon	`N GEN M PL`	Greeks	of Greek people	of Greek people
`G1672-06`	Acts 16:1	Ἕλληνος	ellenos	`N GEN M SG`	Greek	of a Greek	of a Greek
`G1672-01`	Acts 16:3	Ἕλλην	ellen	`N NOM M SG`	a Greek	a Greek man	a Greek man
`G1672-05`	Acts 17:4	Ἑλλήνων	ellenon	`N GEN M PL`	Greeks	of Greek people	of Greek people
`G1672-02`	Acts 18:4	Ἕλληνας	ellenas	`N ACC M PL`	Greeks	Greek persons	Greek persons
`G1672-02`	Acts 19:10	Ἕλληνας	ellenas	`N ACC M PL`	Greeks	Greek persons	Greek persons
`G1672-07`	Acts 19:17	Ἕλλησιν	ellesin	`N DAT M PL`	Greeks	to Greek people	to Greek people
`G1672-07`	Acts 20:21	Ἕλλησιν	ellesin	`N DAT M PL`	to Greeks	to Greek people	to Greek people
`G1672-02`	Acts 21:28	Ἕλληνας	ellenas	`N ACC M PL`	Greeks	Greek persons	Greek persons
`G1672-07`	Romans 1:14	Ἕλλησίν	ellesin	`N DAT M PL`	to Greeks	to Greek people	to Greek people
`G1672-04`	Romans 1:16	Ἕλληνι	elleni	`N DAT M SG`	Greek	to a Greek	to a Greek
`G1672-06`	Romans 2:9	Ἕλληνος	ellenos	`N GEN M SG`	of the Greek	of a Greek	of a Greek
`G1672-04`	Romans 2:10	Ἕλληνι	elleni	`N DAT M SG`	to the Greek	to a Greek	to a Greek
`G1672-02`	Romans 3:9	Ἕλληνας	ellenas	`N ACC M PL`	Gentiles	Greek persons	Greek persons
`G1672-06`	Romans 10:12	Ἕλληνος	ellenos	`N GEN M SG`	Greek	of a Greek	of a Greek
`G1672-03`	1 Corinthians 1:22	Ἕλληνες	ellenes	`N NOM M PL`	Greeks	Greeks	Greeks
`G1672-07`	1 Corinthians 1:24	Ἕλλησιν	ellesin	`N DAT M PL`	Greeks	to Greek people	to Greek people
`G1672-07`	1 Corinthians 10:32	Ἕλλησιν	ellesin	`N DAT M PL`	to Greeks	to Greek people	to Greek people
`G1672-03`	1 Corinthians 12:13	Ἕλληνες	ellenes	`N NOM M PL`	Greeks	Greeks	Greeks
`G1672-01`	Galatians 2:3	Ἕλλην	ellen	`N NOM M SG`	a Greek	a Greek man	a Greek man
`G1672-01`	Galatians 3:28	Ἕλλην	ellen	`N NOM M SG`	Greek	a Greek man	a Greek man
`G1672-01`	Colossians 3:11	Ἕλλην	ellen	`N NOM M SG`	Greek	a Greek man	a Greek man

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