Μῆδος
Mēdos
G3370 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A person from Media; specifically, an inhabitant or native of the region called Media, an ancient territory located in northwestern Iran. In biblical and broader Greco-Roman contexts, designates an individual of Median descent or a resident of Media. The term primarily refers to ethnic and geographic identification, not religious or cultural identity. Also appears collectively for the Median people or, less commonly, to designate the language or customs associated with Media.
Semantic Range
a person from Media, an inhabitant or native of Media, Median people collectively, used rarely for things pertaining to Media (e.g. language, customs)
Root / Etymology
Borrowed from the Hebrew מָדַי (Maday), from Old Persian Māda-, ultimately referring to the Median people. The term is of foreign origin, adopted into Greek from the names used for the region and inhabitants of Media.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek literature, Μῆδος designates the Medes, a significant Iranian people who played a prominent role in Near Eastern and Achaemenid history from the 8th to the 6th centuries BCE before being integrated into the Persian Empire. In Hellenistic and biblical contexts (notably Daniel and Esther in the Septuagint), it describes either individuals from Media or the collective people group. The term did not imply religious distinction, nor did it carry overtones of foreignness beyond ethnic and geographic labeling. English translations traditionally use 'Mede,' but this conveys primarily geographic-ethnic sense, matching the original usage. Contrasts with Πέρσης (Persēs, 'Persian'), which refers expressly to Persians, though Greek sources may conflate the two at times due to political union after Cyrus the Great. The meaning was stable across Koine and classical Greek but receded in later periods as Median identity merged with other Iranian identities.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of foreign origin (compare מָדַי); a Median, or inhabitant of Media:--Mede.
Root Family
Μῆδος (Mēdos) — Median person, inhabitant of Media
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3370-01 |
Μῆδοι | medoi | N NOM M PL |
Medes | Median people | Medes | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3370-01 |
Acts 2:9 | Μῆδοι | medoi | N NOM M PL |
Medes | Median people | Medes |