Λυσανίας
Lysanías
G3078 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name: Lysanias. In the New Testament, refers specifically to a ruler of the district of Abilene during the early first century CE (Luke 3:1). The name is Greek in form, and does not carry a lexical meaning in the New Testament context; however, etymologically it may be constructed as 'one who sets free from sorrow' or 'grief-releasing.' The semantic range is limited to its function as a proper noun denoting an individual.
Semantic Range
proper name, refers to a regional ruler of Abilene, no extended semantic value beyond personal designation
Root / Etymology
Formed from the elements λύσις (lysis, 'release, dissolution, loosening') and possibly ἄλγος (algos, 'pain, grief'), though the precise origin is uncertain; appears as a Greek personal name in Hellenistic and Roman periods.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Λυσανίας is attested in Greek and Roman sources as a personal name and as the name of historical figures. In Luke 3:1, he is identified as tetrarch of Abilene, a region northwest of Damascus. The name itself carries no inherent meaning beyond identification; etymological elements ('release' + 'pain' or 'sorrow') are transparent to Greek speakers but did not affect its use as a personal name. The Lysanias referred to in the New Testament may correspond to a later namesake of an earlier Lysanias who was ruler of the same territory mentioned by Josephus (Antiquities 19.275), though historical identification is debated. English translations typically leave it as 'Lysanias,' and the word has no broader lexical or theological significance in Koine Greek literature beyond referring to the individual. The usage in the New Testament reflects ordinary Hellenistic naming conventions for regional rulers.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from λύσις and (trouble); grief-dispelling; Lysanias, a governor of Abilene:--Lysanias.
Root Family
Λυσανίας (Lysanias) — to loose, to release, to set free
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3078-01 |
Λυσανίου | lusaniou | N GEN M SG |
Lysanias's | of Lysanias | Lysanias | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3078-01 |
Luke 3:1 | Λυσανίου | lusaniou | N GEN M SG |
Lysanias's | of Lysanias | Lysanias |