λόγιον
lógion
G3051 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A brief, authoritative utterance; especially a pronouncement, precept, or saying often attributed to a deity or revered teacher. In Greek contexts, primarily refers to an oracle or divine message delivered at a shrine or by a prophet. In Jewish and early Christian literature, denotes sacred sayings, utterances, or written precepts associated with God, the Mosaic law, or authoritative texts.
Semantic Range
divine oracle, sacred utterance, precept or commandment, inspired saying, scriptural or authoritative instruction
Root / Etymology
Diminutive form of λόγος (word, saying, account); thus, 'a (little) word, saying'. Root λόγ- (speak, say, count).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, λόγιον most often denotes an oracle or divine utterance, especially those delivered at sanctuary sites (e.g., Delphi). It carries the nuance of public authoritative messages, typically from the divine realm. In the Septuagint (e.g., Exod 16:4), it frequently translates Hebrew words for 'utterances,' 'oracles,' or 'commandments,' sometimes specifically the sayings or precepts of God (notably, the Decalogue as 'the ten λόγια'). In the New Testament, found in Romans 3:2; Hebrews 5:12; Acts 7:38; 1 Peter 4:11, where it refers to 'the oracles of God'—that is, the divinely communicated precepts or teachings entrusted to the Israelites/Judeans (not merely predictive prophecies, but encompassing the whole of sacred instruction or scriptural utterances). Later Christian literature extends λόγια to mean not only Old Testament precepts but also authoritative sayings of Jesus or apostolic tradition ('logia Jesu'). English translations usually use 'oracle(s)', but this can obscure the term’s use for scriptural precepts and broader sacred instruction. Unlike the plural λόγοι, which can refer to words or sayings in general, λόγια bears a technical sense of divinely authoritative pronouncements or sacred teachings.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
neuter of λόγιος; an utterance (of God):--oracle.
Root Family
λόγιον (logion) — word, saying, utterance, divine pronouncement
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3051-01 |
λόγια | logia | N ACC N PL |
oracles | divine utterances | divine utterances | 3 |
G3051-02 |
λογίων | logion | N GEN N PL |
oracles | of sacred utterances | of sacred utterances | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3051-01 |
Acts 7:38 | λόγια | logia | N ACC N PL |
oracles | divine utterances | oracles |
G3051-01 |
Romans 3:2 | λόγια | logia | N ACC N PL |
oracles | divine utterances | divine utterances |
G3051-02 |
Hebrews 5:12 | λογίων | logion | N GEN N PL |
oracles | of sacred utterances | of sacred utterances |
G3051-01 |
1 Peter 4:11 | λόγια | logia | N ACC N PL |
words | divine utterances | divine utterances |