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Ἰταλία

Italía

G2482 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Italia; the peninsula and region known as Italy in the central Mediterranean, used in Greek sources to refer both to the Italian peninsula south of the Alps and, in later contexts, to the Roman administrative region including the peninsula proper as well as associated islands. In the Roman period, refers specifically to the territory incorporated and recognized as Italia within the Roman Empire.

Semantic Range

Italy, Italian peninsula, Roman province of Italy, the land or region of Italy

Root / Etymology

Of foreign, non-Greek origin; the name 'Italia' is of uncertain etymology, likely derived from ancient Italic (possibly Oscan or Latin) roots, possibly from 'Viteliu,' meaning 'land of young cattle (vitulus).' Entered Greek from Latin Italia; etymology uncertain beyond this.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek literature before the Roman expansion, Ἰταλία referred specifically to the southern part of the Italian peninsula, especially the region known today as Calabria. In the Hellenistic period and thereafter, including the New Testament era, it referred more broadly to the whole peninsula south of the Alps, as defined by Roman administration. In the Septuagint and New Testament (Acts 18:2, Acts 27:1; Hebrews 13:24), Ἰταλία refers to the Roman province of Italy—centering on the political and administrative entity of the region. Standard English translations as 'Italy' are geographically accurate but may obscure the specific Roman context in which the term was understood and used as an official designation distinct from the rest of the Empire.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably of foreign origin; Italia, a region of Europe:--Italy.

Root Family

Ἰταλ- (Italía) — Italy, the Italian peninsula, the Roman province of Italia

Root Ἰταλ- Italy, the Italian peninsula, the Roman province of Italia
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G2483 Ἰταλικός of Italy

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2482-01 Ἰταλίαν italian N ACC F SG Italy Italy Italy 2
G2482-02 Ἰταλίας italias N GEN F SG Italy of Italy Italy 2

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2482-02 Acts 18:2 Ἰταλίας italias N GEN F SG Italy of Italy Italy
G2482-01 Acts 27:1 Ἰταλίαν italian N ACC F SG Italy Italy Italy
G2482-01 Acts 27:6 Ἰταλίαν italian N ACC F SG Italy Italy Italy
G2482-02 Hebrews 13:24 Ἰταλίας italias N GEN F SG Italy of Italy Italy
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