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Θωμᾶς

Thōmâs

G2381 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Proper noun: 'the Twin'; personal name referring to one of the twelve appointed followers of Jesus in the New Testament. The name identifies an individual by a nickname meaning 'Twin' (see also Δίδυμος), used as both a distinguishing epithet and a proper name within Greco-Roman and Second Temple Judean contexts.

Semantic Range

personal name, byname indicating a twin

Root / Etymology

Borrowed from Aramaic תְּאוֹמָא (t'oma), meaning 'twin'; the Greek Θωμᾶς does not have an internal Greek formation, but is a direct transliteration of the Aramaic. Occasionally accompanied in the text by the Greek equivalent Δίδυμος ('twin', e.g., John 11:16, 20:24).

Historical & Contextual Notes

Θωμᾶς occurs only as a personal name in the New Testament, identifying one of the twelve followers chosen by Jesus (often referred to traditionally as 'apostles'). In the Greek text, this name is sometimes accompanied by its translation Δίδυμος ('Twin'), indicating either his original name's meaning or marking him with a particular distinguishing title. The original Aramaic תְּאוֹמָא was common in Judean and broader Semitic contexts as a byname or personal identifier. Early Christian and patristic literature continued to use Θωμᾶς as a personal name rather than a Greek generic noun for 'twin.' English translations historically render Θωμᾶς as 'Thomas,' but the lexeme itself is not a Greek noun and did not bear theological content in its New Testament usages; it simply marked a personal name of Semitic origin, common among Judeans and other Semitic peoples in the eastern Mediterranean. See also the Aramaic and Syriac traditions in which Thomas (Ta’oma) appears, sometimes understood as a nickname rather than a family name. The Greek Δίδυμος is occasionally appended to clarify or reinforce the meaning for Greek-speaking audiences.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of Chaldee origin (compare תָּאוֹם); the twin; Thomas, a Christian:--Thomas.

Root Family

Θωμᾶς (Thōmas) — twin (byname), personal name

Root Θωμ- twin (byname), personal name

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2381-03 Θωμᾶς thomas N NOM M SG Thomas Twin Thomas 8
G2381-02 Θωμᾶν thoman N ACC M SG Thomas Thomas Thomas 2
G2381-01 Θωμᾷ thoma N DAT M SG Thomas to Twin Thomas 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2381-03 Matthew 10:3 Θωμᾶς thomas N NOM M SG Thomas Twin Thomas
G2381-02 Mark 3:18 Θωμᾶν thoman N ACC M SG Thomas Thomas Thomas
G2381-02 Luke 6:15 Θωμᾶν thoman N ACC M SG Thomas Thomas Thomas
G2381-03 John 11:16 Θωμᾶς thomas N NOM M SG Thomas Twin Thomas
G2381-03 John 14:5 Θωμᾶς thomas N NOM M SG Thomas Twin Thomas
G2381-03 John 20:24 Θωμᾶς thomas N NOM M SG Thomas Twin Thomas
G2381-03 John 20:26 Θωμᾶς thomas N NOM M SG Thomas Twin Thomas
G2381-01 John 20:27 Θωμᾷ thoma N DAT M SG Thomas to Twin Thomas
G2381-03 John 20:28 Θωμᾶς thomas N NOM M SG Thomas Twin Thomas
G2381-03 John 21:2 Θωμᾶς thomas N NOM M SG Thomas Twin Thomas
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