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ἑορτή

heortḗ

G1859 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A festal celebration; a festival or feast, typically marking a significant religious or communal occasion. In many contexts, refers to a formally established festival, often with communal rites, meals, or sacrifices. In Hellenistic and Judean usage, commonly designates annual religious festivals with prescribed observances. Secondary senses include a festival day or period, sometimes with connotations of public holiday or authorized rest from ordinary activities.

Semantic Range

festival, festal celebration, annual holy day, period of public worship, communal feast, festival day

Root / Etymology

The term is of uncertain etymology; it does not connect clearly to established Greek roots and is primarily attested in the context of communal and especially religious festivals.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἑορτή referred to any festival, especially those involving public celebration, worship, sacrifices, and communal feasting. In the Septuagint, it often renders Hebrew מוֹעֵד (moʿed, appointed festival or time) or חַג (ḥag, pilgrimage festival), focusing both on the calendrical aspect and the social-religious gatherings. In the New Testament, ἑορτή is used for scripturally mandated or widely observed Judean festivals, such as Passover (Πάσχα), Pentecost (Πεντηκοστή), and Booths (Σκηνοπηγία), emphasizing their public and cultic character. The term does not inherently denote the exclusiveness or sacredness assumed in later English 'Holy Day'; context determines the specific nature of the festival (religious, secular, civic, or familial). English translations such as 'feast' or 'festival' sometimes restrict the term unduly; in original contexts, ἑορτή conveyed both religious solemnity and social celebration, without implying the later Christian sense of 'holiday.' The word's scope is distinct from terms like πανήγυρις (panēgyris, grand assembly or popular festival), which may have more civic or pan-Hellenic overtones.

Translation Consistency

primary "festival" 26 occurrences

'Festival' best matches the primary SILEX sense — a festal celebration, annual holy day, or communal religious observance — and is the most natural, neutral English term. It covers rites, public holiday/rest, and communal meals without limiting the meaning to just a meal (as 'feast' might). It also aligns with the predominant P2 renderings (25/26).

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain affinity; a festival:--feast, holyday.

Root Family

ἑορτή (heortē) — festival, festal celebration, gathering

Root ἑορτ- festival, festal celebration, gathering

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1859-01 ἑορτῇ eorte N DAT F SG feast to/for the festival to/for the festival 11
G1859-02 ἑορτὴν eorten N ACC F SG feast festival festival 10
G1859-03 ἑορτῆς eortes N GEN F SG feast of a festival of a festival 5

Occurrences in Scripture

26 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1859-01 Matthew 26:5 ἑορτῇ eorte N DAT F SG feast to/for the festival to/for the festival
G1859-02 Matthew 27:15 ἑορτὴν eorten N ACC F SG the feast festival festival
G1859-01 Mark 14:2 ἑορτῇ eorte N DAT F SG feast to/for the festival to/for the festival
G1859-02 Mark 15:6 ἑορτὴν eorten N ACC F SG feast festival festival
G1859-01 Luke 2:41 ἑορτῇ eorte N DAT F SG feast to/for the festival to/for the festival
G1859-03 Luke 2:42 ἑορτῆς eortes N GEN F SG feast of a festival of a festival
G1859-01 Luke 22:1 ἑορτὴ eorte N NOM F SG Feast to/for the festival to/for the festival
G1859-02 Luke 23:17 ἑορτὴν eorten N ACC F SG the feast festival festival
G1859-01 John 2:23 ἑορτῇ eorte N DAT F SG feast to/for the festival to/for the festival
G1859-01 John 4:45 ἑορτῇ eorte N DAT F SG feast to/for the festival to/for the festival
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