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Ἰούδας

Ioúdas

G2455 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Proper name used for several individuals; primarily refers to (1) Judah, the ancestral figure after whom the tribe and region of Judah are named, and (2) various individuals in the Second Temple and New Testament periods bearing the name. The name designates both the patriarch Jacob's son and his descendants, as well as later persons living in Judea or identified with the group. In the New Testament, it is most commonly used for specific individuals such as Judas Iscariot (one of the twelve disciples), Judas the brother of James (another disciple), and several others. The meaning and identification depend on the context: sometimes referencing a tribal or ancestral origin, sometimes indicating regional or group belonging, or simply functioning as a personal name without further implications.

Semantic Range

personal name for various individuals (ancestral figure Judah, New Testament figures), designation of tribal or ancestral origin (descendant of Judah), referent to the region (Judea), name used for participants in key Second Temple and early Christian narratives

Root / Etymology

Borrowed from Hebrew יְהוּדָה (Yəhudah), rendered in Greek as Ἰούδας (Ioúdas). The Hebrew root ידה (y-d-h) is associated with the concept of praise or thanksgiving.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Ἰούδας (Ioúdas) is the Greek transliteration of a common Hebrew name, widely attested in both the LXX and New Testament. In the Septuagint, it is used for Judah the son of Jacob/Israel (the patriarch), his descendants (the tribe), and the region associated with them (later known as Judea). By the Hellenistic and Roman periods, the name Ἰούδας was frequently used for individuals from Judea, for Israelites/Judeans with this personal name, or those with ancestral connections to Judah. In the New Testament, 'Judas' most frequently refers to Judas Iscariot, but also to other individuals, such as Judas (brother of James), Judas called Barsabbas, and others. English translations have traditionally rendered the name as 'Judas' for Judas Iscariot and similar contemporary figures, and as 'Judah' for the patriarch or tribal ancestor. The Latinized 'Jude' is sometimes used to distinguish non-Iscariot figures (e.g., Jude the brother of James), but this distinction is later and not present in Greek sources. The name itself offers no semantic clues to ethnic or religious identity apart from contextual usage. See contrast with Ἰουδαῖος (Ioudaios), which functions as an ethnonym and/or regional demonym. Ἰούδας as a name does not automatically indicate Judean or religious identity, but contextual associations may carry such implications, especially in literary and ritual texts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of Hebrew origin (יְהוּדָה); Judas (i.e. Jehudah), the name of ten Israelites; also of the posterity of one of them and its region:--Juda(-h, -s); Jude.

Root Family

Ἰουδ- (Ioudá) — Judah (personal name), tribal ancestor, territorial entity

Root Ἰουδ- personal name (Judah/Jude), ancestral tribal name, regional association
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G2448 Ἰουδά
G2449 Ἰουδαία Judea
G2453 Ἰουδαῖος Judea

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2455-04 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas 23
G2455-02 Ἰούδα iouda N GEN M SG of Judah of Judah Ioudas 14
G2455-03 Ἰούδαν ioudan N ACC M SG Judas Judas Ioudas 8
G2455-01 Ἰωδὰ ioda N GEN M SG Juda of Judah Ioudas 1

Occurrences in Scripture

46 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2455-03 Matthew 1:2 Ἰούδαν ioudan N ACC M SG Judas Judas Ioudas
G2455-04 Matthew 1:3 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas
G2455-02 Matthew 2:6 Ἰούδα iouda N GEN M SG of Judah of Judah Ioudas
G2455-02 Matthew 2:6 Ἰούδα iouda-2 N GEN M SG of Judah of Judah Ioudas
G2455-04 Matthew 10:4 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas
G2455-04 Matthew 13:55 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas
G2455-04 Matthew 26:14 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas
G2455-04 Matthew 26:25 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas
G2455-04 Matthew 26:47 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas
G2455-04 Matthew 27:3 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas
G2455-03 Mark 3:19 Ἰούδαν ioudan N ACC M SG Judas Judas Ioudas
G2455-02 Mark 6:3 Ἰούδα iouda N GEN M SG of Judas of Judah Ioudas
G2455-04 Mark 14:10 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas
G2455-04 Mark 14:43 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas
G2455-02 Luke 1:39 Ἰούδα iouda N GEN M SG of Judah of Judah Ioudas
G2455-01 Luke 3:26 Ἰωδὰ ioda N GEN M SG Juda of Judah Ioudas
G2455-02 Luke 3:30 Ἰούδα iouda N GEN M SG Judah of Judah Ioudas
G2455-02 Luke 3:33 Ἰούδα iouda N GEN M SG Judah of Judah Ioudas
G2455-03 Luke 6:16 Ἰούδαν ioudan N ACC M SG Judas Judas Ioudas
G2455-03 Luke 6:16 Ἰούδαν ioudan-2 N ACC M SG Judas Judas Ioudas
G2455-03 Luke 22:3 Ἰούδαν ioudan N ACC M SG Judas Judas Ioudas
G2455-04 Luke 22:47 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas
G2455-02 Luke 22:48 Ἰούδα iouda N VOC M SG Judas of Judah Ioudas
G2455-03 John 6:71 Ἰούδαν ioudan N ACC M SG Judas Judas Ioudas
G2455-04 John 12:4 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas
G2455-04 John 13:2 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas
G2455-02 John 13:26 Ἰούδᾳ iouda N DAT M SG to Judas of Judah Ioudas
G2455-04 John 13:29 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas
G2455-04 John 14:22 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas
G2455-04 John 18:2 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas
G2455-04 John 18:3 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas
G2455-04 John 18:5 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas
G2455-04 Acts 1:13 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas
G2455-02 Acts 1:16 Ἰούδα iouda N GEN M SG Judas of Judah Ioudas
G2455-04 Acts 1:25 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas
G2455-04 Acts 5:37 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas
G2455-02 Acts 9:11 Ἰούδα iouda N GEN M SG of Judas of Judah Ioudas
G2455-03 Acts 15:22 Ἰούδαν ioudan N ACC M SG Judas Judas Ioudas
G2455-03 Acts 15:27 Ἰούδαν ioudan N ACC M SG Judas Judas Ioudas
G2455-04 Acts 15:32 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas
G2455-04 Acts 15:34 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Judas Judah Ioudas
G2455-02 Hebrews 7:14 Ἰούδα iouda N GEN M SG Judah of Judah Ioudas
G2455-02 Hebrews 8:8 Ἰούδα iouda N GEN M SG of Judah of Judah Ioudas
G2455-04 Jude 1:1 Ἰούδας ioudas N NOM M SG Jude Judah Ioudas
G2455-02 Revelation 5:5 Ἰούδα iouda N GEN M SG of Judah of Judah Ioudas
G2455-02 Revelation 7:5 Ἰούδα iouda N GEN M SG Judah of Judah Ioudas
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