Λιβερτῖνος
Libertînos
G3032 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A freed person of Roman society, specifically a person who had been manumitted from slavery; in the context of the New Testament, a member of a group or synagogue composed of such freedpersons or their descendants, likely from Roman or Latin background. The term carries a specific legal and social status: no longer a slave but not possessing native Roman citizenship by birth.
Semantic Range
freedperson, Roman freedman, member of a community or synagogue of Roman freedpersons or their descendants, person of manumitted status in society
Root / Etymology
Borrowed from the Latin word 'Libertinus,' denoting a freedman (from 'libertas' meaning 'freedom'). There is no independent Greek root for this; it is a direct loan from Latin reflecting Roman institutions.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Λιβερτῖνος appears in the New Testament only at Acts 6:9, in the phrase 'συναγωγὴ τῶν λεγομένων Λιβερτίνων' (synagogue of those called 'Libertines'), referring to a group likely composed of Roman freedpersons and/or their descendants, possibly including diaspora Judeans who had been enslaved and then manumitted. The term holds precise legal connotations in Roman society, distinguishing manumitted slaves (libertini) and their descendants from freeborn citizens (ingenui). While later English translations use 'Libertine' or 'freedman,' these terms may miss the social specificity of the Roman usage. In classical Greek, the term is a Latinism and not natively Greek; its usage is rare outside discussions of Roman legal or social structures. In Hellenistic Jewish or early Christian contexts, Λιβερτῖνος marks a distinct diaspora subgroup, highlighting complex identities within Judean communities abroad. English tradition sometimes confuses 'Libertine' with a morally licentious person, but this sense is unrelated etymologically or contextually to the classical or biblical usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Latin origin; a Roman freedman:--Libertine.
Root Family
Λιβερτ- (Libertînos) — freed, freedman, manumitted
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3032-01 |
Λιβερτίνων | libertinon | N GEN M PL |
Libertines | of Roman freedmen | Libertines | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3032-01 |
Acts 6:9 | Λιβερτίνων | libertinon | N GEN M PL |
Libertines | of Roman freedmen | Libertines |